PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:        10 November 1998      
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-11465

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mr. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Ms. Deborah L. Brantley		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Calvin M. Fowler		Chairperson	
	Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright		Member	
	Ms. Margaret K. Patterson		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including advisory opinion, 
	             if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  He states he was suppose to receive the badge but was wounded and evacuated before “the paper work was done….”

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty on 24 June 1968 and was assigned to Vietnam an infantryman (specialty 11C) in December 1968.  On 9 January 1969 he was wounded as a result of hostile action and evacuated.  As a result of his meritorious service in Vietnam he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.  The award was confirmed in orders published by the 1st Cavalry Division on 3 March 1969.

4.  The applicant was released from active duty on 8 July 1969 as a result of physical disability.  His separation document does not reflect entitlement to the Combat Infantryman Badge and his Bronze Star Medal was omitted.

5.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Infantryman Badge is awarded to infantry officers and to enlisted and warrant officer persons who have an infantry MOS.  The Awards Branch, Total Army Personnel Command has advised, in similar cases, that during the Vietnam era the Combat Infantryman Badge was awarded only to enlisted individuals who held and served in specialty 11B, 11C, 11F, 11G, or 11H.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence confirms the applicant was entitled to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge based on his service as an infantryman in Vietnam and as such should be awarded the Badge.

2.  The evidence also confirms he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal which was omitted from his separation document.

3.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected:

a.  by awarding the individual concerned the Combat Infantryman Badge based on his service as an infantryman in Vietnam; and

b.  by showing that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service.

BOARD VOTE:  

_CMF___  __INW__  __MKP___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON