PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:           

	BOARD DATE:                 1 August 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR2000042696

	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:

	Ms. Deborah S. Jacobs		Chairperson	
	Mr. Ernest W. Lutz		Member	
	Ms. Karol A. Kennedy		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 award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he recently applied for the Combat Infantryman Badge and that he has provided pictures as proof that he earned the Combat Infantryman Badge while serving in Vietnam.  In support of his application he submits several pictures and a copy of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge).

4.  The applicant’s military records show he entered active duty on 25 October 1965 as a light weapons infantryman.  He served in Vietnam from 2 August 1966 to 29 July 1967 and was honorably discharged on 30 July 1967. 

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Air Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.  His discharge document does not show the Combat Infantryman Badge as an authorized award.

6.  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.

7.  The Board notes that the applicant is eligible for the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 27 September 1967 through 1 May 1969 and unit awards which are not shown on his discharge document.

8.  There is no indication in the applicant’s personnel records that he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal.  There also is no evidence that the applicant was disqualified by his unit commander for award of the Good Conduct Medal.
His records show that he received excellent conduct and efficiency ratings during his entire period of service.  There is no evidence of derogatory information contained in the available records.

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 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.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  This period is 3 years except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Although there is no automatic entitlement to the Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be justified.

11.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) also shows the applicant is entitled to award 
of the Valorous Unit Award based on Department of the Army General Orders Number 39, dated 1970.

12.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) shows the applicant is entitled to award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation based on Department of the Army General Orders Number 59, dated 1969.

CONCLUSIONS:

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

2.  Evidence of record shows that he is entitled to the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 25 October 1965 through 30 July 1967 based on completion of a period of qualifying service ending with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

3.  The applicant was awarded the Valorous Unit Award and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show these awards.

4.  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, the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 25 October 1965 through 30 July 1967, the Valorous Unit Award and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.

BOARD VOTE:  

DSJ____  EWL____  KAK_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__DEBORAH S. JACOBS__  
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000042696	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000801	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19690501	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  102		
2.  		
3.  		
4.		
5.		
6.