MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           1 July 1999                    
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999015166

	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.

	Mr. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Mr. Vic Whitney		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. JoAnn H. Langston		Chairperson	
	Mr. Fred K. McCoy		Member	
	Mr. Stanley Kelley		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) and have it shown on his report of separation.

APPLICANT STATES:  In effect, that his records will show that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal but was overlooked for the CIB.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) fire of 1973.  Information herein was obtained from reconstructed personnel records.

The only military documents in the available record are his enlisted qualification record (WD AGO Form 20), his final payment work sheet, and an application from him in 1951 for a service certificate in lieu of a lost or destroyed discharge.

He was inducted on 17 November 1944.  He completed infantry training and on 2 June 1945 was assigned to an infantry company in the European Theater.  His principal duty is shown as sniper.  He was reassigned to a service company of an infantry regiment effective 28 August 1945.  His principal duty is shown as rifleman.  Effective 23 September 1945 he was reassigned as a rigger to an engineer battalion.  War in Europe ceased effective 8 May 1945.

According to his final payment work sheet the applicant returned to the US on 13 July 1946 and was separated on 17 July 1946 at Fort Meade, Maryland.  At the time of separation he was not receiving combat infantry pay.  The applicant authenticated the work sheet with his signature.  None of the available records show that he received any personal decorations, awards, or medals.

War Department Circular 269-1943 established the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Expert Infantryman Badge to recognize and provide an incentive to infantrymen.  The Expert Infantryman Badge was to be awarded for attainment of certain proficiency standards or by satisfactory performance of duty in action against the enemy.  The CIB was awarded for exemplary conduct in action against the enemy.  War Department Circular 186-1944 further provided that the CIB was to be awarded only to infantrymen serving with infantry units of brigade, regimental or smaller size.  Additionally, World War II holders of the CIB received a monthly pay supplement known as combat infantry pay.  Therefore, soldiers had economic as well as intangible reasons to ensure that their records were correct.  Thus, pay records are frequently the best available source to verify entitlement to this award.

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.  Although the applicant was assigned to an infantry company for almost 3 months there is no evidence of record, or provided by the applicant, to indicate that he was or should have been awarded the CIB.  Additionally there is no record of his award of the Bronze Star Medal.

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

__jhl___  __fkm___  __sk____  DENY APPLICATION

						Loren G. Harrell
						Director

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999015166	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	19990701	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	107.0111	
ISSUES         1.		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.