IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 22 September 2015
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150001762
THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE:
1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any).
2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any).
THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:
1. The applicant requests reconsideration of his earlier request to be awarded a Parachutist Badge with four bronze service stars.
2. The applicant states he served honorably during World War II (WWII) with the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), 82nd Airborne Division and made four combat jumps. He is very proud of his service and the actions he was involved in. He was one of a few surviving Soldiers that made all four combat jumps during WWII.
3. The applicant provides an internet printout of the history of the 82nd Airborne during WWII, his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge), and a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge Form Active Duty)) (correction was made to applicants WD AGO Form 53-55 vice DD Form 214).
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20130021586, dated 21 August 2014.
2. The applicant's military records are not available for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members' records at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), St. Louis, MO, in 1973. It is believed his records were lost or destroyed in that fire. This case is being considered using the documents he provides and documents contained in a reconstructed record at NPRC.
3. His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he enlisted in the Army of the United States on 17 April 1942.
4. The available records contain:
a. A Company Morning Report, dated 28 August 1943, which shows he was assigned to Company H, 505th PIR in North Africa; and
b. A Letter of Commendation presented to the applicant on 20 June 1945 for his exemplary conduct while assigned to the 505th PIR.
5. He was honorably discharged on 23 September 1945. His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows in item 31 (Military Qualification and Date) that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).
6. On 21 August 2014, the applicant received a DD Form 215 correcting his
WD AGO 53-55 in item 33 (Decorations and Citations), in pertinent part, to show Parachutist Badge with Two Bronze Service Stars.
7. He provides an internet printout of the history of the 82nd Airborne which states that on 14 October 1942, the 82nd Airborne absorbed the 504th PIR. By the time that they went overseas, the 82nd Airborne would consist of the 325th Gilder Infantry Regiment and the 504th and 505th PIR. It also shows that from 1942 to 1944, the 82nd Airborne Unit participated in several operations.
8. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists occupation credit for WWII units. It shows the 505th PIR received assault landing credit for Normandy (6 7 June 1944) and Nijmejgen Arnhem (17 September 1944).
9. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides Department of the Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual military decorations, service medals and ribbons, combat and special skill badges, unit decorations, and similar devices awarded in recognition of accomplishments. It states:
a. The basic Parachutist Badge requires that an individual must have satisfactorily completed the prescribed proficiency tests while assigned or attached to an airborne unit or the Airborne Department of the Infantry School or have participated in at least one combat parachute jump.
b. A bronze service star is affixed to the Parachutist Badge to denote participation in a combat parachutist jump, retroactive to 7 December 1941. An award of a bronze service star requires participation in a combat jump for which the unit received assault landing credit.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. The applicants DD Form 215 shows he was assigned to the 505th PIR, which received assault landing credit for two periods; therefore, he was awarded the Parachutist Badge with two bronze service stars.
2. The available evidence indicates he participated in only two combat parachute jumps as part of operations for which his unit received assault landing credit.
3. There is no documentation showing his unit received assault landing credit four times.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
___X_____ ___X_____ ____X____ DENY APPLICATION
BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:
The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis to amend the decision of the ABCMR set forth in Docket Number AR20130021586, dated 21 August 2014.
_______ _ __X____ ___
CHAIRPERSON
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130021586
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ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150001762
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ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
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