MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           1 February 2001                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000040216

	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. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mrs. Joyce A. Hall		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Luther L. Santiful		Chairperson	
	Mr. James E. Anderholm		Member	
	Ms. Barbara J. Lutz		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).

APPLICANT STATES:  In effect, that he preformed all the duties of a Rifleman while serving in Korea with the 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division from January through March 1953.  He submits a certificate of appreciation from the Commander, 17th Infantry Regiment in support of his application.

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

On 20 July 1948, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army, at the age of 17, with parental consent for a period of 3 years.  He completed the required training and was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 3913 (Light Artillery Repairman).  On 12 July l953, his MOS was redesignated to 3907 (Turret Artillery Repairman).  His services were continuous through extensions and reenlistments.  

The applicant’s DA Form 20 (Soldier’s Qualification Card) shows that he served in Korea from January 1953 to August 1954.  He was attached to Headquarters, 707th Ordnance Maintenance Company as a Light Artillery Repairman and he served temporary with Company F, 17th Infantry Regiment as a Rifleman.  

On 31 December 1969, the applicant retired from active duty and was transferred to the U. S. Army Reserve.  He completed 20 years, 8 months and 24 days of creditable active service.  The highest pay grade he achieved was pay grade 
E-7.

His military record shows that he was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal (3rd award), the National Defense Service Medal (w/1 oak leaf cluster), the Army Occupational Medal (Japan), the Vietnam Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal (w/3 bronze service stars), the U.S. Service Medal (w/2 oak leaf clusters), the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (w/2 oak leaf clusters), the Overseas Service Bar (2) and the Marksman Badge (Carbine).

Army Regulation 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 moral 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 are 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.

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 this requirement.

2.  The evidence of record shows that while the applicant held a combat MOS, it was not an infantry MOS.  While he certainly performed combat duties and may have supported the infantry to the extent of being involved in enemy fire while in
Vietnam, however, those duties do not qualify him for award of the CIB.  The Board does recognized his exemplary services however, he does not meet the requirement to be awarded the CIB.  

3.  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

__lls___  __jea___  __bjl___  DENY APPLICATION

		    Carl W. S. Chun
		    Director, Army Board for Correction
    of Military Records

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000040216	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20010201	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0113	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.