PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            29 July 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999016611

	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. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Charles H. Loundermon		Chairperson	
	Ms. Shirley L. Powell		Member	
	Mr. Curtis L. Greenway		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, in effect, that his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) be corrected to show that he was awarded the Combat Medical Badge (CMB).

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he served in a combat zone until the day of cease fire (27 July 1954).  He also states that during the remaining portion of his tour he was at the front line holding and blocking positions for 8 months.

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the National
Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show he was inducted on 12 August 1952.  He served in Korea as a medical aidman and was honorably discharged on 11 August 1954.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the Korean Service Medal with two bronze service stars, the United Nations Service Medal and the
National Defense Service Medal.  

6.  A DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 13 September 1995, shows the Army Reserve Personnel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, determined the applicant was entitled to the Good Conduct Medal and the Republic Korea Presidential Unit Citation Badge.

7.  There is no indication in the applicant’s personnel records which shows he was awarded the Combat Medical Badge.

8.  There is no evidence in the available records which shows that he applicant served in a medical unit organic to an infantry unit of brigade or regimental or smaller size.

9.  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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There is no evidence, and the applicant has provided no evidence, that he served as a medical aidman in a medical unit organic to an infantry unit engaged in actual ground combat.  Therefore, he is not entitled to the Combat Medical Badge.

2.  The applicant was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Badge; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show these awards.

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 in item 27 (Decorations and Awards) of his DD Form 214 that he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Badge.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

CHL_____  SLP____  CLG____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Charles H. Loundermon_
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999016611	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	1990729	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19540811	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT 	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  159		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.