PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            14 AUGUST 2003                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002082304

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Ms. Gale J. Thomas		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. James E. Anderholm		Member	
	Ms. Linda M. Barker		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests that his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected by showing he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB). 

3.  The applicant states that he served in Vietnam with Headquarters Company, 101st Airborne Division and was personally involved in actions against the enemy.  He believes his service in Vietnam meets the criteria for award of the CIB.   

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 25 October 1967.  He successfully completed basic combat training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and advanced individual training at Fort Polk, Louisiana.  While undergoing training he qualified as a sharpshooter with the M-60 machine gun and a marksman with the M-16 rifle.

5.  On 1 April 1968, he was awarded the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 11B (Infantryman).

6.  He was promoted to pay grades E-4 and E-5, on 1 July 1968 and 16 July 1968, respectively

7.  He served in Vietnam from 25 October 1968 to 17 October 1969, and participated in four campaigns, the Vietnam Counteroffensive V, the Vietnam Counteroffensive VI, the TET 69 Counteroffensive and the Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969.  The applicant’s DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) indicates he served in Vietnam in the duty MOS 11F.

8.  Orders in the applicant’s records show he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for action in Vietnam from November 1968 to March 1969.  

9.  By virtue of his service in Vietnam he is entitled to award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm.  

10.  His service with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 101st Airborne Division from October 1968 to October 1969, entitles him to the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal.

11.  On 18 October 1969, he was released from active duty under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 5, for early release of oversea returnees.  His DD Form 214 indicates he had 1 year, 11 months and 24 days of creditable service, and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.  

12.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that 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.  The Awards Branch, Total Army Personnel Command has advised, in similar cases, that during the Vietnam era the Combat Infantryman Badge was awarded only to enlisted individuals who held and served in MOS 11B, 11C, 11F, 11G, or 11H.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant served in Vietnam in an Infantry MOS (11F) and participated in action with the enemy for which he received an Army Commendation Medal, and is entitled to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  His records should be corrected to reflect these awards. 

2.  His service in Vietnam from October 1968 to October 1969 entitles him to the award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, and his service with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 101st Airborne Division, during this same period, entitles him to the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal.  

3.  The evidence show that the applicant qualified as a marksman with the M-16 rifle and as a sharpshooter with the M-60 machine gun.  He participated in four campaigns during his tour in Vietnam and is entitled to four bronze service stars on his Vietnam Service Medal.

4.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected: 

a.  by showing the applicant was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, and qualified as a marksman with the M-16 rifle and as a sharpshooter with the M-M-60 machine gun; 

	b.  by awarding the applicant the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, and by adding four bronze service stars to his Vietnam Service Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

__RVO__  __JEA___  __LMB __  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002082304	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20030814	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.