PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:           28 October 1998   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-10290

	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. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. JoAnn H. Langston 		Chairperson	
	Mr. Curtis W. Barbee, Jr.		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 Combat Medical Badge.

3.  The applicant states he earned the Combat Medical Badge while serving as a medical corpsman in Vietnam from 11 March 1968 to 6 October 1968.

4.  The applicant’s military records show he was inducted and entered active duty on 29 November 1966.  He served as a medical corpsman in Vietnam from 12 October 1967 through 6 October 1968 and was separated with an honorable discharge on 29 August 1969.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge), which was authenticated in his own hand, does not show the Combat Medical Badge as an authorized award.  The Board notes the applicant was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation and the Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation.  

6.  There are no orders in the applicant’s personnel records which show he was awarded the Combat Medical Badge.  Records show the applicant served as an ambulance driver while assigned to the 541st Medical Detachment of the 68th Medical Group in Vietnam.  He also served as a medical corpsman for Company A, 4th Medical Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division, during his assignment in Vietnam.  

7.  The applicant was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation by the Department of the Army General Order Number 42, dated 1969.

8.  The applicant was awarded the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation by Department of the Army General Order Number 21, dated 1969.

9.  The applicant was awarded the Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation by Department of the Army General Order Number 53, dated 1970.  

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Medical Badge is awarded to medical department personnel (colonel and below) who are assigned or attached to a medical unit of company or smaller size that is organic to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental or smaller size which is engaged in active ground combat.  Battle participation credit is not sufficient; the infantry unit must have been in contact with the enemy.  The regulation also states, in pertinent part, the Combat Medical Badge was designed to provide recognition to the field medic who accompanies the infantryman into battle and shares with him the experiences unique to the infantry in combat.  There was never any intention to award the Combat Medical Badge to all medical personnel who serve in a combat zone or imminent danger area, that is, a division-level medical company supporting a maneuver brigade.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows the applicant served in medical units which were not organic to infantry units of brigade, regimental or smaller size.  Also, there is no evidence he served in infantry units in contact with the enemy.  Therefore, he is not entitled to award of the Combat Medical Badge.  

2.  The applicant was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation and the Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation.  

3.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation and the Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation.  

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

BOARD VOTE:  

JHL_____  CWB____  RVO____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON