RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:            December 2, 2003                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:    AR2003091472

	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. Jessie B. Strickland		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Member	
	Mr. Patrick H. McGann		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).

THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:  

1.  The applicant requests reconsideration of his previous request to add his Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) to his report of separation (DD Form 214).

2.  The applicant states, in effect, that he was awarded the CIB while serving in combat in Korea as an infantryman; however, it was never included on his DD Form 214.   

3.  The applicant provides a copy of a Korean War Casualty Listing, which reflects his branch as infantry and his military occupation specialty (MOS) as 01745.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 

1.  Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR 2001056666 on 9 August 2001.

2.  At the time of the applicant's release from active duty, his DD Form 214 reflects that he was serving in a signal branch specialty.  However, the DD Form 214 does not contain a specialty code and the Board in its previous decision did not have any evidence to corroborate the applicant's claim that he served as an infantryman.

3.  However, the information contained on the casualty listing provided by the applicant as well as information obtained from hospital admission cards created by the Department of the Army Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG) show that the applicant was an infantryman at the time of his admission/hospitalization for wounds received in combat on 10 February 1953.  His MOS was listed as 01745. 

4.  Special Regulation (SR) 615-25-15, Enlisted Personnel Military Occupational Specialties, provides a listing of military occupational specialties and the numbers that coincide with each specialty.  MOS 01745 is listed as a light weapons infantryman.

5.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 establishes the criteria for award of the CIB.  It states, in pertinent part, that to be eligible for the CIB, an individual must be an infantryman with an infantry military occupational specialty (MOS) and must perform duty as an infantryman, as a member of an infantry unit of brigade or smaller size, during any period in which that unit was engaged in ground combat. Battle participation credit alone is not sufficient.

6.  As a matter of information, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Korean War, the Government of the Republic of Korea issued the Korea War Service Medal to, pay tribute to eligible Korean War veterans for their historic endeavors to preserve the freedom of the Republic of Korea and the free world.  On 20 August 1999, the Department of Defense approved acceptance and wear of this foreign service award to eligible US Veterans of the Korean War, or their surviving next of kin.  The medal is provided at no cost to veterans.

7.  The Department of Defense assigned responsibility to the Department of the Air Force for distribution of the Korean War Service medal to eligible veterans or their surviving next of kin.  To apply, veterans must submit a copy of their discharge paper (DD Form 214) to the Awards and Decorations Section, Headquarters, Air Force Personnel Center. 550 C Street West, Suite 12, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas 78150-4714.  A sample request form is being provided to the applicant with his copy of these proceedings.  Once the Korean War Service Medal has been authorized by the Department of the Air Force, the applicant may apply to this Board to add this foreign award to his DD Form 214.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence submitted by the applicant which shows that he was serving as an infantryman at the time he was wounded in combat in Korea, which is also corroborated by hospital admission records created by the OTSG, is sufficient to establish his contention that he was an infantryman while serving in Korea during the period in question.

2.  Accordingly, it is reasonable to presume, given the available facts and circumstances, that he was in fact awarded the CIB as he claims.  

3.  Therefore, it would be in the interest of justice to correct his records to reflect his award of the CIB.

BOARD VOTE:

_PM___  __MM__  __FE___  GRANT RELIEF 

________  ________  _____  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  _____  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant amendment of the ABCMR’s decision in Docket Number AR 2001056666, dated 9 August 2001.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the CIB. 

		Fred N. Eichorn
                                                        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003091472	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	2003/12/02	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD,)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.110.0000	189/CORR 214	
2.107.0111	157/CIB	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.