MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           7 September 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000040768

	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. Hughes		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Celia L. Adolphi		Chairperson	
	Mr. Walter T. Morrison		Member	
	Mr. Thomas B. Redfern, III		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 the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) be 
added to his Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States (DD Form 214) and to his military records.

APPLICANT STATES:  In effect, that he received infantry training prior to his service in Korea.  He was attached to a field artillery unit, but he had infantry training and he should have been awarded the CIB.

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

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 28 September 1950, for 3 years.
He completed basic combat training and advanced individual training and was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 3844 (Cannoneer).

On 31 January 1953, while stationed in Korea the applicant was wounded in action.  His DA Form 20 (Soldier’s Qualification Card) shows that his MOS was cannoneer throughout his military career.

On 25 September 1953, the applicant was honorably discharged.  He completed
2 years, 11 months and 14 days of creditable active service.  He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal, the Korean Service Medal w/1 bronze service star, 1 overseas service bar, the National Defense Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal.

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 were 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 clearly shows that the applicant successfully completed the required training and was awarded MOS 3844 (Cannoneer).  While he certainly may have performed combat duties and may have supported the infantry as shown by his award of the Purple Heart, the applicant did not meet the requirements for the award of the CIB.  Many individuals are probably not aware of the strict requirements for 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

__cla___  __wtm___  __tbr___  DENY APPLICATION

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

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000040768	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000907	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0111	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.