APPLICANT REQUESTS: That although he did not receive combat infantryman pay, he would like the record to reflect that he was entitled to the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) for service in World War II.
APPLICANT STATES: That he was 19 years old when he left the front lines in France with trench foot. He then spent 3 months in a hospital before it was determined that he was no longer fit for combat. He also states that he did not know that he was due combat infantryman pay.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973. Information herein was obtained from reconstructed records.
He was inducted on 28 January 1944 and served 9 months and 5 days in the European Theater of Operations. He was honorably discharged by reason of disability on 10 November 1945.
The applicants WD AGO Form 53-55, Report of Separation, lists his military occupational specialty (MOS) as 345-Auto Equipment Operator. It does not indicate that he was an infantryman, held an infantry MOS, or that he was awarded the CIB. His certificate for disability discharge shows that he was treated for and eventually discharged for conditions related to the trench foot injury.
Considering his statement that he had not received combat infantryman pay, the US Army Reserve Personnel Center (ARPERCEN) reviewed his pay records and confirmed that he had not received such pay. The organizational records of his World War II units were reviewed as well, but did not show that he had been awarded a CIB.
Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that to be eligible for the CIB, an individual must be an infantryman with an infantry MOS and must perform primary duty as an infantryman, as a member of an infantry unit of brigade or smaller size, during any period in which that unit was engaged in ground combat. Battle participation credit alone is not sufficient.
During World War II, the CIB was awarded to enlisted men serving in military occupational specialty 604 (light machine gunner), 605 (heavy machine gunner), 651 (platoon sergeant), 653 (squad leader), 745 (rifleman), 746 (automatic rifleman), and 812 (heavy weapons noncommissioned officer).
Further, there was a special provision for badge holders to receive a $10.00 per month pay stipend, which was rescinded in 1948.
DISCUSSION: Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:
1. The record contains no evidence that the applicant ever possessed an infantry MOS, a precondition for award of the CIB, or was recommended for or awarded the CIB itself.
2. The records of the organization to which he belonged during World War II do not reflect that he received combat infantryman pay probably because he had not been awarded the CIB at that time. The Army regulation cited above, specifies that badge holders received a $10.00 per month stipend indicating that one had to have first been awarded the CIB in order to qualify for the stipend.
3. While it may be argued that trench foot is a condition frequently suffered by infantrymen, particularly during World War II, it does not necessarily follow that only infantrymen sustained this malady. Even if the injury result from combat conditions, it would not warrant award of a CIB unless the other stipulations for the badge were also satisfied.
4. In view of the foregoing, there appears to be no basis for granting the applicants request.
DETERMINATION: The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.
BOARD VOTE:
GRANT
GRANT FORMAL HEARING
DENY APPLICATION
Karl F. Schneider
Acting Director
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090001585
However, evidence provided by the applicant shows that he was an infantryman and served in a infantry unit. The WD Form 372A is accepted as sufficient evidence to show the applicant's eligibility for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge in lieu of the Expert Infantryman Badge. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. deleting from item 31 of the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 the Expert Infantryman Badge; b....
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130009633
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). Therefore, the BSM is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized either badge for service during World War II. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by adding award of the BSM and CIB to the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050016918C070206
The applicant requests, in effect, the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB). The applicant’s military records are not available to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) for review. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by showing he is entitled to the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Bronze Star Medal.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110018336
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). He was federalized with his unit, the 124th Cavalry Regiment, and he entered active service on 18 November 1940. The exigencies of combat may require non-infantry Soldiers to temporarily perform the basic infantry duties that all Soldiers are taught, but it is not a basis for the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110002085
He provides the following: * WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) * letter from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) * Congressional correspondence * excerpts from Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) * self-authored statement CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. There is no evidence in the available records and the applicant has not provided any evidence to show he should be awarded the CIB. _____________X____________ CHAIRPERSON I...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080010715
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 AR20070013172, on 4 March 2008. Additionally, World War II holders of the Combat Infantryman Badge received a monthly pay supplement known as combat infantry pay and holders of the Expert Infantryman Badge were entitled to expert infantry pay. While the sincerity of the applicant's...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120020560
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). The applicant requests award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB). There is no evidence in the available record and the applicant provides insufficient evidence that would entitle him to award of the CIB.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002082516C070215
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. The applicant requests that he be awarded the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) based on his award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB). Since the applicant was properly awarded the CIB, he is also entitled to the BSM.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100009089
In regard to the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the evidence shows he was a rifleman serving in an infantry regiment. Based on his award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, he is also entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal and correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show this award. 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 and the Bronze Star Medal based upon...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060011983
The evidence clearly shows that the applicant was an infantryman, serving in an infantry unit during World War II and received combat infantry pay, indicating that he had served in combat. Therefore, his records should be corrected by awarding him the Combat Infantryman Badge. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding him Combat Infantryman Badge; b. awarding him the Bronze Star Medal, based on award...