PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:        25 November 1998     
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-11777

	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. James E. Vick		Chairperson	
	Mr. John N. Slone		Member	
	Mr. Raymond v. O’Connor, Jr.		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 Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman Badge.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty on 15 October 1968.  He was assigned to Vietnam as an infantryman (specialty 11B) with the 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry in April 1969.

4.  On 14 June 1969 he sustained a fragment wound to his left knee and was awarded the Purple Heart.  Orders confirming the award were published by the 71st Evacuation Hospital on 16 June 1969.

5.  As a result of the applicant’s wounds he was evacuated from Vietnam and ultimately reclassified from his infantry specialty to a field wireman.

6.  On 21 May 1970 the applicant was released from active duty.  His award of the Purple Heart was omitted from his separation document and his records do not indicate he was ever awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.

7.  There are basically three requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  The soldier must be an infantryman (11 series specialty), assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and must have actively participated in such ground combat.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence confirms the applicant was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds sustained on 14 June 1969 but it was omitted from his separation document.

2.  The evidence also confirms the applicant was an infantryman assigned to an infantry element while in Vietnam and as such is entitled to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  It is possible that his he was not awarded the badge previously because of his evacuation from Vietnam and subsequent reclassification to a new specialty.

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 showing the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained on 14 October 1969 while in Vietnam; and

	b.  By awarding him the Combat Infantryman Badge.

BOARD VOTE:  

__jev___  __jns___  ___rvo____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON