| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mrs. Joyce A. Hall | Analyst |
| Mr. Walter T. Morrison | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Curtis L. Greenway | Member | |
| Ms. Regan K. Smith | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: In effect, award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).
APPLICANT STATES: In effect, that he was awarded two-battle service stars for his service in Germany; however, he did not receive the CIB.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records show:
On 6 July 1943, the applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States.
He completed the required training and was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 745 (Rifleman). He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 513th Parachute Infantry Unit, Fort Bragg, NC.
On 8 January 1945, the applicant was convicted by a special court martial of being absent without leave (AWOL) from 6 December 1943 to 7 December
1944. He was sentenced to confinement at hard labor (CHL) for six months and a forfeiture of $18.00 pay per month for 6 months. (The sentence to CHL was apparently suspended).
On or about 24 January 1945, the applicant departed for an assignment in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). He arrived in the ETO on or about
30 January 1945.
The applicant was reported for being AWOL on or about 26 March 1945. He was returned to military control on or about 7 August 1945. (He was placed in military confinement).
On 4 December 1945, the applicant was convicted by a general court martial of being AWOL from 26 March to 8 August 1945. He was sentenced to a dishonorable discharge, CHL for 7 years and a forfeiture of all pay and allowances. On 7 December 1945, the sentence was approved by the general court-martial convening authority, but the period of CHL was reduced to 5 years. The execution of that portion thereof adjudging a dishonorable discharge was suspended until the applicant’s release from confinement.
On 15 November 1946, the unexecuted portion of the applicant’s sentence pertaining to CHL and a forfeiture of pay and allowances in this case was remitted upon the applicant’s enlistment in the Regular Army.
On 18 December 1946, the applicant was granted a discharge from the military service under conditions other than honorable for the purpose of permitting enlistment in the Regular Army. The applicant’s Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge (WD AGO Form 53-56) for the period 6 July 1943 to 18 December 1946 shows in item 33 (Decorations and Citations) two Bronze Service Stars for the Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns and the Good Conduct Medal. The WD AGO Form 53-56 does not reflect the award of the CIB.
On 19 December 1946, in Wurzburg, Germany, the applicant reenlisted in the Regular Army. On 18 June 1948, the applicant was honorably discharged from military service.
Army Regulation 600-8-22 prescribes Army policy and criteria concerning individual military awards. In pertinent part, it states that the CIB was established during World War II to provide special recognition of the unique role of the Army infantryman, the only soldier whose daily mission is to close with and destroy the enemy and to seize and hold terrain. The badge was intended as an inducement for individuals to join the infantry while serving as a morale booster for infantrymen. In developing the CIB, the War Department did not dismiss or ignore the contributions of other branches. Their vital contributions to the overall war effort were noted, but it was decided that other awards and decorations were sufficient to recognize their contributions. From the beginning, Army leadership have taken care to retain the badge for the unique purpose for which it was established. There are basically three requirements for award of the CIB. The soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and must actively participate in such ground combat.
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:
| CASE ID | AR2001058147 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020402 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | (DENY) |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0111 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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