PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           24 May 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999030201

	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		Director	
	Mrs. Joyce A. Hughes .		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John N. Slone		Chairperson	
	Mr. Mark D. Manning		Member	
	Ms. Meta Waller		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 that he be awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and that his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected to show the award.

3.  The applicant states in effect that special orders were issued for the personnel attached to the 5th Special Forces Group to receive the CIB award on 25 April 1967.  However, he departed Vietnam before the award was issued so he did not receive his award.  He submits a copy of Special Orders #115, dated 25 April 1967 from the Commander, 5th Special Forces Group (AIRBORNE), 1st Special Forces, APO San Francisco to support his application.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 8 June 1964.  He completed the required training and was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 45B (Small Arms Repairman).

5.  The applicant served in Vietnam from May 1966 to April 1967 with Company D, (Maintenance) 173 Support Battalion and with 5th Special Forces Group (AIRBORNE), 1ST Special Forces.  He was honorably discharged on 19 April 1967.  His DD Form 214, shows that he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal w/Device 60, the Parachutist Badge and the Sharpshooter Badge (M-16 Rifle).
His separation document does not show the CIB award.

6.  The applicant provides, a copy of Special Orders #115, dated 25 April 1967 
from 5th Special Forces Group (AIRBORNE), 1st Special Forces awarding him
the CIB.

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.  It also provides, in pertinent part, that the Good Conduct Medal (GCM) is awarded 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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Special Orders #115 supplied by the applicant as evidence for the CIB award authenticates his entitlement for the award of the CIB.

2.  The records available to the Board indicates that the applicant met the regulatory requirements and was eligible to receive the GCM for the period of 
8 June 1964 to 19 April 1967.

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:

     a.  awarding the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Good Conduct Medal to the individual concerned; and

    b.  correcting the applicant’s DD Form 214, to show the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Good Conduct Meal.

BOARD VOTE:  

__jns___  __mdm___  __mw___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			John N. Slone
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999030201	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000524	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0111	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.