ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS BOARD DATE: 11 June 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20180002361 APPLICANT REQUESTS: * his social security number (SSN) be corrected on his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) * award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * DD Form 214 * Discharge Certificate FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the three year time frame provided in Title 10, United States Code (USC), section 1552 (b); however, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records conducted a substantive review of this case and determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. 2. The applicant states the first three numbers of his SSN is incorrect. He would also like his DD Form 214 corrected to reflect the CIB he received while serving in the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. The administrative clerk was negligent in his duties and did not add the CIB to the applicant’s records upon completion of his combat tour. 3. The applicant’s SSN request is supported by sufficient evidence; therefore, it will be administratively corrected and not considered by the Board. The Board will consider CIB. 4. The applicant provides: * his DD Form 214 showing his was not awarded a CIB and his SSN reflected as XXX-XX-XXXX * his discharge certification showing his SSN as XXX-XX-XXXX 5. A review of the applicant’s service record shows: * 11 May 1967 - inducted the United States Regular Army * 17 October 1967 to 14 October 1968 - served in Vietnam as a 11B (Light Weapon’s Infantryman) and he was awarded o National Defense Service Medal o Vietnam Service Medal with two Campaign Stars o Vietnam Campaign Medal o Bronze Star Medal with “V” device o Army Commendation Medal with “V” device o two Overseas Service Bars o Marksman Marksmanship Badge (M-14) * 9 May 1969 – received an honorable discharge and transferred to the United States Army Reserve (USAR) 6. Army Regulation (AR) 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 (USARV) Regulation 672-1 states 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. BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. The Board carefully considered the applicant’s request, supporting documents and evidence in the records. The Board discussed the applicant’s MOS, his unit of assignment and the narratives of the Bronze Star w/V and ARCOM w/V awards he received. The Board determined that the evidence was sufficient to award him the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. The Board concurred with the administrative correction regarding his SSN as noted below. 2. After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that partial relief was warranted. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 :X :X :X GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: In addition to the administrative correction shown in the Administrative Notes below, the Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by reissuing the applicant a DD Form 214 for the period of service ending 9 May 1969 showing: - Award of the Combat Infantryman Badge on 7 May 1968, and; - adding the CIB to his DD Form 214. 2 July 2019 X Chairperson Signed by: 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. ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE(S): 1. Applicant requests to correct his DD Form 214 for the period ending May 9, 1969, by correcting his social security number to show XXX-XX-XXXX instead of XXX-XX-XXXX. 2. A review of the records listed below (enclosed) is sufficient to substantiate correction of the DD Form 214 without action by the Board. * DA Form 20 (Personnel Qualification Record) * DD Form 398 (Statement of Personnel History) * Discharge Certificate REFERENCES: 1. Title 10, USC, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within three 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 three-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. 2. Army Regulation (AR) 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 (USARV) Regulation 672-1 states 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. 3. U.S. Army Vietnam Regulation 672-1 (Awards and Decorations) governed award of the Combat Infantryman Badge to Army forces operating in South Vietnam. This regulation stated that criteria for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge identified the man who trained, lived, and fought as an infantryman and that the Combat Infantryman Badge was the unique award established to recognize the infantryman and only the infantryman for his service. Further, “the Combat Infantryman Badge is not an award for being shot at or for undergoing the hazards of day to day combat.” This regulation also stated the Combat Infantryman Badge was authorized for award to infantry officers, to enlisted personnel, and to warrant officers who had an infantry specialty/military occupational specialty and required that they must have served in active ground combat while assigned or attached to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental or smaller size.