PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:          

	BOARD DATE:                 27 April 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:         AR1999031318

	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.  

	Ms. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Elizabeth Buchanon		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas A. Pagan		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 correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show that he was awarded the Air Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge with wreath (correctly known as the Combat Infantryman Badge).

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his DD Form 214 does not show the Air Medal or the Combat Infantryman Badge.  In support of his application, he submitted a copy of orders awarding him the Air Medal.

4.  The applicant’s military records show he was inducted on 16 August 1968 as a light weapons infantryman (11B).  He served in Vietnam from 13 February 1969 to 11 February 1970 and was honorably discharged on 14 August 1970.

5.  His discharge document does not show the Air Medal or the Combat Infantryman Badge as authorized awards.

6.  Headquarters, lst Cavalry Division (AIRMOBILE) General Orders 
Number 1454, dated 27 January 1970 awarded the applicant the Air Medal for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight in the Republic of Vietnam from February 1969 to December 1969.

7.  There are no orders in the applicant’s personnel records, which show that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.  The applicant’s DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows he served as a light weapons infantryman (11B) in an infantry company in combat during his service in Vietnam.

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.  The applicant was awarded the Air Medal; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

2.  Evidence of record shows the applicant served as light weapons infantryman (11B) in an infantry company in combat while serving in Vietnam.  Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and correction of his records to show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.
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 showing in item 24 (Decorations and Awards) of his DD Form 214 that he was awarded the Air Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

BOARD VOTE:  

EB______  TAP____  KLW____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____ELIZABETH BUCHANON____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999031318	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000427	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19700814	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR .635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  157		
2.  64		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.