BOARD DATE: 4 August 2011 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20110000873 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests reconsideration of an earlier request to add the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) to his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States). 2. The applicant states: * He received the CIB in 1953 for his service in combat at the Punchbowl Battle * Military records for the 5th Regiment during the period 1953-1954 were lost in a fire * He should not be punished by denying him the honor he has already been awarded because his records were destroyed in the St. Louis fire 3. The applicant provides: * A statement from a fellow Soldier at the time in question * A photograph of a vehicle with the 5th Regiment identification on it * A photograph of Soldiers with a 75mm recoil rifle * A newspaper article which states he was awarded the CIB while serving in Korea. * A letter, dated 7 January 2011, from a Member of Congress 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 AR20100016437, on 7 December 2010. In these proceedings he was advised a witness statement that conclusively shows he actively participated in ground combat while assigned to an infantry unit might be acceptable corroborating evidence. 2. The applicant provided an undated statement from a fellow Soldier at the time in question. He attests: * He served with the applicant in the Korean War on the front lines * He met the applicant during the last two weeks in January 1953 at the Punchbowl * They were assigned to Company H, 5th Regimental Combat Team * They were awarded the CIB at the same time 3. He also provided two photographs. 4. The statement and photographs are new evidence which will be considered by the Board. 5. The newspaper article provided by the applicant was previously considered by the Board. 6. His military records are not available to the Board for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members' records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. It is believed that the applicant's records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, there were sufficient documents remaining in a reconstructed record for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. 7. He was inducted into the Army of the United States on 4 September 1952. He completed his training and was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 1812 (Heavy Weapons Infantry Leader). On 4 June 1954, he was honorably released from active duty and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve to complete his remaining Reserve obligation. He completed a total of 1 year, 9 months, and 1 day of creditable active service. 8. Item 27 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214 does not show the CIB as an authorized award. 9. There are no orders for the CIB in the available records. 10. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides that the CIB is awarded to infantry officers and to enlisted and warrant officer persons who have an infantry MOS. They must have served in active ground combat while assigned or attached to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. He contends he received the CIB in 1953. 2. The evidence shows the applicant held an infantry MOS during his assignment in Korea but there are no orders for the CIB in the available records. However, in this case, the statement provided by the fellow Soldier at the time in question confirms the applicant served in combat in Korea while assigned to Company H of the 5th Regimental Combat Team and that he received the CIB. Therefore, this statement is accepted as sufficient as a basis for adding the CIB to his DD Form 214. BOARD VOTE: ____x_ ___x_____ ___x_____ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL 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 AR20100016437, dated 7 December 2010. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by adding the CIB to his DD Form 214. _______ _ x _______ ___ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20110000873 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20110000873 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1