MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           20 July 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000040239

	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. Nancy Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Samuel A. Crumpler		Chairperson	
	Ms. Ann M. Campbell		Member	
	Mr. Kenneth L. Wright		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:  The applicant makes no further statement but provides an extract from the regulation that states personnel possessing an infantry military occupational specialty (MOS) in a rifle squad of a cavalry platoon of a cavalry troop would be eligible for award of the CIB.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire in 1973.  Information contained herein was obtained from alternate sources.

The applicant enlisted in the Army on 27 November 1942.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows his arm of service as cavalry, his organization as the 30th Reconnaissance Troop, and his MOS as rifleman, 745.  He arrived in the European Theater of Operations on 24 February 1944.  Surgeon General’s Office Hospital Admission Cards show he was wounded in action on 3 September 1944, hand grenade fragments, and that his arm of service was cavalry.  His final payment worksheet shows he was last paid by the 30th Infantry Division and that he did not receive combat infantry pay.  He was separated on 3 October 1945.

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.  In announcing the badge, the War Department stated:  “The present war has demonstrated the importance of highly proficient, tough, hard and aggressive infantry, which can be obtained only by developing a high degree of individual all-around proficiency on the part of every infantryman.  As a means of attaining the high standards desired and to foster esprit de corps in infantry units, the Expert and Combat Infantrymen Badges are established for infantry personnel.”  The initial eligibility criteria for the CIB were to be an infantryman who exhibited exemplary conduct in actions against the enemy or by satisfactory performance of duty in action against the enemy in a major operation as determined and announced by the theater commander.  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 were sufficient to recognize their contributions.  

The infantry badges were an instant success. One of the first requests for a similar award was a badge which was to be named the Distinguished Merit Badge for Cavalry.  In disapproving the badge, the War Department stated:  “The recommendation of the CG, 1st Cavalry Division, that badges similar to the Expert and Combat Infantry Badges be adopted and authorized for issue to cavalrymen is not favorable considered.  The infantry badges were established primarily to foster esprit de corps in infantry combat units…”  The War Department did, however, authorize the infantry badges for dismounted cavalrymen of the 1st Division who were essentially performing as infantrymen.  This was a logical extension since dismounted cavalry regiments were cavalry in name only.  

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.  

During the Vietnam conflict the eligibility criteria was modified to include personnel possessing an infantry MOS in a rifle squad of a cavalry platoon in a cavalry troop.

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.  During World War II, only infantrymen in infantry units were eligible for award of the CIB.  The War Department in fact specifically disapproved a similar badge for issue to cavalrymen, excepting only dismounted cavalrymen of the 1st Division.  The applicant was not in the 1st Division.  In addition, the evidence shows he was in the 30th Reconnaissance Troop which appears to cast doubt on any impression that he may have performed duties as a dismounted cavalryman. The evidence also shows that he was not paid combat infantry pay.

3.  The eligibility criteria, as shown by the regulation extract provided by the applicant, was not modified until the Vietnam era.  The Board does not denigrate the valuable services he performed during his service; however, he does not meet the eligibility criteria for award of the CIB.

4.  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

__sac___  __amc___  __klw___  DENY APPLICATION

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

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000040239	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000720	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0111	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.