PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           19 July 2001                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000049405

	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	
	Mrs. Joyce A. Hall		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Mark D. Manning		Chairperson	
	Mr. Lester Echols		Member	
	Ms. Gail J. Wire		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 Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge (WD AGO Form 53-55) for the period ending 10 December 1945, be corrected to show the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  The applicant submits a copy of his WD AGO 53-55 and a copy of his Bronze Star Citation in support of his application.

3.  The applicant states in effect, that his WD AGO 53-55, item 33, does not show the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Regular Army on 13 November 1941.  

5.  His record shows that he arrived in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater on or about 
7 September 1944.  He was assigned to Company L, 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division.  His record also shows that he held military occupational specialty (MOS) as a Rifleman.

6.  General Orders #7, dated February 1945, from Headquarters 128th Infantry Regiment awarded the applicant the Combat Infantryman Badge.

7.  The applicant departed the Asiatic-Pacific Theater on or about 13 November
1945.

8.  On 10 December 1945, the applicant was honorably discharged from active duty.  He completed 4 years and 28 days of creditable active service.  His 
WD AGO 53-55, shows that he was awarded the Silver Star Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Distinguished Unit Badge (now known as the Presidential Unit Citation), the Meritorious Unit Award, (now known as the Meritorious Unit Citation), the Philippine Liberation Ribbon w/1 bronze star, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Theater Service Medal (now known as the American Campaign Medal), the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Service Medal w/3 bronze service stars and the World War II Victory Medal.

9.  The copy of the Bronze Star Citation submitted by the applicant and his military record shows that he was assigned to an infantry division.  His MOS 
was a Rifleman and he engaged in ground combat.

10.  Authorization for Issuance of Awards, AGO Form 0657, dated 21 November
1955, filed in the applicant’s record shows that he was awarded one Oak Leaf Cluster to be worn with his Bronze Star Medal, two bronze service stars to be worn with his Philippine Liberation Ribbon and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Badge.  However, these awards are not listed on the applicant’s 
WD AGO 53-55.

11.  Authorization of Issuance of Awards, DA Form 1577, dated 21 October 
1970, awarded the applicant the Philippine Defense Ribbon and the Philippine Independence Ribbon.  However, these awards are not listed on the applicant’s
WD AGO 53-55.

12.  Authorization for Issuance of Awards, DA Form 1577, dated 24 March 
1978, authorized the applicant his second award of the Army Good Conduct Medal (Clasp, Bronze w/2 loops).  However, the applicant’s second award of the Army Good Conduct Medal is not listed on his WD AGO 53-55.

13.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 prescribes Army policy and criteria concerning individual military awards.  In pertinent part, it states that the CIB was established during World War II to provide special recognition of the unique role of the Army Infantryman, the only soldier whose daily mission is to close with and destroy the enemy and to seize and hold terrain.  The badge was intended as an inducement for individuals to join the infantry while serving as a moral booster for infantrymen.  In developing the CIB, the War Department did not dismiss or ignore the contributions of other branches.  Their vital contributions to the overall war effort were noted, but it was decided that other awards and decorations are sufficient to recognize their contributions.  From the beginning, Army leadership have taken care to retain the badge for the unique purpose for which it was established.  There are basically three requirements for award of the CIB.  The soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and must actively participate in such ground combat.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows General Orders #7, dated 10 February 
1945, filed in the applicant’s record awarded him the Combat Infantryman Badge. Therefore, based on the evidence of record, the applicant is entitled to correction of his record to show the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

2.  The evidence of record also shows that the applicant was entitled to and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal w/1 oak leaf cluster, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon w/2 bronze service stars, the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Badge, the Philippine Defense Ribbon, the Philippine Independence Ribbon, and the Good Conduct Medal Clasp, Bronze w/2 Loops.  Therefore, correction of the applicant’s record to show these awards is appropriate. 

3  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:

a.  amending the applicant’s WD AGO 53-55 to show that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Badge, the Philippine Defense Ribbon, and the Philippine Independence Ribbon.

b.  correcting the Bronze Star Medal to read the Bronze Star Medal w/1 oak leaf cluster, correcting the Philippine Liberation Ribbon w/1 bronze service star to read w/2 bronze service stars and correcting the Army Good Conduct Medal to read the Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd award).

BOARD VOTE:  

__mdm___  __le____  __gjw___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			Mark D. Manning
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000049405	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20010719	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0111	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.