PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:            3 May 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999031529

	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. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. John H. Kern		Member	
	Mr. Ernest W. Lutz, Jr.		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, in effect, that his initial military occupational specialty (MOS) was infantry and that he was assigned to an infantry company prior to the end of the Korean War.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States), a copy of NA Form 13045 (Informal Information Reply), a copy of NPRC Test Form 99-2B (Addendum to DA Form 1577) and a letter to the National Personnel Records Center dated 11 June 1999.  

4.  The applicant’s military records were destroyed or lost during the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show that the applicant was inducted on
29 January 1953.  He served as a supply sergeant in Korea and was honorably discharged on 10 December 1954. 

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214, which was authenticated in his own hand, does not show the Combat Infantryman Badge as an authorized award.

6.  There are no orders for the Combat Infantryman Badge in the available records.  His records show he was assigned to Company G, 31st Infantry Regiment in MOS 1821 (supply sergeant) during his assignment in Korea.

7.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists the unit awards received by units serving in the Korean conflict.  This document shows the unit, to which the applicant was assigned, was cited for award of the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for actions during the period 30 September 1950 to 27 July 1953 by Department of the Army General Orders Number 22-56.  This award is not shown on his DD Form 214.  

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 prescribes Army policy and procedures concerning awards.  Paragraph 8-6 provides for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).  That paragraph states that there are basically three requirements for award of the CIB.  The soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, he must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and he must actively participate in such ground combat.  Specific requirements state, in effect, that an Army enlisted soldier must be have an infantry specialty, satisfactorily performed duty while assigned or attached as a member of an infantry unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size during any period such unit was engaged in active ground combat.  A recipient must be personally present and under hostile fire while serving in an assigned infantry primary duty, in a unit actively engaged in ground combat with the enemy.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Although the applicant contends that he served in an infantry MOS in Korea, the evidence of record shows that he served in MOS 1821 (supply sergeant) during his assignment in Korea.

2.  There is no evidence that the applicant was ever awarded an infantry MOS, served in an infantry MOS, or served in active ground combat while an assigned member of an infantry company in Korea.  Therefore, he is not entitled to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. 

3.  The applicant’s unit was awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation while he was assigned to it; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his military records to show this award.

4.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

RVO____  JHK____  EWL____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999031529	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000503	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19541210	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-363-5  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0111	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.