PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:           8 June 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000036705

	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. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mr. Kenneth H. Aucock		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Shirley L. Powell 		Chairperson	
	Ms. Lana E. McGlynn 		Member	
	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		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 (CIB), and credit for participation in the Anzio and Northern Apennines campaigns during World War II. 

3.  The applicant states in effect, that his unit, the 123d Ordnance Maintenance Battalion, was awarded the Meritorious Service Unit Plaque for meritorious performance of duty in Italy during the period 1 May 1944 to 30 June 1944.   

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Army on            11 January 1941, and served as a motorcycle mechanic, auto mechanic, and section leader.  He served in the European Theater of Operations during World War II, and was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars for his participation in campaigns in Africa and Italy.  He was assigned to the 123d Ordnance Maintenance Battalion (formerly Headquarters Company, Maintenance Battalion) of the 1st Armored Division from January of 1941 until July of 1944, and was with that unit when it was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation.  The citation which he submits with his application shows that the services performed by the 123d were instrumental in the successful operations of the 1st Armored Division during the drive from the Anzio Beach head and the advance north of Rome.  The inclusive dates of the Anzio campaign are 22 January – 24 May 1944.

5.  The applicant was assigned to Service Company of the 6th Armored Infantry Battalion in July 1944, and remained with that unit until March 1945.  The           6th Armored Infantry Battalion participated in the Northern Apennines campaign, the inclusive dates of which are 10 September 1944 – 4 April 1945. 

6.  He returned to the United States in April 1945 and was separated from the Army at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, on 14 June 1945.  He had over 4 years of active duty.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) shows his military occupational specialty as that of a foreman, automotive repair shop 337.  This record does not show that he was an infantryman or that he had been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. 

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 prescribes Army policy and procedures concerning awards.  Paragraph 8-6 provides for award of the CIB.  That paragraph states that there are basically three requirements for award of the CIB.  The soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, he must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and he must actively participate in such ground combat.  Specific requirements state, in effect, that an Army enlisted soldier must be have an infantry or special forces specialty, satisfactorily performed duty while assigned or attached as a member of an infantry, ranger or special forces unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size during any period such unit was engaged in active ground combat.
CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There is no evidence nor has the applicant provided any, to show that he was an infantryman during World War II.  He is not entitled to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

2.  The evidence indicates that the applicant participated in the Anzio and the Northern Apennines campaigns during the war.  He should receive credit for participation in those campaigns. 

3.  The applicant was assigned to the 123d Ordnance Maintenance Battalion during the period for which it was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation.  He is entitled to that award.

4.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the applicant participated in the Anzio and the Northern Apennines campaigns in Italy during World War II, and that he was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation. 

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

BOARD VOTE:  

___slp__  ___aao__  ___lem__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000036705	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000608	
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.  46	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.