PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:           10 November 1998                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-10517

	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. Lee Cates		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Calvin M. Fowler		Chairperson	
	Ms. Irene E. 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 his records be corrected to show his entitlement to award of the Combat Medical Badge.

3.  The applicant states he received the Bronze Star Medal for Heroism, but there is no record of being awarded the Combat Medical Badge. 

4.  The applicant served in Vietnam during the periods 2 July 1967 to 1 July 1968 and 16 April 1969 to 15 August 1969.  DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge), dated 31 August 1971, shows his entitlement to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. 

5.  Special Order Number 143, Headquarters, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, dated 22 May 1968, announced the award of the Combat Medical Badge to the applicant.  The Board notes the applicant was erroneously awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge based on this authority.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows the applicant’s records erroneously documented the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  The order awarding him the Combat Medical Badge was on the same special order which announced awards of the Combat Infantryman Badge to other soldiers.  The applicant was not entitled to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, since he had never held an infantry military occupational specialty.

2.  The applicant was awarded the Combat Medical Badge; 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 by the withdrawal of his entitlement to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and by showing his entitlement to award of the Combat Medical Badge.

BOARD VOTE:  

CMF____  IEW_____  MKP____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON