RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 17 May 2007 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20070000151 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. Gerard W. Schwartz Acting Director Ms. Wanda L. Waller Analyst The following members, a quorum, were present: Mr. Eric Andersen Chairperson Mr. Antonio Uribe Member Mr. Rodney Barber Member The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including advisory opinion, if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. 2. The applicant states that he believes this was a clerical error of omission. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge). CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant is requesting correction of an alleged error which occurred on 4 June 1970. The application submitted in this case is dated 12 December 2006. 2. Title 10, U.S. 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 allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse failure to file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines that it would be in the interest of justice to do so. In this case, the ABCMR will conduct a review of the merits of the case to determine if it would be in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file. 3. The applicant was inducted on 5 June 1968. He was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 11B (light weapons infantryman). He arrived in Vietnam on 3 November 1968. He served in MOS 11B assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry of the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam from 17 November 1968 until he was wounded in action on 10 February 1969 and evacuated to the United States on 23 February 1969 for further medical treatment. On 4 June 1970, the applicant was released from active duty in the rank of specialist four after completing 2 years of creditable active service with no time lost. 4. The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device 1960, the Purple Heart, the Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-16), and the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-14) as authorized awards. 5. There are no orders for the Combat Infantryman Badge in the applicant’s service personnel records. 6. There is no evidence the applicant received the first award of the Good Conduct Medal. There also is no evidence the applicant was disqualified by his chain of command from receiving the Good Conduct Medal. His records show he received conduct and efficiency ratings of “excellent” throughout his service. 7. Records show the applicant participated in two campaigns during his assignment in Vietnam. 8. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists the unit awards received by units serving in Vietnam. This document shows the applicant's unit is entitled to award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation based on Department of the Army General Orders Number 3, dated 1970. 9. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 also shows that the applicant’s unit is entitled to award of the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation based on Department of the Army General Orders Number 53, dated 1970. 10. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) 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 of the U.S. Army Human Resources 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. 11. Army Regulation 672-5-1, in effect at the time, provided policy and criteria concerning individual military decorations. It stated that 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 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. At the time, a Soldier's conduct and efficiency ratings must have been rated as "excellent" for the entire period of qualifying service except that a service school efficiency rating based upon academic proficiency of at least "good" rendered subsequent to 22 November 1955 was not disqualifying. However, there was no right or entitlement to the medal until the immediate commander made positive recommendation for its award and until the awarding authority announced the award in General Orders. 12. Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, authorizes award of a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation and states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate service medal. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. Evidence of record shows the applicant held an infantry MOS and served in an infantry MOS while assigned to an infantry company in Vietnam. He was also wounded in action. Therefore, there is sufficient evidence on which to base award of the Combat Infantryman Badge in this case. 2. The applicant was separated in the rank of specialist four with 2 years of creditable active service with no time lost. Therefore, it appears the applicant met the eligibility criteria for the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 5 June 1968 through 4 June 1970 based on completion of a period of qualifying service ending with the termination of a period of Federal military service. 3. The applicant participated in two campaigns during his assignment in Vietnam which entitles him to award of the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars. 4. The applicant’s unit was cited for the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation while he was assigned to it. 5.  Records show the applicant should have discovered the alleged error now under consideration on 4 June 1970; therefore, the time for the applicant to file a request for correction of any error expired on 3 June 1973.  The applicant did not file within the 3-year statute of limitations; however, based on the available evidence, it would be in the interest of justice to excuse failure to timely file in this case. BOARD VOTE: EA_____ __AU____ __RB____ 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 a recommendation for relief and to excuse failure to timely file. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding him the Combat Infantryman Badge; b. awarding him the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 5 June 1968 through 4 June 1970; and c. amending his DD Form 214 to add the Combat Infantryman Badge; the Good Conduct Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation, and two bronze service stars for wear on his already-awarded Vietnam Service Medal. __Eric Andersen_______ CHAIRPERSON INDEX CASE ID AR20070000151 SUFFIX RECON DATE BOARDED 20070517 TYPE OF DISCHARGE DATE OF DISCHARGE DISCHARGE AUTHORITY DISCHARGE REASON BOARD DECISION GRANT REVIEW AUTHORITY ISSUES 1. 107.0111 2. 107.0000 3. 4. 5. 6.