MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           20 June 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002070269

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Ms. Nancy L. Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. Roger W. Able		Member	
	Mr. John T. Meixell		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That he be awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).

APPLICANT STATES:  That he was in a combat infantry position for well over  30 days.  He avoided all reminders of his Vietnam experience for years.  The omission of the CIB was not noticed until he applied for benefits.  Supporting evidence is as listed on the DD Form 149.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

He enlisted in the Regular Army on 19 April 1971.  He completed basic combat training at Fort Ord, CA and advanced individual training at Fort Knox, KY and was awarded military occupational specialty 11D (Armor Reconnaissance Specialist).

The applicant arrived in Vietnam and was assigned to the 5th Cavalry (the specific unit cannot be determined from the entry on his Enlisted Qualification Record, DA Form 20) as an armor reconnaissance specialist.  He was transferred to Company C, 3d Battalion, 187th Infantry on 24 October 1971 and performed duties as an armor reconnaissance specialist.  He was transferred to Company E, 3d Battalion, 187th Infantry on 2 November 1971 and performed duties as an armor reconnaissance specialist.  He was transferred to Company A, 2d Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 3d Brigade (Separate) 1st Cavalry Division on         30 November 1971.  His DA Form 20 does not indicate what duties he performed in that unit.  He was medically evacuated from Vietnam on 15 January 1972 apparently due to a heroin-related problem.  He separated on 8 August 1972.

Army Regulation 600-8-22 prescribes Army policy and criteria concerning individual military awards.  In pertinent part, it states that the CIB was established during World War II to provide special recognition of the unique role of the Army infantryman, the only soldier whose daily mission is to close with and destroy the enemy and to seize and hold terrain.  The badge was intended as an inducement for individuals to join the infantry while serving as a morale booster for infantrymen.  In developing the CIB, the War Department did not dismiss or ignore the contributions of other branches.  Their vital contributions to the overall war effort were noted, but it was decided that other awards and decorations were sufficient to recognize their contributions.  From the beginning, Army leadership have taken care to retain the badge for the unique purpose for which it was established.  There are basically three requirements for award of the CIB.  The soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and must actively participate in such ground combat.  

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  The evidence of record shows the applicant did not meet all the eligibility criteria for award of the CIB.  He may have been assigned to an infantry unit but he was not an infantryman (he was armor) and it appears he performed primary duties as an armor reconnaissance specialist.

2.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__RVO__  __RWA__  __JTM__  DENY APPLICATION

		    Carl W. S. Chun
		    Director, Army Board for Correction
    of Military Records

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002070269	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	2002/06/20	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0111	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.