ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 1 May 2020 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20190008567 APPLICANT REQUESTS: reconsideration of his previous request for award of the Combat Medical Badge. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * Letter, Applicant, dated 4 April 2019 * Letter, Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR), dated 10 December 2018 * Letter, Mr. D____, dated 26 February 2019 REFERENCES: Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), in effect at the time, prescribed policies and procedures for military awards and decorations. The Combat Medical Badge is awarded to medical department personnel (colonel and below) who are assigned or attached to a medical unit of company or smaller size that is organic to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size which is engaged in active ground combat. The infantry unit must have been in contact with the enemy and the Soldier must have been personally present and under fire during such ground combat. a. Effective 16 January 1991, medical personnel who were assigned or attached to armor and ground cavalry units of brigade or smaller size, and who satisfactorily performed medical duties when the unit was engaged in actual ground combat, are eligible for this award, provided they were personally present and under fire. b. The Combat Medical Badge is authorized for the Southwest Asia Conflict from 17 January to 11 April 1991. FACTS: 1. Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the ABCMR in Docket Number AR20170009325 on 6 December 2018. 2. The applicant states he was unaware that his performance of duty as outlined in his noncommissioned officer evaluation reports and Army Commendation Medal in his first ABCMR request would not be sufficient to satisfy the Board's need to determine that he was assigned or attached to a ground cavalry unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size and satisfactorily performed his medical duties when his unit was engaged in actual ground combat and he was personally present and under fire. He reached out to his comrade who served directly with him and who was awarded the COMBAT MEDICAL BADGE for his service performed along with him for a statement of his service. 3. His DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record – Part II) shows in: a. item 5 (Oversea Service), he received overseas tour credit for service in Saudi Arabia from 23 December 1990 through 17 May 1991; and b. item 35 (Record of Assignments), he was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Division, in Germany from 29 June 1989 through 22 September 1991 in duty military occupational specialty 91B (Medical Specialist) as a senior medical aidman. 4. Section D (Overseas Service) of his Enlisted Record Brief, dated 6 June 2003, shows he deployed with his unit to Saudi Arabia in support of Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm from 23 December 1990 through 17 May 1991. 5. Headquarters, 2d Brigade, 3rd Armored Division, Permanent Orders 10-19, dated 20 April 1991, awarded him the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service during the period 24 December 1990 to 10 April 1991 in Southwest Asia. 6. Department of the Army General Orders Number 14, dated 11 April 1997, awarded the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, the Valorous Unit Award for extraordinary heroism during the period 24 December 1990 to 18 May 1991. 7. He retired on 31 July 2004. He completed 21 years and 24 days of active service, including 4 years, 11 months, and 3 days of foreign service. His DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) shows he was awarded or authorized the: * Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) * Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) * Korea Defense Service Medal * Meritorious Service Medal (3rd Award) * Army Commendation Medal (7th Award) * Army Achievement Medal (5th Award) * Army Good Conduct Medal (6th Award) * National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award) * Southwest Asia Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars * Humanitarian Service Medal * Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 3 * Army Service Ribbon * Overseas Service Ribbon (3rd Award) * Global War on Terrorism Service Medal * Expert Field Medical Badge * Driver And Mechanic Badge with Driver-T Bar * Driver And Mechanic Badge with Driver-W Bar * Drill Sergeant Identification Badge 8. On 6 December 2018, the ABCMR denied his request for award of the Combat Medical Badge. The board determined that there was insufficient evidence to warrant the requested award. The Board further determined the evidence was sufficient to correct his DD Form 214 to show award of the Valorous Unit Award and his service in Southwest Asia. 9. The applicant provided a letter of support from Mr. D____, dated 26 February 2019, wherein he states: a. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Armored Division, from about July 1990 until November 1991. During that time, he served with the applicant when the applicant was a sergeant in the medical platoon. He and the applicant frequently provided medical support for the mortar and scout platoons. In or about November 1990, the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, was ordered to deploy to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Desert Shield. b. The 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, after action review described the mission as: the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, moves to, secures, and defends Forward Assembly Area Butts. 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, attacks in zone, on order, as a part of the Division advance guard to seize Objective Collins, destroy the Republican Guard Forces Command, and defend Northern Kuwait. c. On 24 February 1991 G-Day, the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, assumed Mission-Oriented Protective Posture 2 status. He and the applicant crossed the border from Saudi Arabia into Iraq. During movement to Objective Collins, they had little enemy contact; however, the danger of chemical attack and mines was ever present. During the overnight hours of 24 or 25 February, he and his driver were on perimeter guard duty and the applicant was on radio watch. There was a loud explosion in the area, he is not sure where, but he does know it was loud enough to cause him to immediately go to the ground. He then sought out his driver who had taken shelter under one of their M113s. He checked on his driver's wellbeing like a battle buddy and medic would. The applicant also checked on them, evaluating them as potential patients. In the afternoon of 26 February 1991, the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, engaged elements of the Tawakalna Division of the Republican Guard. The battle in which they were involved lasted throughout the night, until 27 February 1991. Between 27 and 28 February, the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, cleared an Iraqi assembly area; a nuclear, biological, and chemical decontamination site; and an aid station; destroyed tanks, Boyevaya Mashina Pekhotys fighting vehicles, and trucks; and took numerous prisoners, whom they also treated. They also cleared numerous bunkers – again the danger of land mines were ever present as they found out when a member of the battalion's maintenance platoon was injured, receiving a shallow fragmentation wound in his thigh when a passing vehicle set off a mine while he was dismounted. During combat operations from 24 February until the cease fire on 28 February the battalion covered a total of 232 kilometers. d. The 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, medical personnel were not mere bystanders while under fire, they performed medical duties. The duties they all performed during combat operations, both while not being engaged and while under fire, were the treatment of accidental injury, evaluation of potential patients, and evaluation of and care for those troops in their care. The medical duties they performed were in keeping with the motto of the Army Medical Department Regiment: "To conserve the fighting strength." He personally observed and/or is personally aware of the applicant's performance of medical duties while personally present and under fire. e. It was disheartening after the ground war ended to learn they were ineligible for the Combat Medical Badge because they were not part of an infantry unit. Especially, when realizing that had medical personnel assigned to a cavalry unit been eligible for the award, they would have received the award after having earned it. The 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, was awarded the Valorous Unit Award, the equivalent of the Silver Star to a unit, for their actions as a unit during combat. Many of them, including himself, received the Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal, noting their actions during combat and combat operations. f. After Operation Desert Storm, the governing regulation was changed to reflect medical personnel who served in cavalry and armor units would also be eligible for award of the Combat Medical Badge. Thus, eligibility for the award was extended specifically for those who had previously been deemed ineligible due to unit assignment other than an infantry unit. Unfortunately, the change came after many Soldier were already out of the Army, executed a permanent change of station, or commanders changed, thus leaving many medics without the award they earned. BOARD DISCUSSION: After review of the application and supporting documents, the Board determined there is sufficient evidence to grant relief and amend the previous Board’s decision. The applicant’s contentions, his military record, and regulatory guidance were carefully considered. The governing regulation provides that at separation the service member’s record will be used to enter accurate information when completing their DD Form 214. The Board determined that the evidence presented is sufficient for award of the Combat Medical Badge. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 :XXX :XXX :XXX GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant amendment of the ABCMR's decision in Docket Number AR20170009325 on 6 December 2018. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending his DD Form 214 for the period ending 31 July 2004 by awarding him the Combat Medical Badge. 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. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20190008567 5 1