PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                22 July 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:       AR1998013251

	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	
	Mr. Hubert S. Shaw, Jr.		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Calvin M. Fowler		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas N. Kuhn		Member	
	Mr. Raymond J. Wagner		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.

3.  The applicant states that his military occupational specialty (MOS) was 11B (light weapons infantryman), that he did participate in armed conflict with the enemy, and that he participated in three campaigns in Vietnam.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted on 12 June 1969 and completed training as an infantryman in MOS 11B.  He served in Vietnam from December 1969 to November 1970 and was honorably discharged on 5 March 1975.

5.  The applicant’s records contain two DD Forms 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty), and neither of them show the Combat Infantryman Badge as an authorized award.

6.  The applicant’s DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows in item 38 (Record of Assignments) that he served in Company C of the 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry, which was a subordinate unit of the Americal Division.  While assigned to this unit in Vietnam, he served as a rifleman in MOS 11B from 3 January 1970 to 16 February and from 11 July 1970 to 27 November 1970.

7.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) shows the applicant is entitled to award of the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation based on Department of the Army General Order Number 2, dated 1971.  This award is also not shown on his DD Forms 214.

8.  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.  They must have served in active ground combat while assigned or attached to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental or smaller size.  The Awards Branch of the 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 MOS 11B, 11C, 11F, 11G, or 11H.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant served in an infantry position in an infantry unit in combat in Vietnam; therefore, he is entitled to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and correction of his records to show this badge.

2.  The applicant is entitled to award of the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.
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 and correcting his records to show this award; and 

b.  correcting his records to show award of the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation. 

BOARD VOTE:  

CMF____  TNK_____  RJW____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Calvin M. Fowler______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1998013251	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990722	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19750305	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON	ETS	
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PLUS	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	MR HARRELL	
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.