PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:            7 October 1998                                    
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-10602

	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	
	Mrs. Nancy Amos .		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Samuel A. Crumpler		Chairperson	
	Mr. James E. Vick		Member	
	Mr. Luther L. Santiful		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 (CIB).

3.  The applicant states he believes his records support his contention that he earned the CIB.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army on  7 October 1965.  He completed basic combat training and advanced individual training and was awarded military occupational specialty 11C (Infantry Indirect Fire Crewman).  He arrived in Vietnam on 15 July 1966 and was assigned to Company B, 3d Battalion, 21st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade where he served as an infantryman indirect fire crewman/ammunition bearer and as an assistant machine gunner.  He departed Vietnam on 16 July 1967 and was honorably separated on 16 July 1967.

5.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 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 who actively participates in such ground combat.  

6.  That regulation also provides for the award of the Army Good Conduct Medal for each 3 years of qualifying service completed on or after 27 August 1940 or, for the first award only, upon termination of service on or after 27 June 1950 of less than 3 years but at least 1 year.  Qualifying service means that the soldier’s character has been above reproach and his record of service indicates he has willingly complied with the demands of the military environment.  During the period of the applicant’s service, this meant receiving conduct and efficient ratings of “excellent” for the entire qualifying period.

7.  Army Regulation 670-1 provides that an overseas service bar will be awarded for each 6 months of active federal service in Vietnam during the period 1 July 1958 - 23 March 1973.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows the applicant served a full 12 months in Vietnam an infantryman who was assigned to an infantry unit and who satisfactorily performed infantry duties.  His principal duties of ammunition bearer and assistant machine gunner tend to verify that he actively participated in ground combat.

2.  The evidence of record also shows that the applicant is eligible for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal.  His conduct and efficiency ratings throughout his almost 2 years of service were rated as “excellent.”
3. In view of the foregoing, it would be in the interest of justice to correct the applicant’s records as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing the individual concerned was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Army Good Conduct Medal and that he is entitled to two overseas service bars.

BOARD VOTE:  

________  ________  ________  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON