PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:            29 March 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999029458

	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. Hubert S. Shaw, Jr.		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Robert G. Hinkle		Chairperson	
	Mr. Mark D. Manning		Member	
	Mr. James P. Steuve		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 correction of his records to show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

3.  The applicant states that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, but that it was left off of his discharge.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted on 7 June 1967 and completed training as a light weapons infantryman.  He served in Vietnam from 4 January 1968 through 20 December 1968.  The applicant was honorably discharged from active duty on 6 June 1969.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) does not show the Combat Infantryman Badge as an authorized award.  There are no orders which show that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.

6.  The applicant’s records show that he was awarded an infantry military occupational specialty (MOS) 11B and served in that MOS in an infantry company in Vietnam.  He received the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat.

7.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists the unit awards received by units serving in Vietnam.  This document shows the unit, to which the applicant was assigned, was cited for award of the Presidential Unit Citation for actions during the period 2 January to 12 February 1968 by Department of the Army General Orders Number 42, dated 1970.  This same document shows that the applicant was also entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.

8. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Infantryman Badge 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.  The Awards Branch of the Total Army Personnel Command has advised, in similar cases, that during the Vietnam era the Combat Infantryman Badge was awarded only to enlisted individuals who held and served in MOS 11B, 11C, 11F, 11G, or 11H.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant was awarded an infantry military occupational specialty.  The applicant’s records show that he served in an infantry duty position in an infantry unit of regimental or smaller size in combat in Vietnam.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and correction of his records to show this badge.
2.  The applicant was a member of a unit when it was cited for award of the Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show award of the Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.

3.  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 the individual concerned was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.

BOARD VOTE:  

__RHG__  __MDM__  __JPS__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		        Robert G. Hinkle____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999029458	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	29 March 2000	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19690609	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON	ETS	
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PLUS	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	MR SCHNEIDER	
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.