PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                 16 September 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999015249

	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. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Ms. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Melinda M. Darby		Chairperson	
	Ms. Sherri V. Ward		Member	
	Mr. Van B. Cunningham		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, in effect, that his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected to show all awards and decorations to which he is entitled.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his DD Form 214 does not show all the awards and decorations to which he is entitled.

4.  The applicant’s military records show he was inducted on 27 November 1967 as a light weapons infantryman (11B).  He served in Vietnam from 8 May 1968 to 7 May 1969 and was honorably discharged on 26 November 1969.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with “V” Device, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster, the Vietnam Unit Citation, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.  

6.  There are no orders in the applicant’s personnel records, which show that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.  Records show he served as a light weapons infantryman (11B) in an infantry company during his service in Vietnam.

7.  The Board notes that the applicant was awarded the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation by Department of the Army General Orders 31, dated 1969 and the Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation by Department of the Army General Orders 59, dated 1969 which are not shown
on his discharge document.

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 served as a light weapons infantryman (11B) in an infantry company while serving in Vietnam.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show the CIB.

2.  The applicant was awarded the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation and the Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show these awards.

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 Combat Infantryman Badge, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation and the Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation.

BOARD VOTE:  

MMD____  SVW____  VBC____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Melinda M. Darby______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999015249	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990916	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19691126	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  157		
2.  140		
3.  141		
4.		
5.		
6.