PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:           

	BOARD DATE:                7 June 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:       AR2000039668

	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	
	Ms. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Margaret K. Patterson		Chairperson	
	Mr. Edwin S. Castle		Member	
	Mr. James P. Stueve		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.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he served as an infantryman in military occupational specialty (MOS) 11B and was involved in numerous firefights.  In support of his application he submits a copy of his DD Form 214.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he entered active duty on 27 February 1970 as a pioneer in MOS 12A, which is an engineer specialty.
He was honorably discharged on 7 February 1972.

5.  His discharge document does not show the Combat Infantryman Badge as 
an authorized award.

6.  There are no orders in the applicant’s personnel records, which show that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.  The applicant’s DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows he served as a light weapons infantryman (11B) in an engineer company during his service in Vietnam.  However, his records do not contain orders awarding him an infantry MOS.

7.  Headquarters, 1st Calvary Divisions General Orders Number 20, dated 26 January 1972, awarded the applicant the Good Conduct Medal (First Award) for the period 27 February 1970 through 30 January 1972.  This award is not shown on his discharge document.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Infantryman Badge is awarded to infantry officers and to enlisted and warrant officer persons who have an infantry MOS.  They must have served in active ground combat while assigned or attached to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental or smaller size.  The Awards Branch of the Total Army Personnel Command has advised, in similar cases, that during the Vietnam era the Combat Infantryman Badge was awarded only to enlisted individuals who held and served in MOS 11B, 11C, 11F, 11G, or 11H.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board noted the applicant’s contentions that he served as an infantryman in MOS 11B and was involved in numerous firefights.  However, there is no evidence in the applicant’s records to show that he served in an infantry position in an infantry unit in combat while serving in Vietnam.

2.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant was awarded a pioneer MOS upon completion of advanced individual training.  Records also indicate that he served in MOS 51G20 (Soil Analyst) and 11B as a member of the 20th Engineer Brigade in Vietnam.  However, there is no evidence that he was ever officially awarded an infantry MOS.

3.  Based on the foregoing, the applicant is not eligible for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge because he served in an engineer unit, not in an infantry unit.

4.  Evidence of record shows he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal (First Award) for the period 27 February 1970 through 30 January 1972.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

5.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Good Conduct Medal (First Award) for the period 27 February 1970 through 30 January 1972. 

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

BOARD VOTE:  

MKP____  ESC____  JPS_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__	MARGARET K. PATTERSON_______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000039668	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000607	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19720207	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY/GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  157		
2.  102		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.