PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:        8 September 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999018943

	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. Deborah L. Brantley		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred K. Mccoy		Chairperson	
	Ms. Karen L. Wolff		Member	
	Mr. Orville W. Troesch, 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 Infantryman Badge.  He states the award was omitted from his separation document.

3.  Records show he entered active duty on 19 March 1969 and was assigned to Vietnam as an infantryman for 8 months between November 1970 and June 1971.  While in Vietnam he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 52nd Infantry of the 23rd Infantry Division and was awarded an Army Commendation Medal for meritorious achievement in connection with military operations against a hostile force.

4.  The applicant was released from active duty on 1 February 1972 with an honorable characterization of service in pay grade E-4.  His separation document does not reflect entitlement to the Combat Infantryman Badge or his Army Commendation Medal.

5.  There are basically three requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  The soldier must be an infantryman (11 series specialty), assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and must have actively participated in such ground combat.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  This period is 3 years except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Although there is no automatic entitlement to the Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be justified.  Current practice requires that the commander provide written notice of nonfavorable consideration and permits the individual to respond.  There is no evidence in the applicant's official military personnel file that his commander ever disqualified him for award of the Good Conduct Medal.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence confirms the applicant  met the requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge based on his service in Vietnam as an infantryman and as such should be awarded the badge.

2.  The evidence also confirms the applicant was awarded an Army Commendation Medal, which was omitted from his separation document.

3.  The applicant completed a qualifying period of service for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal on 1 February 1972 when he was released from active duty.  There is no evidence in available records, which would serve as a basis to deny the applicant an award of the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 
19 March 1969 to 1 February 1972.
4.  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:

a.  by awarding the individual concerned the Combat Infantryman Badge;

b.  by showing that he was awarded an Army Commendation Medal; and

c.  by awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 19 March 1969 through 1 February 1972.

BOARD VOTE:  

__fkm___  ___klw__  ___owt__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR19990189430	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990908	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.