PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:  11 January 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2000042089

	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. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:
	Mr. Ernest M. Willcher		Chairperson	
	Ms. Ann M. Campbell		Member	
	Mr. Donald P. Hupman, Jr.		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 that his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected to show that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.

3.  The applicant states that his DD Form 214 does not show the Combat Infantryman Badge.  In support of his application he submits a copy of his DD Form 214 and a copy of orders awarding him the secondary military occupational specialty (SMOS) of 73C20.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted on 11 March 1968 as a light weapons infantryman (11B).  He served in Vietnam from 21 September 1968 to 24 April 1969 and was honorably discharged on 14 October 1969.

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

6.  The applicant’s records contain a copy of Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division Special Orders Number 332, dated 27 November 1968, which awarded 11B20 as the applicant’s PMOS.

7.  Headquarters, Eighth United States Army Special Orders Number 217, dated 5 August 1969, awarded 73C20 as the applicant’s SMOS and withdrew his primary military occupational specialty (PMOS) of 11B20.

8.  There are no orders in the applicant’s personnel records, which show that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.  The applicant’s DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows he served as a light weapons infantryman (11B) in an infantry company in combat during his service in Vietnam.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Infantryman Badge is awarded to infantry officers and to enlisted and warrant officers 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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows that the applicant enlisted as a light weapons infantryman (11B), was awarded the PMOS of 11B20, and that he served as a 
light weapons infantryman (11B) in an infantry company in combat while serving in Vietnam.  Therefore, he is entitled to award of and correction of his records to show the Combat Infantryman Badge.

2.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

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.

BOARD VOTE:  

__ew__  ___dh___  __ac______  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Ernest M. Willcher___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX
CASE ID	AR2000042089	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20010111	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19691114	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  157		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.