2.  The applicant requests award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), the Purple Heart and the Air Medal.  

3.  The applicant’s military records show he was inducted into the Army on         8 November 1966.  He was assigned to Vietnam on 24 April 1967 where he served as a senior rifleman.  He attaches documentation to show that he was wounded in action on 4 November 1967.  He departed Vietnam on 22 April 1968.

4.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained as a result of hostile action.  Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify that the wound was the result of hostile action, the wound must have required treatment by a medical officer, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.

5.  That regulation also provides for the award of the Air Medal to any person who will have distinguished himself while participating in aerial flight.  It is primarily intended to recognize those personnel who are on current crewmember or noncrewmember flying status which requires them to participate in aerial flight on a regular and frequent basis in the performance of their primary duties.  However, it may also be awarded to personnel whose combat duties require them to fly in the attack elements of units involved in airland assaults against an armed enemy.  Involvement in such activities serves only to establish eligibility for award of the Air medal; the degree of heroism, meritorious achievement or exemplary service determines who should receive the award.

6.  It also provides for the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge to a soldier who is an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, who is assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and must actively participate in such ground combat.  Campaign or battle credit alone is not sufficient for award of the CIB.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Attached documentation shows that the applicant is entitled to award of the Purple Heart.  His DA Form 20, Personnel Qualification Record, shows that he is entitled to award of the CIB.

2.  The applicant has submitted no evidence or credible statements from witnesses to support his claim that he was awarded the Air Medal.  He may be entitled to that award if he can provide sufficient evidence to support his claim.  He should try to locate witnesses or other individuals who were awarded the Air Medal on the same award order using the services of the VA or such service organizations as the American Legion or the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

3.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected to show he is entitled to award of the Purple Heart and the CIB.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual is entitled to award of the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:

                       GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

                       GRANT FORMAL HEARING

                       DENY APPLICATION

                                                                         
    CHAIRPERSON