PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:  30 August 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:  ARAR2001057733

	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:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Ms. Linda D. Simmons		Member	
	Mr. Christopher J. Prosser		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 correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.

3.  The applicant states that he served with the 74th Infantry Detachment, Long Range Reconnaissance Platoon (LRRP), of the 173rd Airborne Brigade.
In support of his application he submits a copy of his DD Form 214.

4.  The applicant’s military records show he enlisted on 29 May 1967 as a radio teletype operator (05C).  He served in Vietnam from 19 March 1968 to 19 March 1969 and was honorably released from active duty and transferred to the USAR on 16 March 1970.

5.  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.  Records show the applicant was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 05C (radio teletype operator) upon completion of Advanced Individual Training. 

7.  The applicant’s DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows that, from 24 March 1968 to 16 May 1968, he was assigned to the 74th Infantry Detachment (LRRP), of the 173rd Airborne Brigade as a radio operator (05B) during his service in Vietnam.

8.  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.

9.  U.S. Army Vietnam Regulation Number 672-1 (Awards and Decorations) provided, in pertinent part, for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  Appendix 3 to Annex A of this regulation listed positions which qualified for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  The regulation authorized award of the Combat Infantryman Badge to radio operators (05B) provided their primary duty was to accompany infantry or infantry-type units on tactical operations.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows that he served as a radio operator (05B) from 24 March 1968 to 16 May 1968 with the 74th Infantry Detachment (LRRP), of the 173rd Airborne Brigade during his service in Vietnam.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

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 for the individual concerned be corrected by showing that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.

BOARD VOTE:  

__ro___  ___ls___  __cp____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001057733	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20010830	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19700316	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  157		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.