MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:        

	BOARD DATE:             20 June 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:    AR2000040229

	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	
	Ms. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Van B. Cunningham		Chairperson	
	Mr. James E. Anderholm		Member	
	Mr. Ernest W. Lutz, 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:  Correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) to show that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).

APPLICANT STATES:  That he served as a rifleman in Company G, 8th Infantry and was wounded in action on the German border.  He also states that as an infantryman in a rifle squad and rifle company, he believes he earned this award.
In support of his application he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55, copy of WD AGO Form 38 (Report of Physical Examination of Enlisted Personnel Prior to Discharge, Release from Active Duty or Retirement), copy of his medical card and a copy of his Form 79 (Dental Register).

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show he was inducted in the Air Corps on 2 November 1942 as an automotive parts clerk  (348).  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 9 November 1944 to 8 August 1945 and was honorably discharged on 
5 November 1945.

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

The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that, while in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater, he served as an automotive parts clerk in MOS number (348) with the 703rd Air Material Squadron while serving in the Air Corps.

The applicant also submitted a medical card and dental register which shows 
his unit of assignment as Company G, 8th Infantry during World War II.

There is no indication in the available records that he was awarded an infantry military occupational specialty (MOS), that he served in an infantry duty position or that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.

War Department Circular 269-1943 established the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Expert Infantryman Badge to recognize and provide an incentive to infantrymen.  The Expert Infantryman Badge was to be awarded for attainment of certain proficiency standards or by satisfactory performance of duty in action against the enemy.  The Combat Infantryman Badge was awarded for exemplary conduct in action against the enemy.  War Department Circular 186-1944 further provided that the Combat Infantryman Badge was to be awarded only to infantrymen serving with infantry units of brigade, regimental or smaller size.

Additionally, World War II holders of the Combat Infantryman Badge received a monthly pay supplement known as combat infantry pay and holders of the Expert Infantryman Badge were entitled to expert infantry pay.  Therefore, soldiers had economic as well as intangible reasons to ensure that their records were correct. Thus, pay records are frequently the best available source to verify entitlement to this award.  The Awards Branch, Total Army Personnel Command, has advised in similar cases that, during World War II, the Combat Infantryman Badge was normally awarded only to enlisted individuals who served in the following positions:

    a.  Light machine gunner (604)
    b.  Heavy machine gunner (605)
    c.  Platoon sergeant (651)
    d.  Squad leader (653)
    e.  Rifleman (745)
    f.  Automatic rifleman (746)
    g.  Heavy weapons NCO (812)
    h.  Gun crewman (864)

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.  The applicant’s discharge document shows that he served as an automotive parts clerk (348) during his service in the European-African-Middle Eastern 
Theater during World War II with the Air Corps.  There is no indication in the available records that show he was awarded an infantry military occupational specialty (MOS), that he served in an infantry duty position or was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.

2.  Notwithstanding the medical documents which show that he served with Company G, 8th Infantry; there is no evidence in the available records, and the applicant has provided no evidence, to show that he served as a rifleman with Company G, 8th Infantry.

3.  Based on the foregoing the applicant is not entitled to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

4.  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.

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:

VBC_____  JEA____  EWL____  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

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

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000040229	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000620	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19451105	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  157		
2.  		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.