| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. W. E. Schnupp | Analyst |
| Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Celia L. Adolphi | Member | |
| Mr. John T. Meixell | Member |
2. The applicant requests that he be awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.
3. The applicant states that he served in combat in the European Theater during World War II. He received $50.00 additional combat pay for a six-month period and was issued a Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), which is not shown on his separation papers. He asks that his separation papers be correct to reflect that he was issued the CIB.
4. In support of his request, he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation.
5. The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center. Information herein was derived from the document provided by the applicant and from documents obtained from alternate sources.
6. The record shows that he was inducted on 22 February 1943, and served in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) as an orientation specialist (Military Occupational Specialist (MOS) 274) from October 1944 to March 1946. He was honorably discharged on 13 March 1946 in the grade of private first class.
7. The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 does not reflect that he was awarded the CIB; nor, does it show that he had been awarded an infantry MOS. It does, however, reflect that he was assigned to Cannon Company, 410th Infantry.
8. A Final Payment – Work Sheet for the period through March 1946, shows that the applicant was awarded combat infantry pay for the period 1 February 1946 to 13 March 1946.
9. War Department Circular 269-1943 established the CIB and the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB) to recognize and provide an incentive to infantrymen. The EIB was to be awarded for attainment of certain proficiency standards or by satisfactory performance of duty in action against the enemy. The CIB was awarded for exemplary conduct in action against the enemy. War Department Circular 186-1944 further provided that the CIB was to be awarded only to infantrymen serving with infantry units of brigade, regimental or smaller size. Additionally, World War II holders of the CIB received a monthly pay supplement known as combat infantry pay. Therefore, soldiers had economic as well as intangible reasons to ensure that their records were correct. Thus, pay records are frequently the best, available source to verify entitlement to this award.
10. Subsequent to the cessation of hostilities during World War II, the regulation governing the award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) was changed, in part, to provide for the award of this decoration to those individuals who had been awarded the CIB or the Combat Medical Badge for meritorious achievement in ground combat against the armed enemy between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 1945.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. Although it appears the applicant did not have an infantry MOS, other evidence shows that he was awarded combat infantry pay during his service, which would indicate that he is entitled to the CIB.
2. Furthermore, since he is being awarded the CIB, he is also entitled to the BSM under rules established for holders of the CIB following the cessation of World War II hostilities.
3. In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the CIB and the BSM for service during World War II.
BOARD VOTE:
____jtm _ ____cla _ ____rvo GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
_________Raymond V. O'Connor__
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2001061821 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020228 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | YYYYMMDD |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR . . . . . |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | (GRANT PLUS) |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. 107.00 | |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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