MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           31 August 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000041501

	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. McKim-Spilker		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Samuel A. Crumpler 		Chairperson	
	Ms. Barbara J. Ellis 		Member	
	Mr. Joe R. Schroeder 		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 his WD AGO 53 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) be corrected to show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).

APPLICANT STATES:  In effect, that he originally enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and then volunteered for the Army Infantry while he was in Europe; that he served with General Omar Bradley’s infantry unit from December 1944 to December 1945; and, that he later transferred to Okinawa to await the Japanese invasion

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 on 30 September 1942.  He served in the European Theater from
l November 1943 to 17 August 1944, and the Asiatic-Pacific Theater from 
19 September 1944 to 5 December 1945.  He was honorably discharged on 
8 January 1946.

The record does contain a WD AGO 53 that does not show the CIB as an authorized award.  It also shows his military occupational specialty as “Airplane Engine Repairman, 762.”   

The record also contains a War Department Form 372A (Final Payment – Work Sheet).  It does not show that the applicant was entitled to combat infantry pay.

War Department Circular 269-1943 established the CIB and the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB) to recognize and provide an incentive to infantryman.  The EIB was to be awarded for attainment of certain proficiency standards or by satisfactory performance of duty in action against the enemy.  The CIB was awarded for exemplary conduct in action against the enemy.  War Department Circular 186-1944 further provided that the CIB was to be awarded only to infantryman serving with infantry units of brigade, regimental or smaller size.  Additionally, World War II holders of the CIB received a monthly pay supplement known as combat infantry pay and holders of the EIB were entitled to expert infantry pay.  Therefore, soldiers had economic as well as intangible reasons to ensure that their records were correct.  The Awards Branch, Total Army Personnel Command, has advised in similar cases that, during World War II, the CIB 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)

All soldiers are provided basic combat skills training after they enter the Army.  This is provided to ensure that all soldiers have the survival skills to perform basic infantry missions when the need arises.  This opinion does note that the exigencies of combat may require non-infantry soldiers to temporarily perform the basic infantry duties that all soldiers are taught but it is not a basis for the award of the CIB.

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.  There is no evidence of record that shows the applicant was awarded the CIB.

2.  There is no evidence of record available to the Board which shows that the applicant served in an infantry position during World War II.  Therefore, he is not eligible for award of the CIB.
 
3.  In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must shows 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.

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___  __bje___  ___jrs____  DENY APPLICATION

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

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000041501	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000831	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19460108	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365  	
DISCHARGE REASON	Demobilization	
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0111.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.