PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:          

	BOARD DATE:              10 January 2002                
	DOCKET NUMBER:      AR2001063734

	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. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Ms. Beverly A. Young		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Mr. Ted S. Kanamine		Member	
	Mr. John T. Meixell		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 records to show award of the Combat Medical Badge.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that the Combat Medical Badge should be added to his DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214), dated 23 March 1994.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge), his DD Form 215, and a DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards).

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 14 August 1967 and completed training as a medical specialist.  He served in Vietnam from 20 February 1968 through 24 February 1969 and in Germany from 29 September 1969 through 8 June 1970.  The applicant was honorably released from active duty on 12 June 1970.  

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not show the Combat Medical Badge as an authorized award.  

6.  The applicant provided a copy of a DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 1 September 2001, which shows he is entitled to award of the Combat Medical Badge.

7.  Records show the applicant served as a medical aidman in the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry, of the 1st Infantry Division during combat in Vietnam.  

8.  Orders in the applicant’s personnel records show he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds he sustained as a result of hostile action in Vietnam.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Medical Badge is awarded to medical department personnel (colonel and below) who are assigned or attached to a medical unit of company or smaller size that is organic to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental or smaller size which is engaged in active ground combat.  Battle participation credit is not sufficient; the infantry unit must have been in contact with the enemy.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows the applicant was assigned as a medical aidman in an infantry company in combat in Vietnam.  Award of the Purple Heart attests to the fact his unit engaged the enemy in ground combat.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show award of the Combat Medical 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 individual concerned was awarded the Combat Medical Badge.

BOARD VOTE:  

FNE____  TSK_____  JTM_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Fred N. Eichorn_______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001063734	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020110	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0113	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.