PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            27 January 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999022274

	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. Robert J. McGowan		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright  		Chairperson	
	Mr. Stanley Kelley		Member	
	Mr. Elzey J. Arledge 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 that his records be corrected to show that he was awarded the Combat Medical Badge (CMB).

3.  The applicant states that he was a Battalion Surgeon in an infantry battalion in Vietnam during the period February to August 1967 and that he performed his duties under extreme hostile conditions during numerous combat engagements.  In support of his application, he provides an 8-page attachment entitled “Trauma List From Vietnam.”

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was a medical doctor (captain) who served on active duty from 16 August 1965 until honorably discharged on 15 August 1967.  During his active duty service, he served in Vietnam from 30 December 1966 through 9 August 1967.  His DA Form 66, Officer Qualification Record, indicates that he was a medical platoon leader (and Battalion Surgeon) assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division from 20 February 1967 to 5 August 1967.  His record also shows that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service, the Air Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and one Overseas Service Bar.

5.  In an Officer Evaluation Report dated 22 May 1967, the applicant is cited for his “performance of duty as surgeon of an airmobile battalion in combat.”  The report specifically commended him for “outstanding medical achievements . . . during the month of May 1967 when the battalion was organized as a task force and air assaulted deep within enemy controlled territory.  Because of the remote nature of the operation, [applicant] wisely recommended that the battalion aid station accompany the unit, establish a forward clearing station, and be augmented with a helicopter evacuation capability.  This arrangement proved highly advantageous in providing responsive evacuation and treatment of battle casualties.  His professional foresight, perseverance and skill in administering life saving fluids and performing emergency battlefield surgery undoubtedly saved several lives . . . .”

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual military awards.  It states, in pertinent part, that the Combat Medical Badge (CMB) was created by the War Department in 1945. It may be awarded to officers (colonel and below), warrant officers, and enlisted men of the Medical Department assigned or attached by appropriate orders to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size, or to a medical unit of company or smaller size, organic to an infantry unit of brigade or smaller size, during any period the infantry unit is engaged in actual ground combat, provided they are personally present and under fire during such ground combat.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant, as a battalion surgeon, was assigned to an infantry unit of the appropriate size required by the applicable regulation.  Based on the applicant’s Officer Evaluation Report written by the Battalion Executive Officer and indorsed by the Battalion Commander, he performed his duties, on at least one occasion, in the field while under combat conditions.

2.  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 awarding to the individual concerned the Combat Medical Badge for service as Medical Platoon Leader and Battalion Surgeon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion (Infantry), 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, during the period 20 February 1967 through 5 August 1967.

BOARD VOTE:  

________  ________  ________  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__INW__  ___SK___  ___EJA__  DENY APPLICATION

		_IRENE N. WHEELWRIGHT
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999022274	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000127	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	DASA	
ISSUES         1.	107.0113	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.