PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:           14 AUGUST 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001055791

	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. Gale J. Thomas		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Walter T. Morrison		Chairperson	
	Mr. Ronald E. Blakely		Member	
	Mr. Joe R. Schroeder		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 by awarding him the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB)  the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) and the Good Conduct Medal (GCM), and that they be listed on his DD Form 
214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge)  

3.  The applicant states that he was involved in fire fights while serving in Vietnam, that he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal when he was promoted to E-5, and that he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that on 3 September 1965 he enlisted in the Regular Army for a period of three years.  He served in Vietnam from 3 June 1967 to 7 June 1968, and was assigned to Battery A, 6th Battalion, 71st Artillery. 

5.  The applicant was promoted to pay grades E-3, E-4 and E-5, on 11 May 1966, 26 February 1967 and 16 April 1968, respectively. 

6.  He was awarded the military occupational specialty (MOS) 16B (Launcher Helper) on 20 January 1966, and 16D (Launcher Crewman) on 16 April 1968.  

7.  General Orders 14, dated 6 May 1968 awarded the applicant the GCM for the period 3 September 1965 to 14 June 1968.

8.  On 8 June 1968, the applicant was honorably discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, chapter 5, overseas returnee.  His DD Form 214 indicates he had 2 years, 9 months and 6 days of creditable service.

9.  Army Regulation 672-5-1, in effect at the time, provides that the Army Commendation Medal may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after
6 December 1941, distinguished himself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.  As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.

10.  Army Regulation 672-5-1, established the criteria for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  It states, in pertinent part, that to be eligible for the CIB, an individual must be an infantryman with an infantry MOS and must perform duty as an infantryman, as a member of an infantry unit of brigade or smaller size, during any period in which that unit was engaged in ground combat.  Battle participation credit alone is not sufficient.  The Awards Branch, 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 and 11H.  

11.  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. 

12.  Army Regulation 635-5, in effect at the time,  provided that item 24 of the   DD Form 214 would reflect decorations, medals, badges, citations and campaign ribbons awarded or authorized.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Orders published on 6 May 1968, confirm that the applicant was awarded the GCM for the period 3 September 1965 to 14 June 1968, and his DD Form 214 should be corrected accordingly.  

2.  There is no evidence in the available records nor did the applicant provide documentation to substantiate his claim that he was awarded the ARCOM, or that he was entitled to the CIB.

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

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by changing the applicant DD Form 214 to show he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal.  

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

__WTM__  __REB__  __JRS __  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Walter T. Morrison      
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001055791	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20010814	
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.