PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            30 AUGUST 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001053372

	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. Deborah L. Brantley		Senior Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor		Chairperson	
	Mr. Christopher J. Prosser		Member	
	Ms. Linda D. Simmons		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, in effect, that his records be corrected to reflect all of his “decorations, medals, and badges.”  He states that none of the items were recorded on his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge).

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty on 
2 June 1967.  While undergoing basic and advanced individual training the applicant was awarded a Marksmanship Qualification Badge with “rifle” and “automatic rifle” bars and an Expert Qualification Badge with “machine gun” bar.

4.  Following successful completion of his initial training the applicant was assigned to Vietnam as an infantryman (11B) with the 1st Battalion, 12th Calvary Regiment, 1st Calvary Division.  He arrived in Vietnam on 11 November 1967 and on 27 December 1967 sustained fragment wounds to his abdomen and right leg as a result of hostile action.  As a result of his wounds he was medically evacuated from Vietnam, via Japan, to the Great Lakes Naval Hospital in Illinois. The commanding officer of the hospital awarded the applicant the Purple Heart.

5.  The applicant was returned to duty at Fort Riley, Kansas and on 29 May 1969 he was released from active duty with an honorable characterization of service.  Prior to his discharge he was awarded an Army Good Conduct Medal which was confirmed in orders issued by the 24th Infantry Division.  His DD Form 214, however, indicates that he was separated “on temporary records” and item 24 (decoration, medals, badges…) contains the entry “unknown.” 

6.  The applicant’s official military personnel file, which was available to the Board, confirms that prior to his departure from Vietnam he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with “60- device”.

7.  There are basically three requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  The soldier must be an infantryman (11 series specialty), assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and must have actively participated in such ground combat.  As a matter of historical information, on 1 July 1965, the 1st Cavalry Division was officially activated.  It was made up of resources of the 11th Air Assault Division (Test) and brought to full strength by transfer of specialized elements of the 2nd Infantry Division.  As a part of this reorganization, the 1st Battalion (Airborne) 187th Infantry was redesignated the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 12th Cavalry Regiment and the 1st 

Battalion, 23rd Infantry was redesignated the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment.  Based on the 12th Cavalry’s infantry heritage members of its organization were traditionally awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge during the Vietnam era.

8.  A review of Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) notes the applicant’s unit (1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment) was credited with participating in one designated campaign (Vietnam Counter Offensive, Phase III) during the applicant’s period of assignment.  Campaign participation is denoted by bronze service stars on the Vietnam Service Medal.  The unit was also awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm during his tenure with the organization.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence confirms the applicant was awarded a Marksmanship Qualification Badge with “rifle” and “automatic rifle” bars, an Expert Qualification Badge with “machine gun” bar, an Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with “60- device” and a Purple Heart.

2.  The evidence of record also confirms that the applicant is entitled to one bronze service star on his Vietnam Service Medal to denote participation in one designated campaign period while in Vietnam and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm.

3.  The applicant also met the qualification requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and in the interest of justice his records should be corrected accordingly.

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:

a.  by showing that the individual concerned was awarded a Marksmanship Qualification Badge with “rifle” and “automatic rifle” bars, an Expert Qualification Badge with “machine gun” bar, an Army Good Conduct 

Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with “60- device” and a Purple Heart;

b.  by awarding him a bronze service star on his Vietnam Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm; and

c.  by awarding the applicant a Combat Infantryman Badge.

BOARD VOTE:  

__RVO__  __CJP __  __LDS __  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Raymond V. O’Connor _
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001053372	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20010830	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.