PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:            16 April 2002 
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002068127

	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	
	Mr. Hubert S. Shaw, Jr		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright		Chairperson	
	Ms. Melinda M. Darby		Member	
	Mr. John T. Meixell		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 award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

3.  The applicant states that his personnel records show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, but it is not shown on his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge).  He states that he served as an infantryman from January 1971 to December 1971 with the 173d Airborne Brigade and with the 222nd Aviation Battalion.  In support of his application he provided a copy of a 173d Airborne Brigade Vietnam Combat Certificate and a copy of page 4 of his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record).

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he entered active duty on 30 April 1970 and served in Vietnam from 18 January 1971 to 2 December 1971.  The applicant was honorably separated from active duty on 3 December 1971. 

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not show the Combat Infantryman Badge as an authorized award in item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized).

6.  The applicant’s records contain 173d Airborne Brigade Special Orders Number 90, dated 31 March 1971, which awarded the applicant the Combat Infantryman Badge.

7.  Review of the applicant’s records indicated that he was entitled to award of the Pathfinder Badge and unit awards which are not shown on his DD Form 214.

8.  Item 45 (Item Continuation) shows that the applicant completed Pathfinder Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, on 18 December 1970.  The applicant’s DA form 20 shows in 41 (Awards and Decorations) that he was awarded the Pathfinder Badge based on Headquarters, The Student Brigade (Fort Benning, Georgia) Special Orders 318, dated 15 December 1970.  The applicant’s records also show that he served as a Pathfinder while assigned to the 222nd Aviation Battalion in Vietnam from 28 May 1971 to 29 November 1971.

9.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists the unit awards received by units serving in Vietnam.  This document shows that, at the time of the applicant’s assignment to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, the unit was cited for award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation by Headquarters Department of the Army General Orders Number 6, dated 1974.

10.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 also shows that, at the time of the applicant’s assignment to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, this unit was cited for award of the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation by Headquarters Department of the Army General Orders Number 5, dated 1973.
CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Orders show that the applicant was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge during his service in Vietnam; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show this badge.

2.  Orders show the applicant was awarded the Pathfinder Badge; therefore he is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show this badge.

3.  Orders show the applicant is entitled to award of the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show these foreign unit awards.

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 by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation.

BOARD VOTE:  

__INW__  __MMD__  ___JTM__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002068127	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020416	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PLUS	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	MR SCHNEIDER	
ISSUES         1.	107.0000.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.