PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            15 AUGUST 2002                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002071942

	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. Kenneth H. Aucock		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John N. Slone		Chairperson	
	Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright		Member	
	Mr. Jose A. Martinez		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 be corrected to show award of the Purple Heart.  

3.  The applicant submits a copy of his DD Form 214 and a copy of a certificate showing that he was awarded the Purple Heart on 20 April 1968. 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army on    3 May 1967 and was assigned to Fort Knox, Kentucky for basic combat training.  On 23 June 1967 he was awarded the Sharpshooter Qualification Badge with rifle bar.  In September 1967 he was assigned to Fort McClellan, Alabama, for training as an infantryman.  While there, he was awarded the Expert Qualification Badge with pistol bar and the Marksman Qualification Badge with automatic rifle bar.  He completed his training and in February 1968 was assigned as an infantryman to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry, a 25th Infantry Division unit in Vietnam.  Orders published by Headquarters, 25th Infantry Division, on       20 April 1968, show that the applicant was wounded in action on 4 April 1968.  The applicant’s DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows award of the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

5.  The applicant returned to the United States in February 1969.  He participated in four campaigns during his tour in Vietnam.  The 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry was awarded the Valorous Unit Award, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation, for its actions while the applicant was assigned to that unit.   

6.  The applicant was released from active duty on 14 February 1969.  He had     1 year, 8 months, and 17 days of service, and 25 days of lost time.  His             DD Form 214 does not reflect the above mentioned awards, nor does it reflect the number of campaigns in which he participated.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, and states that there are basically three requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was awarded the Purple Heart.  That award should be shown on his DD Form 214.

2.  The applicant’s records do not reflect award of the Combat Infantryman Badge; however, he was an infantryman, was wounded in action, and was  assigned to an infantry company throughout his tour in Vietnam.  He most assuredly participated in combat.  Thus, he met the requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, and is therefore entitled to that award. 

3.  The applicant was awarded the Expert Qualification Badge with pistol bar, the Sharpshooter Qualification Badge with rifle bar, and the Marksman Qualification Badge with automatic rifle bar.  Those awards should be reflected on his          DD Form 214.

4.  The applicant participated in four campaigns during his tour in Vietnam.  He is entitled to award of the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars (one for each campaign).

5.  The applicant is entitled to award of the Valorous Unit Award, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation.

6.  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 Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Qualification Badge with pistol bar, the Sharpshooter Qualification Badge with rifle bar, the Marksman Qualification Badge with automatic rifle bar, the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars, the Valorous Unit Award, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation. 

BOARD VOTE:  

__JNS_ _  __INW __  __JAM  __  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____ John N. Slone_______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002071942	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020815	
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.