2. The applicant requests award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star, Silver Star and Purple Heart. He states he served as an infantryman in Vietnam between March and October 1967 and was involved in search and destroy, ambush, and firefight missions. He notes he was told that he would receive the Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge and a Bronze Star Medal but never received any of the awards. In support of his request he provides a statement from a former unit member who stated the applicant should have been awarded a Purple Heart for hurting his leg for which he was transported to Japan.
3. Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty on 9 September 1966. On 2 March 1967 he was assigned as an infantryman with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. Between May and July 1967 he was in a medical hold status after undergoing medical treatment for a hematoma on his left calf. His hospitalization was not the result of hostile action and he was carried as a non-battle casualty case according to his clinical record sheet.
4. On 17 July 1967 the applicant returned to his duties in Vietnam with the 1st Cavalry Division where he remained until September 1967 when he was transferred to Korea.
5. The applicant departed Korea in March 1968 and completed his enlistment contract at Fort Riley, Kansas. On 6 September 1968 he was released from active duty. A separation physical examination, conducted on 18 July 1968 makes no mention of any wounds or injuries sustained as a result of hostile action but does note the hematoma. Item 40 (wounds) on his DA Form 20 (enlisted qualification record) is blank. Neither his DD Form 214 nor his DA Form 20 reflect entitlement to the Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Silver Star or the Purple Heart.
6. Subsequent to the applicants separation he was granted a 100 percent service connected disability rating from the VA for PTSD. There is no mention in his VA files of a combat incurred wound or injury.
7.. There are basically three requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. The soldier must be an infantryman (11 series specialty), 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. However, telephonic information received from the Armys Awards Branch indicated that infantry soldiers assigned to cavalry units were also routinely awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge during the Vietnam era.
8. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Purple Heart is awarded for wounds sustained as a result of hostile action. Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify that the wound was the result of hostile action, the wound must have required treatment by a medical officer, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official
record.
9. The Bronze Star Medal and Silver Star are both personal decoration requiring an individual decoration, approval through the chain of command and announcement in orders.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The applicant served as an infantryman assigned to a cavalry element while assigned to Vietnam. Based on telephonic information received from the Armys Awards Branch it would be appropriate to award the applicant the Combat Infantryman Badge based on that service.
2. Contrary to the applicants supporting statement he was not hospitalized for a combat incurred injury but rather was hospitalized and treated for a non-battle hematoma. There is no evidence, and the applicant has not provided any which confirms he was ever wounded or injured as a result of hostile actions while in Vietnam.
3. There is no evidence the applicant was ever recommended for, or awarded, a Bronze Star Medal or Silver Star.
4. 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 Combat Infantryman Badge.
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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