IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 5 August 2010 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20100001071 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. 2. The applicant states: * while in the service he earned the Combat Infantryman Badge and it does not show up on his records * he did not notice this until he applied for disability benefits * he believes the award was inadvertently omitted from his DD Form 214 * he earned the Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Bronze Star Medal while serving in Company F, 58th Infantry LRP [Long Range Patrol] and Company L (Ranger), 75th Infantry in Vietnam 3. The applicant provides no documentary evidence in support of his application. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant’s failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file. In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing. 2. The applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 17 November 1967. He was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 31B (field radio mechanic) and later 11F (infantry operations and intelligence specialist). His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows his duty MOS was 11B (light weapons infantryman) while assigned to Company F, 58th Infantry LRP in Vietnam from 27 May 1968 through 19 February 1969. His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows his duty MOS was 11B and MOS 11F while assigned to Company L (Ranger), 75th Infantry in Vietnam from 20 February 1969 through 15 May 1969. On 14 November 1969, he was released from active duty and he was transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Control Group (Annual Training) to complete his remaining service obligation. 3. The applicant's DD Form 214 does not show the Combat Infantryman Badge as an authorized award. 4. There are no orders for the Combat Infantryman Badge in the available records. 5. Item 41 (Awards and Decorations) on the applicant's DA Form 20 does not show entitlement to the Combat Infantryman Badge. 6. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states 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. Additionally, appendix V of U.S. Army Vietnam Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) provides that during the Vietnam era the Combat Infantryman Badge was awarded only to enlisted individuals who held and served in MOS 11B, 11C, 11D, 11F, 11G, or 11H. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The evidence of record shows the applicant held an infantry MOS and served in an infantry MOS while assigned to infantry companies in Vietnam; however, there are no orders for the Combat Infantryman Badge available. In addition, there is no evidence of record and the applicant did not provide any evidence which shows he served in active ground combat while an assigned member of an infantry unit of brigade or smaller size in Vietnam. Regrettably, there is insufficient evidence on which to base award of the Combat Infantryman Badge in this case. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ____x____ ____x____ ____x____ 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 for correction of the records of the individual concerned. ___________x____________ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20100001071 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20100001071 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1