ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS BOARD DATE: 18 July 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20190007363 APPLICANT REQUESTS: in effect, award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show this award. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record under the Provisions of Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 1552) * DD Form 214 * DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214) FACTS: 1. The applicant states the CIB is missing from his DD Form 214. He believes his record is in error because his military occupational specialty (MOS) was 11B (Light Weapons Infantryman). He realized the CIB was missing from his DD Form 214 when he applied to become a member of the CIB Association, where it was pointed out that it was not listed on his DD Form 214. 2. He was inducted into the Army of the United States on 14 May 1968. He completed initial entry training and was awarded MOS 11B. 3. His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows he served in Vietnam from 23 October 1968 to 16 December 1968 while assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He participated in two campaigns during this period. This form also shows he received all "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings throughout his service. 4. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Purple Heart with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster for wounds sustained in action in the Republic of Vietnam on 22 November 1968 and 17 December 1968. 5. On 15 July 1969, he retired by reason of permanent physical disability. He completed 1 year, 2 months, and 2 days of net active service, including 2 months and 23 days of foreign service. His DD Form 214, as amended by a DD Form 215, shows he was awarded or authorized the: * National Defense Service Medal * Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device * Purple Heart with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster * Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars * Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation * Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation * Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar 6. His records are void of orders awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal and/or the CIB. BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. The Board carefully considered the applicant’s request, supporting documents and evidence in the records. The Board considered the applicant’s statement, his service in Vietnam, his MOS and unit of assignment there, his Bronze Star w/”V” and two awards of the Purple Heart and medical retirement. The Board determined by preponderance of evidence that the applicant was entitled to the Combat Infantryman Badge for his service in Vietnam. The Board further determined that the applicant was entitled to the Army Good Conduct Medal based on his conduct and efficiency ratings and the Board concurs with the administrative correction noted below. 2. After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that relief 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 correction stated in the Administrative Note(s) 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: - Awarding him the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) for his actions while engaged with enemy forces on 22 November 1968 while in Vietnam; - adding the CIB to item 24 of his DD Form 214 for the period of service ending 15 July 1969 - awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal for his period of service ending 15 July 1969, and; - adding the Army Good Conduct Medal to his DD Form 214. 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): The applicant is authorized award of the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960) based on his military records and Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards). REFERENCES: 1. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. a. The CIB is awarded to infantry or special forces officers and enlisted and warrant officer persons who have an infantry or special forces MOS. They must have served in active ground combat while assigned or attached to an infantry, ranger, or special forces unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size. Specifically, a recipient must be personally present and under hostile fire while serving in an assigned infantry or special forces primary duty in a unit actively engaged in ground combat with the enemy. b. The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960) was awarded by the Government of the Republic of Vietnam to service members of the U.S. Armed Forces who served in the Republic of Vietnam for 6 months during period 1 March 1961 to 28 March 1973, inclusive. To qualify, personnel must have served in the Republic of Vietnam for 6 months, or for less than 6 months and have been: * wounded by hostile forces * captured by hostile forces, but later escaped, was rescued, or released * killed in action or otherwise in the line of duty 2. U.S. Army Vietnam Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) provided for award of the CIB during the Vietnam era. Appendix V stated the CIB was awarded only to enlisted individuals who held and served in MOS 11B (Infantryman), 11C (Indirect Fire Infantryman), 11D (Armor Reconnaissance Specialist), 11F (Infantry Operations and Intelligence Specialist), 11G (Infantry Senior Sergeant), or 11H (Infantry Direct Fire Crewman). 3. Army Regulation 672-5-1 (Awards), in effect at the time, stated the Army Good Conduct Medal was awarded for each 3 years of continuous enlisted active Federal military service completed on or after 27 August 1940; for the first award only, 1 year served entirely during the period 7 December 1941 to 2 March 1946; and, for the first award only, upon termination of service on or after 27 June 1950 of less than 3 years but more than 1 year when final separation was by reason of physical disability incurred in the line of duty. The enlisted person must have had all "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings. Ratings of "unknown" for portions of the period under consideration were not disqualifying. Service school efficiency ratings based upon academic proficiency of at least "good" rendered subsequent to 22 November 1955 were not disqualifying. There must have been no convictions by a court-martial. However, there was no right or entitlement to the medal until the immediate commander made a positive recommendation for its award and until the awarding authority announced the award in general orders. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (continued) AR20190007363 4 1