2. The applicant requests award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service. He notes he served as an infantryman during the Korean War and should have received the Bronze Star Medal based on a directive by General Church, commanding general, 24th Infantry Division. (Note: The applicants previous requests have been closed administratively because of the absence of records and documentation to support his claim.)
3. Although the applicants military personnel file was lost or destroyed during the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, information reconstructed from alternative sources, including documents provided by the applicant in his most recent correspondence, indicates he entered active duty on 19 July 1949.
4. According to unit morning report files, the applicant arrived in Korea on 4 July 1950 as a member of Company H, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Other unit morning reports note the applicants basic branch was infantry and he performed infantry duties while assigned to the regiment. On 21 July 1950 he was wounded as a result of hostile actions, received the Purple Heart, and was evacuated.
5. On 2 July 1953 he was released from active duty with a general discharge. His DD Form 214, issued at the time of his separation, indicates he completed his service in the ordinance arena, that his enlistment contract was involuntarily extended for 9 months, and that he had 198 days of lost time at the time of his separation. Although his DD Form 214 does reflect entitlement to the Purple Heart, it does not reflect award of either the Combat Infantryman Badge or the Bronze Star Medal.
6. There are basically three requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. The soldier must be an infantryman, assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and must have actively participated in such ground combat.
7. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who distinguished himself by heroism or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight in connection with military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force. As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.
8. According to information contained in the National Archives, on 24 November 1950, General Church, commanding general 24th Infantry Division, issued a message indicating his desire that Bronze Star Medal recommendations for meritorious service be initiated for soldiers, still present with the division, who had arrived in the division between 30 June 1950 and 14 July 1950. The directive specifically stated that a separate recommendations was required for each soldier and that the period of the award would extend from 2 July 1950 through the date the recommendation was prepared.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The evidence of record confirms the applicant met the requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge during the Korean War. It is likely he never received the award because he was evacuated shortly after his arrival in country.
2. While the commanding general, 24th Infantry Division, did issue a directive that a Bronze Star Medal recommendation be initiated for soldiers who arrived in the division between 30 June and 14 July 1950, the directive specifically noted that recommendations would be initiated only on those individuals who were still assigned to the division when the directive was issued in November 1950. The applicant was evacuated from Korea in July 1950 and hence would not have been eligible for consideration.
3. In view of the foregoing, it would be appropriate to correct the applicants records as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the individual concerned the Combat Infantryman Badge based on his service as an infantryman during the Korean War.
2. That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
GRANT FORMAL HEARING
DENY APPLICATION
CHAIRPERSON
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