PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           19 September 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000041292

	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. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Hubert O. Fry, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. John P. Infante		Member	
	Ms. Regan K. Smith 		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, in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart and completion of the “Jungle Expert” (correctly known as the Jungle Warfare) and Raider Training Courses. 

3.  The applicant’s request for the issuance of medals was addressed by separate correspondence to the applicant.

4.  The applicant states, in effect, that he served in military occupational specialty (MOS) 11H (infantry) in combat in Vietnam and that he was wounded in a punji pit.  He also contends that he completed the Jungle Warfare and Raider Training Courses and they should be shown on his discharge document.      

5.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted on 21 June 1965 for a period of 3 years.  He served as an infantryman in Vietnam from 14 February 1968 through 22 May 1968 and was honorably released on 31 May 1968. 

6.  The applicant’s DD Form 214, which was authenticated in his own hand, does not show the Combat Infantryman Badge or the Purple Heart as authorized awards.  Item 25 (Education and Training Completed) on his DD Form 214 does not show Jungle Warfare or Raider Training Courses. 

7.  The applicant’s records show that he was assigned to Company A, 
2nd Battalion (Airborne), 505th Infantry in MOS 11H (infantry) during his assignment in Vietnam. 

8.  There are no orders in the applicant’s service personnel records which show that he was awarded the Purple Heart.  There also is no evidence in his records that he was wounded or treated for wounds as a result of hostile action.  His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) does not show any entry in item 
40 (Wounds) or list the Purple Heart in item 41 (Awards and Decorations).

9.  There is no evidence in the applicant’s records which shows that he completed Jungle Warfare or Raider Training Courses.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) 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.

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained as a result of hostile action.  Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify that the wound was the result of hostile action, the wound must have required treatment, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.

12.  Recondo, Raider and Jungle Warfare Training Courses are conducted by brigade and division level units throughout the Army as local training courses in combat skills.  The badges awarded upon completion of these courses are awarded in accordance with local policies governing these training courses.  These badges are not governed by the Department of the Army awards regulation and, as a result, they are not annotated on the DD Form 214.  In accordance with Army Regulation 635-5, which governs preparation of separation documents, Recondo, Raider and Jungle Operations Training Courses are not entered under education and training of the DD Form 214 because training course for combat skills are not listed on the DD Form 214.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant served in an infantry MOS in an infantry company in combat in Vietnam.  Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and correction of his DD Form 214 to show this award.

2.  Although the applicant contends that he was wounded in a punji pit in Vietnam, there is no evidence of record, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows that he was wounded or treated for wounds as a result of hostile action.  Therefore, the applicant is not entitled to award of the Purple Heart.

3.  The Board noted the applicant’s request that his Jungle Warfare and Raider Training Courses be shown on his discharge document.  However, in accordance with Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), Jungle Warfare and Raider Training Courses are not entered under education and training of the DD Form 214 because training courses for combat skills are not listed on the DD Form 214.     

4.  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 Combat Infantryman Badge.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

HOF____  JPI_____  RKS_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Hubert O. Fry, Jr.______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000041292	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000919	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19680531	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200 .  	
DISCHARGE REASON	Early out for overseas returnee	
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0111	
2.	100.0700	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.