MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:     

	BOARD DATE:           19 January 2003                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002075200

	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. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mr. Edmund P. Mercanti		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. Stanley Kelley		Member	
	Mr. Harry B. Oberg		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).

APPLICANT STATES:  He was “functionally impaired to do anything because I was intoxicated in mind or drunkenness by attacked by mortar and rocket fire.”  He continues that it was his job to not let the Viet Cong come into their landing zone at night.  As such, he was engaged in combat and deserved the CIB.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

He was inducted and entered on active duty on 25 May 1967.  He completed basic combat training and then entered training to be a cook at Ft. Polk, Louisiana.  He was awarded the military occupational specialty (MOS) of cook.

He served in Vietnam from 22 October 1967 to 17 October 1968.  While in Vietnam, he served as a cook’s helper in the 21st Service and Supply Company, and was promoted to pay grade E-4.

On 23 May 1969, he was honorably released from active duty at the expiration of his term of service.  His separation document shows that he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device.

Subsequently, the applicant’s separation document was amended to show that he was awarded four bronze service stars to his Vietnam Service Medal, and that he was awarded the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.

Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the CIB 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.  

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record and applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  The applicant was a cook, not an infantryman.  As such, he was not entitled to the CIB.

2.  In addition, the applicant was not assigned to an infantry unit.  This further disqualifies him for the CIB.

3.  While soldiers of all MOS’s are subject to hostile fire while serving in a combat zone, the CIB is reserved for the infantryman to acknowledge and honor those whose very job keeps them in the midst of hostilities.  No other soldier in combat is more exposed on a daily basis to the dangers and hardships of war and no other branch of the service suffers more casualties than the infantry.  To maintain the prestige, uniqueness, and traditional value of the CIB, the criteria for award has changed little over the years.

4.  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

____hbo_  ____sk__  ___rvo___  DENY APPLICATION

		    Carl W. S. Chun
		    Director, Army Board for Correction
    of Military Records

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002075200	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20021219	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR .  .  .  .  .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.