RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 15 April 2008 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20080001842 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. Catherine C. Mitrano Director Mr. Michael J. Fowler Analyst The following members, a quorum, were present: Mr. Patrick H. McGann Jr. Chairperson Mr. John G. Heck Member Ms. Karmin S. Jenkins Member The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including advisory opinion, if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests reconsideration of an earlier appeal for the Combat Infantryman Badge. 2. The applicant states, in effect, that he is submitting an additional letter of support from a former fellow Soldier assigned to his unit that will show he led combat and ambush patrols at his base camp. 3. The applicant provides a letter of support from a former fellow Soldier, dated 6 November 2007. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20060014317, on 12 June 2007. 2. The applicant was commissioned as an officer of the U.S. Army Reserve on 17 March 1965, and entered active duty on 5 April 1965. He successfully completed the Infantry Officer Basic Course. 3. The applicant arrived in Vietnam with the 4th Administrative Company, 4th Infantry Division on or about 7 October 1966 where he performed duties as a team leader/assistant detachment commander/detachment commander. He was reassigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division on or about 1 December 1966 where he performed duties as assistant S-1. He was reassigned to the 4th Administration Company, 4th Infantry Division on or about 14 December 1966 where he performed duties the assistant special services officer. 4. On 22 March 1967, the applicant departed Vietnam. He was released from active duty on 31 March 1967. His DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) with the period ending 31 March 1967 does not show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. 5. There are no orders in the applicant's service personnel records awarding him the Combat Infantryman Badge. Item 21 (Awards and Decorations) of his DA Form 66 (Officer Qualification Record) does not show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. 6. The applicant submitted a letter of support, dated 6 November 2007, from a former fellow Soldier assigned to his unit. The author stated, in effect, that he deployed to Vietnam with the applicant. He continues that the 4th Infantry Division arrived in Vietnam and established a base camp at Pleiku in the Northern Highlands area. The author states, "A few junior combat services officers were subsequently assigned to the 4th Administrative Company and assumed the patrol and other activities. Lt D___ A_____ was one of the officer (sic) so assigned and, as such, was responsible to lead many perimeter patrol actions as a part of the base camp security. The combat and reconnaissance patrols led by Lt. A_____ and others were conducted several times each week and usually during night time hours." The author continued that the reconnaissance and ambush patrols sites were five to eight kilometers from the base camp. 7. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy and criteria concerning individual military awards. In pertinent part, it states that the Combat Infantryman Badge was established during World War II to provide special recognition of the unique role of the Army infantryman, the only Soldier whose daily mission is to close with and destroy the enemy and to seize and hold terrain. The badge was intended as an inducement for individuals to join the infantry while serving as a morale booster for infantrymen. There are basically three requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. The Soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and must actively participate in such ground combat. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Evidence of record shows that the applicant was awarded an infantry MOS and spent the majority of his service in Vietnam with the 4th Administrative Company, 4th Infantry Division in various staff positions. He served a brief period in an infantry company (1 December 1966 through 14 December 1966) where he also served in a staff position. It is noted that, the letter of support provided by applicant's former fellow Soldier indicated the applicant patrolled and provided perimeter protection for their base camp on a number of occasions around their Pleiku camp. Therefore, it appears he did not serve in active ground combat with the intention of searching out and destroying the enemy on a daily basis. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING __PHM _ __JGH __ ___KSJ _ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis to amend the decision of the ABCMR set forth in Docket Number AR20060014317, dated 12 June 2007. ___Patrick H. McGann Jr._ CHAIRPERSON ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20080001842 2 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 1901 SOUTH BELL STREET 2ND FLOOR ARLINGTON, VA 22202-4508