ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS BOARD DATE: 20 July 2020 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20190012558 APPLICANT REQUESTS: reconsideration of his earlier request for: a. award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) b. his military occupational specialty (MOS) changed from 1581 (Signal Supply Specialist) to 1812 (Heavy Weapons Infantry Leader). APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, dated 14 September 2013 * Congressional Record, Volume 162, Number 56, dated 13 April 2016, subject: Senate Honoring the 65th Infantry Regiment "Borinqueneers" * Self-authored letter, dated 27 August 2019 * Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Certificate, undated * Certificate of Appreciation, Naval Air Warfare Center, Training Systems Division, undated * DA Form 493 (Separation Qualification Record), dated 29 December 1953 FACTS: 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 AR20170012459 on 1 August 2019. 2. The applicant provided new evidence not previously considered that warrants reconsideration at this time. 3. The applicant's complete military and medical records are not available to the Board for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members' records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. It is believed the applicant's records were lost or destroyed in that fire. The case is being considered using reconstructed records and the evidence provided by the applicant. 4. The applicant states: a. His DA Form 493, dated 29 December 1953, shows he was a trained and qualified Infantryman in then MOS 1812. b. He served in Korea during the authorized timeframe from 27 June 1951 to 27 July 1953 for the award of the CIB. c. He held the rank of sergeant and he satisfactorily performed as a Heavy Weapons Infantry Leader for 12 months. d. The 65th Infantry Regiment was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division from 22 September 1950 to 3 November 1954. He was assigned to Company M, 3rd Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, for 12 months during the period 22 September 1950 through November 1954. e. His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the Korean Service Medal which can only be awarded from the Korean conflict f. His primary MOS should be changed to 1812 and his secondary MOS to 1581. 5. The applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 30 March 1951. 6. His DA Form 493 shows in: a. item 18 (Main Duty Assignments) – he held the position of Heavy Weapons Infantry Leader, MOS 1812 for 12 months; Duties Performed – "Coordinates and exercises direct control and supervision over training and tactical employment of an infantry heavy weapons or heavy mortar platoon, section, or squad in offensive and defensive operations against an enemy, or, as first sergeant, acts as principal enlisted assistant to company commander in command, administration, and control of a heavy weapons company or heavy mortar company;" Tools and Equipment Used – heavy weapons; Supervisory Responsibilities – charge of 12 men; and b. item 19 (Secondary Best Military Duty Assignment) – he held the position of Signal Supply Specialist, MOS 1581 for 6 months. 7. On 29 December 1953, he was honorably released from active duty. His DD Form 214 shows in: a. item 5 (Qualifications) – Specialty Number or Symbol – N/A and Related Civilian Occupation and Dictionary of Occupational Title – NA, b. item 26 (Foreign and/or Sea Service) – 0 years, 11 months, 20 days, c. item 27 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) – * Korean Service Medal with two bronze service stars * National Defense Service Medal * United National Service Medal 8. The applicant provided copies of: a. his Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, dated 14 September 2013, that shows he was recognized for his service during the Korean War as a member of the 65th Regiment also known as the "Borinqueneers;" b. an extract of the Congressional Record, Volume 162, Number 56, dated 13 April 2016, that honored the 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the "Borinqueneers" and celebrated the unit's receipt of the Congressional Gold Medal; c. his Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Certificate, undated, showing he was a member of Company M, 3rd Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment; and d. his Certificate of Appreciation from the Naval Air Warfare Center, Training Systems Division, undated, that shows he was a member of the 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the "Borinqueneers". 9. On 12 June 2019 and in Docket Number AR20170012459, the ABCMR denied his request for award of the CIB and stated that while the applicant performed duties as an infantry team leader, he was never trained as an infantryman and never held an infantry MOS. 10. His available records are void of evidence showing he was recommended for or awarded the CIB. 11. Information contained on the U.S. Center of Military History website shows the 65th Infantry Regiment participated in combat during the Korean War. 12. The specific dates the applicant served in Korea are not available. BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found the requested relief is warranted. 2. The Board noted that, although the applicant was trained in a Signal Corps MOS, he spent twice as much time serving in MOS 1812 as a Heavy Weapons Infantry Leader, and the record supports his claim that he served in that MOS in Korea in combat with the 65th Infantry Regiment. The record also indicates he was promoted to sergeant while serving in an infantry MOS, indicating he was performing satisfactorily. 3. Regarding his MOS, the Board also noted the entry "NA" in item 5 of his DD Form 214 where MOS information should have been recorded. The Board determined it would be appropriate to add MOS 1812 to item 5 of his DD Form 214, as it was the MOS he served in for the majority of his period of active duty. 4. The Board also noted that the applicant's unit did participate in combat in Korea and that the applicant, as a Heavy Weapons Infantry Leader, would have met the criteria for award of the CIB. The Board determined he should be awarded the CIB and the badge should be added to his DD Form 214 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: The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant amendment of the ABCMR’s decision in Docket Number AR20170012459, dated 1 August 2019. 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 * Amending his DD Form 214 as follows – * Item 5 – delete "NA" and add "1812 Heavy Weapons Infantry Leader" * Item 27 – add "Combat Infantryman Badge" X 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. REFERENCES: 1. Title 10, United States 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 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. 2. Army Regulation 600-70 (Badges), in effect at the time, provided guidance on awarding badges. Instructions stated the CIB was authorized for award to individuals that met the following criteria: a. An individual must be an infantry officers or enlisted man, or a warrant officer with an infantry military occupational specialty who, subsequently to 6 December 1941, has satisfactorily performed duty while assigned or attached as a member of an infantry unit of regimental or smaller size during any period such unit was engaged in active ground combat. Awards may be made to assigned members of ranger infantry companies assigned or attached to tactical infantry organizations. Awards of this badge will not be made to general officers or to members of headquarters and headquarters companies of units larger in size than regiments. Battle participation credit alone is not sufficient; the unit must have been in active ground combat with the enemy during the period. b. One CIB is authorized to be awarded to each individual for each separate war in which the requirements prescribed herein have been met. c. Except for identification badges, each award of a badge will be announced in special orders of commanders authorized herein to make the award or in letter orders of the Department of the Army. 3. Special Regulation 615-360-1 (Enlisted Personnel – Separation of Enlisted Personnel), in effect at the time, provided procedures for the separation of enlisted personnel from active military service and described the proper method of execution and disposition of the various forms, records, and reports required. a. Instructions stated for item 5, to enter the MOS code number as shown in item 27 of the DA AGO Form 20 (Soldier's Qualification Card) and the related civilian occupation and Dictionary of Occupational Titles code number. Both the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 1949 edition, and Special Aids for Placing Military Personnel in civilian jobs were to be utilized for entry of the appropriate Dictionary of Occupational Titles code. b. The main civilian occupation Dictionary of Occupational Titles code and title selected from the "Special Aids" will be checked against codes and titles listed in Special Regulation 600-205-5 to ensure that the appropriate 1949 Dictionary of Occupational Title and code is entered in this item. 4. The Dictionary of Occupational Titles for 1949 provided a list of related civilian occupations. There was no civilian related occupational equivalent for MOS 1812 and the civilian related occupational equivalent for MOS 1581 was listed as 38.50 (Stockroom Manager). //NOTHING FOLLOWS//