PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                15 February 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999030315

	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. Fred Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Ms. Karol A. Kennedy		Member	
	Mr. Roger Able		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.

3.  The applicant states that he wants his Combat Infantryman Badge added to his records.  In support of his application, the applicant submitted six statements from fellow soldiers, who served with him in Vietnam, attesting to the fact that the applicant served in an infantry position in Vietnam.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he entered active duty on 7 September 1966 and completed training in military occupational specialty (MOS) 11B (light weapons infantryman).  He served in Vietnam from May 1967 to May 1968 and was discharged on 4 December 1968. 

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.

6.  There are no orders in the applicant’s service personnel records which show that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.  His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) does not list the Combat Infantryman Badge in item 41 (Awards and Decorations).

7.  The applicant’s DA Form 20 shows that he was assigned in MOS 11B to an infantry squad in an Armored Cavalry Squadron during his service in Vietnam.  Orders show that he was wounded in action on 19 June 1967 and awarded the Purple Heart.

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.  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 applicant was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.

BOARD VOTE:  

FE_____  KAK_____  RA______  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Fred Eichorn__________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999030315	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000215	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	UOTHC	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19681204	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-212	
DISCHARGE REASON	UNFITNESS	
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	MR SCHNEIDER	
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.