| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Jessie B. Strickland | Analyst |
| Mr. Walter T. Morrison | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Ronald E. Blakely | Member | |
| Mr. Joe R. Schroeder | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: That he be awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and the Bronze Star Medal (BSM).
APPLICANT STATES: That he served as an infantryman with the Americal Division in Vietnam from June 1971 to June 1972 and was fully qualified to be awarded the CIB and BSM. However, an apparent administrative oversight was made and he was never given those awards.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records, though somewhat incomplete, show:
He was inducted on 24 July 1967 and served as an infantryman until he was honorably released from active duty on 10 July 1969 as an early overseas returnee from Germany.
On 10 August 1971, he enlisted in the Regular Army and was transferred to Vietnam on 17 August 1971. His records show that he served in Vietnam from August 1971 to June 1972 and was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm.
The applicant remained on active duty through a series of continuous reenlistments and was promoted to the pay grade of E-6 on 15 October 1977.
In 1983 he was barred from reenlistment under the Qualitative Management Program (QMP). Accordingly, he was honorably discharged on the expiration of his term of service (ETS) on 26 April 1985. He had served 15 years, 8 months and 2 days of total active service.
A review of his records fails to show that he was ever awarded the CIB or BSM. There is also no indication that any entries associated with those awards was ever made in his records during the 13 years that followed his service in Vietnam.
Additionally, the applicant signed two DD Form 214’s following his service in Vietnam and neither of those forms contained any such entries.
Army Regulation 600-8-22 establishes the criteria for award of the CIB. It states, in pertinent part, that to be eligible for the CIB, an individual must be an infantryman with an infantry military occupational specialty (MOS) and must perform 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.
Army Regulation 600-8-22 also serves as the authority for award of the BSM. It states, in pertinent part, that the BSM is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army of the United States after 6 December 1941, distinguished him or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy; or while engaged in enemy operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
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 applicant’s contentions have been noted by the Board; however, the available evidence of record fails to show that during his assignment in Vietnam he performed the duties of an infantryman while engaged in ground combat against the enemy. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, it must be presumed that in accordance with the applicable regulations governing award of the CIB, that he is not entitled to be awarded that badge.
2. Likewise, there is no evidence to show that he was ever recommended for or approved for award of the BSM. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary there is no basis to award him that medal as well.
3. The Board also notes that the applicant served for 13 years after his tour in Vietnam and there are no entries in his records to show that he was ever recommended for or was awarded the CIB. Accordingly, the passage of time makes it difficult at best to determine the applicant’s eligibility for award of the CIB. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, it must be presumed that the actions taken by the Department at the time were correct.
4. In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's 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
__jrs____ ___reb __ __wtm __ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR20OI056657 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 2001/08/14 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | DENY |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. 61 | 107.0014/PH |
| 2. 60 | 107.0014/BSM |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002068800C070402
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 his records be corrected to reflect his award of the Purple Heart and that he be awarded the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) and Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB). He further states that when he departed Vietnam he was told that he was being recommended for awards of the BSM and CIB.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001066176C070421
A review of the applicant’s records fails to show any indication that the applicant was ever wounded/injured or ever treated for any such wounds/injuries while on active duty. The available evidence of record found in this case fails to indicate that the applicant was wounded/injured as a result of enemy action, that he was treated by medical personnel, and that such treatment was made a matter of official record. In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002082529C070215
The applicant requests that he be awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal (BSM), the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and the Air Medal (AM) with "V" Device. It also shows that he participated in three campaigns during his assignment in Vietnam and is entitled to be awarded three bronze service stars for wear on his already awarded VSM. The applicant has failed to show through the evidence submitted with his application that he was wounded/injured as a result of enemy action, that he...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002078375C070215
Army Regulation 672-5-1, in effect at the time, established the criteria for award of the CIB. Although the evidence of record does show that the applicant was an infantry second lieutenant while assigned to an infantry unit in Vietnam, there is no evidence to show that he met the criteria for award of the CIB. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the individual concerned the RVNGC w/Palm Unit Citation, the RVNCAHM-FC Unit Citation,...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003085100C070212
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. It states, in pertinent part, that a bronze service star is authorized with this award for each campaign a member participated in while serving in the RVN. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that in addition to those awards already listed on his DD Form...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100015814
The applicant requests award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB). U.S. Army Vietnam Regulation 672-1 (Awards and Decorations) provided for award of the CIB for service in Vietnam. The applicant's record is void of any orders or other documents indicating that the applicant was ever recommended for or awarded the CIB by proper authority while serving on active duty, and the CIB is not included in the list of awards contained on his DA Form 20 or DD Form 214.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060017109C071029
Qawiy A. Sabree | |Member | The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. It states, in pertinent part, that a bronze service star is authorized with this award for each campaign a member is credited with participating in while serving in the RVN. The evidence of record confirms the applicant held and served in an infantry MOS in a qualifying infantry unit while serving in the RVN.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120001316
The applicant requests the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), Purple Heart (PH), and Bronze Star Medal be added to his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge). A review of the Awards and Decorations Computer-Assisted Retrieval System (ADCARS), an index of general orders issued during the Vietnam era between 1965 and 1973 maintained by the Military Awards Branch of the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, failed to reveal any orders for the PH, BSM, or CIB....
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 2004103890C070208
Robert Rogers | |Member | The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. The applicant requests, in effect, award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB). As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by awarding him the Combat Infantryman Badge; by showing he is entitled to 3 bronze service stars with his Vietnam Service Medal; and by providing him a corrected...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110003022
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the following: * Bronze Star Medal (BSM) * Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) * Combat Engineer Badge [correctly known as the Sapper Tab] * Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation * Any additional awards and decorations to which he is entitled 2. A review of his personnel service records failed to show evidence and he did not provide...