PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           24 February 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999028898

	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.  

	Mrs. Nancy Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Celia L. Adolphi		Chairperson	
	Mr. James P. Huber		Member	
	Ms. Margaret V. Thompson		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 the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) be added to his DD Form 214.

3.  The applicant states that he was a rifleman in the 196th Light Infantry Brigade in Vietnam and he is entitled to receive the CIB.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Army National Guard on 19 February 1967.  He completed basic combat training and advanced individual training and was awarded military occupational specialty 11B (Light Weapons Infantryman).  He and his unit were involuntarily ordered to active duty in 1968 for two years.  He arrived in Vietnam on 4 February 1969 and on            12 February 1969 he was assigned to Company B, 4th Battalion 31st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade where he performed duties as a rifleman.  He departed Vietnam on 18 August 1969 and was released from active duty on 24 August 1969 after completing 1 year, 3 months and 11 days of active service for that period.  His conduct and efficiency ratings for the period he was on active duty (and previously) were rated as “excellent.”

5.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides policy and criteria concerning individual military decorations.  It 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 must actively participate in such ground combat.  It also provides that the Army Good Conduct Medal is awarded for each 3 years of continuous enlisted active Federal military service completed on or after            27 August 1940 and, for the first award only, upon termination of service on or after 27 June 1950 of less than 3 years but more than 1 year.  At the time, a soldier’s conduct and efficiency ratings must have been rated as “excellent” for the entire period of qualifying service.

6.  Army Pamphlet 672-3 shows the 4th Battalion 31st Infantry was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for the period 11 – 31 August 1969.

7.  Army Regulation 670-1 prescribes the authorization for wear of uniforms and prescribes the awards, insignia and accouterments authorized for wear on the uniform.  In pertinent part, it states that a soldier may wear a unit award permanently if the individual was assigned to and present for duty with the unit any time during the period cited.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows the applicant met the eligibility criteria for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  It shows he met the eligibility criteria for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal.  It also shows he was assigned to a unit during a period of time it was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.
2.  In view of the foregoing, it would be in the interest of justice to correct the applicant’s records as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the applicant the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Army Good Conduct Medal (for the period 13 May 1968 through 24 August 1969).

2.  That the applicant’s DD Form 214 for the period ending 24 August 1969 be amended by adding the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Presidential Unit Citation.

BOARD VOTE:  

__cla___  __jph___  __mvt___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			Celia L. Adolphi
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999028898	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000224	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0111	
2.	107.0056	
3.	107.0031	
4.		
5.		
6.