MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           8 September 1999                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999024186

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration 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. Fred K. McCoy		Chairperson	
	Ms. Karen L. Wolff		Member	
	Mr. Orville W. Troesch, Jr.		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That he be awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), the Combat Action Ribbon and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM).

APPLICANT STATES:  That he was sent to Vietnam as an 11B1P.  He provides his VA claim paperwork, unit movement orders, assignment orders to Vietnam, a letter of appreciation, one page of his DA Form 20, Personnel Qualification Record (PQR), four pages from the March 1998 issue of “VFW,” and his DD Form 214 as supporting evidence.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

He enlisted in the Regular Army on 18 January 1966.  He completed basic combat training and advanced individual training and was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 63B (Wheel Vehicle Mechanic).  (His PQR shows he was awarded MOS 11B on 18 March 1966, but this date appears to be incorrect as that would have been about the time he completed basic combat training.  His PQR shows his primary MOS as 63B (which is an Ordnance Branch MOS) and his secondary MOS as 11B.)  He completed basic airborne training in June 1966.  

The applicant was assigned to Fort Campbell, KY on 30 September 1967 where he performed duties as a 63B2P (airborne-qualified wheel vehicle mechanic).  The applicant was reassigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate), Vietnam, apparently as part of a unit move or a group move in December 1967.  His reassignment orders state he was for duty in MOS 11B1P.  His PQR shows he performed duties as a 63B2P.  He audited (reviewed) his PQR on 25 November 1968.

(The applicant’s VA claim included a brief military history prepared by him.  In it he states “There I got in the HQ Co. working with S-4 (NOTE:  S-4 is battalion-level supply) at fire bases.  When someone out of the co. got to go to the rear area, I filled in and went on patrols around the fire base.  In other words out in the field.  We got mortared one day…I got hit with shrapmetel (sic) in the back of my leg.  I got patched up and stayed in the field…”) 

The applicant returned from Vietnam on 26 November 1968 and was released from active duty on 27 November 1968.

Army Regulation (AR) 600-8-22 prescribes Army policy and criteria concerning individual military awards.  In pertinent part, it states that the CIB was established during World War II to provide special recognition of the unique role of the Army infantryman, the only soldier whose daily mission is to close with and destroy the enemy and to seize and hold terrain.  The badge was intended as an inducement for individuals to join the infantry while serving as a morale booster for infantrymen.  In developing the CIB, the War Department did not dismiss or ignore the contributions of other branches.  Their vital contributions to the overall war effort were noted, but it was decided that other awards and decorations were sufficient to recognize their contributions.  From the beginning, Army leadership have taken care to retain the badge for the unique purpose for which it was established.  There are basically three requirements for award of the CIB.  The soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and must actively participate in such ground combat.  

AR 600-8-22 states that the Purple Heart is awarded to any member of an Armed Force who has been wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States.  The wound must have required treatment by a medical officer and records of medical treatment for wounds or injuries received in action must have been made a matter of official record. 

AR 600-8-22 states that the AFEM is awarded for service in Vietnam from 1 July 1958 to 3 July 1965 and from 29 – 30 April 1975.

The Combat Action Ribbon is a Marine Corps medal, often thought of as the equivalent of the Army’s CIB, and is not authorized for award to Army personnel.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy the aforementioned requirement.

2.  While the applicant’s reassignment orders show that he was assigned for duty in MOS 11B1P, his PQR shows he performed duties as a 63B2P.  His primary MOS was 63B, Ordnance Branch.  He reviewed his PQR in November 1968 with these entries on his records.  This information is corroborated with his VA claim statement wherein he states he worked with S-4 at fire bases and performed 11B-type duties when he filled in on patrol duty around the fire base(s) when someone else returned to the rear.  While the Board does not denigrate those duties, they do not meet the definition of the unique role of the Army infantryman, whose daily mission is to close with and destroy the enemy and to seize and hold terrain.  He is not qualified for award of the CIB. 

3.  The applicant does not request the Purple Heart in this application but in his VA claim statement he does mention he was hit by shrapnel, got patched up and stayed in the field.   His medical records are not available and he provides no corroborating evidence to show he was wounded and his wound treated by a medical officer. 

4.  The applicant was not assigned to Vietnam during the time periods the AFEM was authorized for service in Vietnam.  He is not authorized the Combat Action Ribbon as it is not an authorized award for Army personnel.

5.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__fkm___  __klw___  __owt___  DENY APPLICATION

						Loren G. Harrell
						Director

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999024186	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	19990908	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0111	
2.	107.0072	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.