PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           25 May 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999029646

	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.  

	Mrs. Joyce A. Hughes		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Elzey J. Arledge, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. Ernest W. Lutz, Jr.		Member	
	Mr. Kenneth L. Wright		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 in effect, that his detachment papers clearly indicated that he met all of the requirements for receiving the CIB.  He further states that his previous request for the award was denied.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted into the Regular Army on 
29 December 1967, for 2 years.  He completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training and was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 11B10 Light Weapons Infantryman.

5.  The applicant was assigned to Vietnam with Company B, 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry from July 1968 to August 1969 as an Light Weapons Infantryman.  He was assigned to Headquarters, 184th Ordnance Battalion and to Headquarters, U.S. Army Support Command in Vietnam as a Security Guard until he departed Vietnam on 
7 August 1969.

6.  On 10 August 1969, the applicant was released from active duty and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve.  He completed 1 year, 7 months and 11 days of creditable active service.  His DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) shows that he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Sharpshooter Badge (M-14) and Overseas Service Bars (2).

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Infantryman Badge is awarded to Army infantry or special forces officers in the grade of colonel or below, or to Army enlisted soldiers or warrant officers with an infantry or special forces military occupational specialty who, subsequent to 6 December 1941, 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.  Battle participation credit alone is not sufficient.  The unit must have been in active ground combat with the enemy during the period.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides, in pertinent part, for the award of the Good Conduct Medal for each 3 years of continuous enlisted active Federal Military service completed on or after 27 August 1940 and, for the first award only, upon termination of service on or after 27 June 1950 of less than 3 years but more than 1 year.  At the time, a soldier’s conduct and efficiency rating must have been rated as “excellent” for the entire period of qualifying service.

9.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 shows that the Company B, 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/palm for the period 7-9 December 1968.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant received the required training and was awarded the infantryman MOS.  He served in an infantry unit that was engaged in combat operations during the Vietnam War from July 1968 to August 1969.  Therefore, in accordance with the governing regulation, he is entitled to the CIB award.

2.  The records available to the Board indicated that the applicant met the regulatory requirements and was eligible to receive the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period of 29 December 1967 to 10 August 1969.

3.  The evidence of record also shows that the applicant was assigned to the
Company B, 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry during the period of time the unit was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/palm.

4.  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: 

     a.  awarding the applicant the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Army Good
Conduct Medal 1st award for the period 29 December 1967 – 10 August 1969; and

     b.  adding the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Good Conduct Medal and the 
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/palm to the applicant’s DD Form 214 .

BOARD VOTE:  

__eja___  __ewl___  __klw___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			Elzey J. Arledge, Jr.
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999029646	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000525	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES           1.	107.0111	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.