PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:  20 March 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2000047975

	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	
	Mr. Lee Cates		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Mr. William D. Powers		Member	
	Mr. Raymond J. Wagner		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 records be corrected to show entitlement to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).

3.  The applicant states that the Army failed to award him the CIB for his combat duty, and that the Department of Veterans Affairs told him award of the CIB would make a difference in his benefits.

4.  The applicant’s available military records show that he enlisted in the Army on 7 October 1949.  He completed his required training and was awarded military occupational specialty 1745 (Light Weapons Infantryman).

5.  During an unspecified period, while assigned to the 5th Regimental Combat Team, he served for 2 months and 11 days in Korea.

6.  Medical records maintained by the Office of The Surgeon General indicate that on 10 August 1950, he was hospitalized for hand, abdomen, pelvis, and spinal cord wounds received on 9 August 1950 and caused by a penetrating missile with nerve involvement.  He was later medically evacuated to Tripler Army Hospital, Territory of Hawaii for neurosurgery.  Records indicate the applicant’s wounds were the direct result of action against or by an organized enemy.

7.  On 7 January 1954, he was honorably separated, in the rank of corporal, under Army Regulation 615-360, based on the expiration of his term of service.  His separation document indicates he had 4 years, 3 months and 1 day of creditable service.  He was entitled to award of the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, and the Korean Service Medal with 1 bronze service star.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 prescribes Army policy and procedures concerning awards.  Paragraph 8-6 provides for award of the CIB.  That paragraph states that there are basically three requirements for award of the CIB.  The soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, he must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and he must actively participate in such ground combat.  Specific requirements state, in effect, that an Army enlisted soldier must be have an infantry or special forces specialty, satisfactorily performed duty while assigned or attached as a member of an infantry, ranger or special forces unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size during any period such unit was engaged in active ground combat.  A recipient must be personally present and under hostile fire while serving in an assigned infantry or special forces primary duty, in a unit actively engaged in ground combat with the enemy.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows the applicant performed as an infantry soldier under hostile fire and is entitled to award of the CIB.

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 CIB for service in Korea.

BOARD VOTE:  

__fe____  __wp___  __rw____ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________ DENY APPLICATION

		___Fred N. Eichorn_______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000047975	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20010320	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(NC, GRANT , DENY, GRANT PLUS)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.107	CIB	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.