MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           2 March 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999029903

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration 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. Edwin S. Castle		Chairperson	
	Mr. Stanley Kelley		Member	
	Ms. Kathleen A. Newman		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That he be awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge
(CIB).

APPLICANT STATES:  In effect, while serving in Vietnam, his unit supported 
infantry operations.  He further states that he came under enemy fire on many occasions.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

The applicant was inducted into the Army on 9 September 1968.  He completed basic training and advanced individual training and was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 16F10 (Ammunition Handler).

On 27 January 1969, the applicant was assigned to Battery D, 5th Battalion
(AW)(SP), 2nd Artillery, Vietnam where he served as a ammunitions bearer.  He
departed Vietnam on 26 January 1970.

Army Regulation 600-8-22 prescribes Army policy and criteria concerning individual military awards.  In pertinent part, it states that the CIB was established during World War II to provide special recognition of the unique role of the Army
Infantryman, the only soldier whose daily mission is to close with and destroy the enemy and to seize and hold terrain.  The badge was intended as an inducement for individuals to join the infantry while serving as a moral booster for infantrymen.  In developing the CIB, the War Department did not dismiss or ignore the contributions of other branches.  Their vital contributions to the overall war effort were noted, but it was decided that other awards and decorations ere sufficient to recognize their contributions.  From the beginning, Army leadership have taken care to retain the badge for the unique purpose for which it was established.  There are basically three requirements for award of the CIB.  The
soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and must actively participate in such ground combat.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy the aforementioned requirement.

2.  The evidence of record shows that while the applicant held a combat MOS, it was not an infantry MOS.  While he certainly performed combat duties and may have supported the infantry to the extent of being involved in enemy fire while in
Vietnam, however, those duties do not qualify him for award of the CIB.  The Board does recognized his exemplary services however, he does not meet the requirement to be awarded the CIB.  

3.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__esc___  ___sk___  __kan___  DENY APPLICATION

Karl F. Schneider
Director, Army Review Boards Agency

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999029903	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000302	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19700908	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR635-200, Chap 2	
DISCHARGE REASON	A03.00	
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0111	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.