IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 30 August 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150011908 BOARD VOTE: ____X_____ __X_____ ___X_____ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 30 August 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150011908 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant amendment of the ABCMR's decision in Docket Number AR20140015835, dated 12 May 2015. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. Awarding him the Combat Infantryman Badge for the period from 27 February 1967 through December 1967. b. Amending his DD Form 214 with an effective date of 1 July 1968 by deleting the Vietnam Service Medal and adding the: * Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) * Vietnam Service Medal with 3 bronze service stars * Combat Infantryman Badge * Marksman Marksmanship Badge with Rifle Bar * Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation _____________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. IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 30 August 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150011908 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 his previous request for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. 2. The applicant states his previous request was denied because he didn't have the order awarding him the Combat Infantryman Badge. He has no way to find the order. He was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry and he was in combat for a year. 3. The applicant provides: * a statement, dated 8 July 2015, from J____ L. C____ (Master Sergeant (MSG)/1st Sergeant (1SG) Retired) * DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge), with an effective date of 1 July 1968 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 AR20140015835 on 12 May 2015. 2. On 13 September 1966, the applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States. He completed basic combat and advanced individual training and was awarded military occupation specialty (MOS) 11B (Light Weapons Infantryman). 3. U.S. Army Training Center, Fort Bragg, NC, Special Orders Number 129, dated 2 November 1966, awarded the applicant the Marksman Marksmanship Badge with Rifle Bar. 4. He was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry as a rifleman and team leader from 4 March 1967 - 22 February 1968 in the Republic of Vietnam. He participated in three campaigns. On 22 January 1968, he was promoted to sergeant/pay grade E-5. 5. Headquarters, U.S. Army Personnel Center, Fort Jackson, SC, General Orders Number 40, dated 18 June 1968, awarded the applicant the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award). 6. On 1 July 1968, he was released from active duty. He completed 1 year, 9 months, and 17 days of active service that was characterized as honorable. His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded or is authorized the: * National Defense Service Medal * Vietnam Service Medal * Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960) * Air Medal 7. There are no orders in the applicant's Military Personnel Records Jacket (MPRJ) awarding him the Combat Infantryman Badge. 8. Review of the Awards and Decorations Computer-Assisted Retrieval System (ADCARS), an index of general orders issued during the Vietnam era between 1965 and 1973 maintained by the Awards and Decorations Branch of the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, failed to reveal any orders awarding the applicant the Combat Infantryman Badge. 9. The applicant provided a statement, dated 8 July 2015, from J____ L. C____ (MSG/1SG Retired). 1SG C____ recommended the applicant be awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. 1SG C____ stated he served as the applicant's squad leader while assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry in the Republic of Vietnam from 27 February 1967 through December 1967. 1SG C____ stated the applicant was a fine outstanding Soldier and he served very well in combat during this period. 10. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists campaign participation credit, assault landing credit, unit citation emblems awarded during the Vietnam Conflict. This pamphlet shows that, during the time of the applicant’s assignment to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry the unit was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation for the period 9 August 1965 - 19 May 1969, based on Department of the Army General Order (DAGO) Number 59, dated 1969. REFERENCES: 1. Appendix V of U.S. Army Vietnam Regulation Number 672-1 (Awards and Decorations), in effect at the time, provided the policy concerning the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. a. The Combat Infantryman Badge was authorized for award to infantry officers and to enlisted and warrant officer persons who had an infantry MOS and required that they must have served in active ground combat while assigned or attached to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental or smaller size. b. The term "smaller size" was defined as a unit of squad, platoon or company size. Personnel possessing an infantry MOS in a rifle squad or a cavalry platoon of an armored cavalry troop would be eligible for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge if other criteria are also met. c. During the Vietnam era, infantry MOSs for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge were identified as MOS 11B, 11C, 11D, 11F, 11G, or 11H. 2. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. The award of a bronze service star is authorized based on qualifying service for each campaign listed in Table B-1 of this regulation. Authorized service stars will be worn on the appropriate campaign and service medal, which in this case is the Vietnam Service Medal. DISCUSSION: 1. There are no orders in his MPRJ or in ADCARS awarding the applicant the Combat Infantryman Badge. 2. The applicant was an infantryman assigned infantry duties in an infantry company. 3. The applicant's former squad leader in the Republic of Vietnam, now a retired 1SG, stated the applicant served very well in combat during the period from 27 February 1967 through December 1967. 4. The applicant participated in three campaigns while in the Republic of Vietnam. He is authorized three bronze service stars to be worn on his Vietnam Service Medal. 5. While he was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry, the unit was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation. 6. Orders in his MPRJ show the applicant was awarded the: * Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) * Marksman Marksmanship Badge with Rifle Bar //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150011908 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150011908 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2