IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 3 May 2012 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20110022469 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 reconsideration of his request to be awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB). 2. The applicant states, in effect, that he received awards showing that he was in active ground combat duty as a point man on patrol as a scout dog handler with the 4th Infantry Division from 3 January 1969 to 3 January 1970 and should have been awarded the CIB. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) and copies of orders and citations for awards of the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) and the Air Medal for meritorious service. 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 AR20100019336, on 1 February 2011. 2. The applicant was inducted in Montgomery, Alabama on 2 April 1968. He completed his one-station unit training as an infantryman at Fort Benning, Georgia and remained at Fort Benning to undergo training as a scout dog handler. 3. He was transferred to Vietnam on 4 January 1969 and was assigned to the 33d Infantry Platoon Scout Dog (IPSD), 4th Infantry Division. He was advanced to the pay grade of E-4 on 11 October 1969. 4. On 28 November 1969 he was awarded the Air Medal for meritorious service during the period 20 February to 27 September 1969. 5. On 13 December 1969 he was awarded the ARCOM for meritorious service during the period of January 1969 to January 1970. 6. A review of his official records failed to show any indication of the applicant engaging the enemy in combat. 7. 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. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. While the sincerity of the applicant’s claim that he should be awarded the CIB for his service in Vietnam is not in doubt, there simply is no evidence to show that he actually engaged the enemy in ground combat. 2. The certificates and citations provided by the applicant show that his awards were for meritorious service and there is no evidence in his records to show his encounters with the enemy. 3. Although it is likely that he did encounter the enemy given he was a scout dog handler, not every infantryman in Vietnam had encounters with the enemy or were awarded the CIB simply for being an infantryman and being in country. Additionally, it is difficult at best to determine what happened in the applicant’s case some 40+ years ago. 4. Therefore, in the absence of sufficient evidence to show that he engaged the enemy in combat, there appears to be no basis to award him the CIB at this time. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ____X___ ___X ___ ____X___ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 1. 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 AR20100019336, dated 1 February 2011. 2. The Board wants the applicant and all others concerned to know that this action in no way diminishes the sacrifices made by the applicant in service to the United States during the Vietnam War. The applicant and all Americans should be justifiably proud of his service in arms. ___________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) AR20110022469 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20110022469 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1