PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:           4 May 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999029642

	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
Mr. David H. Keller		Director
Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Luther L. Santiful 		Chairperson	
	Mr. James P. Stueve		Member	
	Ms. Carol Jo Suiter 		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 award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).

3.  The applicant states that his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) does not reflect the CIB as a result of his being in combat, although he did receive the Purple Heart as a result of wounds received in combat in Vietnam.  In support of his request, he encloses a copy of his DD Form 214, a letter from a fellow soldier who served with him, and orders assigning him to infantry units in Vietnam.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted on 11 February 1969 and was trained as an infantryman.  After training, he was assigned to Vietnam, where he served with the 1st Battalion, 52d Infantry, as an infantryman.

5.  In August 1969, he was medically evacuated to Camp Zama, Japan, apparently as an result of wounds received in action.  After treatment, he was reassigned to Korea, where he served as a clerk typist.  Upon completion of his tour in Korea, he was reassigned to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he was retrained and served as a cook.

6.  On 10 February 1971, the applicant was honorably separated with 2 years of creditable service.  His DD Form 214 shows his awards as National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, Purple Heart, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Sharpshooter Badge (Rifle).

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 prescribes Army policy and procedures concerning awards.  Paragraph 8-6 provides that there are basically three requirements for the award of the CIB.  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 against a hostile force, and he must actively participate in such ground combat.  Specific requirements state, in effect, that an Army enlisted soldier must have an infantry or special forces specialty, satisfactorily performed duty while assigned or attached as a member of an infantry, ranger or special forces unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size during any period such unit was engaged in active ground combat.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record confirms the applicant met the requirements for award of the CIB during the Vietnam War.

2.  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 awarding the individual concerned the Combat Infantryman Badge based on his service as an infantryman in the Vietnam War.

BOARD VOTE:  

__lls____  ___jps___  __cjs___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__LUTHER L. SANTIFUL__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999029642	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000504	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.