PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:     

	BOARD DATE:           12 March 2002   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001061251

	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. Rosa M. Chandler		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright		Chairperson	
	Mr. Raymond J. Wagner		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 DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected to show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).

3.  The applicant states that the CIB was removed from his discharge documents.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army (RA) for 3 years on 9 April 1951.  On 17 September 1951, he arrived in Inchon, Korea, and was assigned to the 2nd Replacement Company, 2nd Infantry Division. On 20 September 1951, he was further assigned to Company E, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division in (MOS) 4745 (Light Weapons Infantryman).

5.  On 11 October 1951, the applicant was wounded in action against a hostile force when he was hit in the neck by shrapnel.  He was treated at the 3rd Station Hospital, Korea.  He was awarded the Purple Heart by General Orders Number 78, Headquarters, 3rd Station Hospital, dated 14 October 1951.  Following treatment for his wound, he was returned to duty.

6.  On 14 December 1951, he was assigned to the 549th Quartermaster Laundry Company, APO 301.  He served as a tumbler man in the laundry.  On 19 June 1952, his MOS was officially changed to MOS 5103 (Dry Clean Machine Operator).  On 1 November 1952, his MOS was converted to MOS 3103 (Laundry and Dry Cleaning Specialist). 

7.  In June 1952, the applicant returned to the United States and on 25 July 1952, he was assigned to Fort Ord, California.  On 26 March 1954, he was honorably discharged with 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days of creditable active Federal service and no lost time.  Item 27 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) on his DD Form 214, shows that he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with two bronze service stars, and the United Nations Service Medal.  There is no evidence to indicate that he was ever awarded the CIB.

8.  Army Regulation (AR) 600-8-22 (Military Awards) sets forth Department of the Army criteria, policy and instructions concerning individual military awards, the Good Conduct Medal, service medals and service ribbons, combat and special skill badges and tabs, unit decorations, and trophies and similar devices awarded in recognition of accomplishments.

9.  AR 600-8-22 provides for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).  It 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.

10.  AR 600-8-22 also provides that the Good Conduct Medal (GCMDL) 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 GCMDL, disqualification must be justified.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant served as an infantryman in Company E, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division during the Korean War.  He saw action and was wounded in combat on 11 October 1951.  He is entitled to have his DD Form 214 issued on 26 March 1954 corrected to show award of the CIB.

2.  The applicant is also entitled to award of the GCMDL.

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 issuing to the individual concerned a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214) to show in Item 27 of his DD Form 214 issued on 26 March 1954 that he was awarded of the CIB and the GCMDL.

BOARD VOTE:  

__INW__  __RJW___  __GJW_  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_Irene N. Wheelwright_
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001061251	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020312	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19540326	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR615-365	
DISCHARGE REASON	A03.00	
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT PLUS)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0111	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.