| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Wanda L. Waller | Analyst |
| Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Arthur A. Omartian | Member | |
| Ms. Marla J. Troup | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: Award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.
APPLICANT STATES: In effect, that an injustice was done to him by not awarding him the Combat Infantryman Badge in 1951. He contends that when he arrived in Korea he was assigned to Company I of the 5th Regimental Combat Team from August 1951 to October 1951. He claims that this is an infantry company and that he fought as an infantryman during the Fall Offensive of 1951. He goes on to state that the personnel in Company I put names in for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and neglected to add his name because he was transferred to the tank company in the latter part of October 1951. In support of his application, he submits a copy of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States); an undated letter of explanation; copies of two post cards; two eyewitness statements, dated 19 January 2002 and 30 January 2002; and seven photographs of soldiers.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records were destroyed or lost during the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973. Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show that the applicant was inducted on 21 March 1951. His DD Form 214 shows that he served as a tanker in Korea and was honorably discharged on 20 December 1952.
The applicant’s DD Form 214, which was authenticated in his own hand, does not show the Combat Infantryman Badge as an authorized award.
There are no orders for the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge in the available records.
The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows his military occupational specialty (MOS) was 1795 (tanker) and his most significant duty assignment was Company A of the 317th Tank Battalion.
In support of his claim for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the applicant provided an eyewitness statement, dated 19 January 2002, from a soldier at the time in question. The soldier attests that the applicant served with him in an infantry company in Korea during the period of August 1951 to October 1951, that the applicant was an ammunition bearer and that the applicant was transferred to the tank company from Hill 1073.
The applicant also provided a second eyewitness statement, dated 30 January 2002, from a soldier at the time in question. This soldier attests that he was stationed with applicant in Company I in the 5th Regiment Combat Team during August 1951 to October 1951, that the applicant was an ammunition bearer and that the applicant was on Hill 1073 in Korea during the Fall Offensive of 1951.
The historical files of Company I, 3rd Platoon, 5th Regimental Combat Team, 24th Infantry Division located at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland, failed to identify the applicant as being entitled to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy and procedures concerning awards. Paragraph 8-6 provides for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. That paragraph states that there are basically three requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. The soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, he must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and he must actively participate in such ground combat. Specific requirements state, in effect, that an Army enlisted soldier must have an infantry specialty, satisfactorily performed duty while assigned or attached as a member of an infantry unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size during any period such unit was engaged in active ground combat. A recipient must be personally present and under hostile fire while serving in an assigned infantry primary duty, in a unit actively engaged in ground combat with the enemy.
As a matter of information, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Korean War, the Government of the Republic of Korea issued the Korean War Service Medal to pay tribute to eligible Korean War veterans for their historic endeavors to preserve the freedom of the Republic of Korea and the free world. On 20 August 1999, the Department of Defense approved acceptance and wear of this foreign service award to eligible US veterans of the Korean War, or their surviving next of kin. The medal is provided at no cost to veterans.
The Department of Defense assigned responsibility to the Department of the Air Force for distribution of the Korean War Service Medal to eligible veterans or their surviving next of kin. To apply, veterans must submit a copy of their discharge paper (DD Form 214) to the Awards and Decorations Section, Headquarters, Air Force Personnel Center, 550 C Street West, Suite 12, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas 78150-4714. A sample request form is being provided to the applicant. Once the Korean War Service Medal has been authorized by the Department of the Air Force, the applicant may apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records to add this foreign award to his DD Form 214.
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 Board considered the applicant’s contention that he served as an infantryman in an infantry company in Korea. However, there is no evidence of record available to the Board which shows the applicant served in an infantry MOS, or that he served in an infantry unit or infantry position in combat during his assignment in Korea.
2. The Board reviewed the eyewitness statements provided in support of the applicant’s claim for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. However, in the absence of orders or other evidence of record showing that the applicant met the criteria for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Board determined that these statements were not sufficient as a basis for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. Therefore, the Board determined that there was insufficient evidence on which to base award of the Combat Infantryman Badge in this case.
3. In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust. The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy this requirement.
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
RVO____ AAO____ MJT_____ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2002068820 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20030116 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | DENY |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0111 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080017956
The applicant requests his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) reflect he was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received during the Korean War. There is no record of his honorable service (i.e., DD Form 214) from 1947 to 30 September 1951. The applicants records should contain two DD Forms 214, the first one for the period 11 December 1947 through 30 September 1951, and the second one for the period 1 October 1951 through 23 January 1954.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 20040011585C070208
The applicant states that his DD Form 214 incorrectly lists his most significant duty assignment as a tanker with Tank Company, 15th Infantry at Fort Benning, Georgia, when in fact it was as an infantryman with the 40th Recon Company in Korea. Once the Korean War Service Medal has been authorized by the Department of the Air Force, the applicant may apply to this Board to add this foreign award to his DD Form 214. The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060009839
The application submitted in this case is dated 25 April 2006 and was received on 10 July 2006. On 4 August 1999, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) recommended correction of the applicant's records to show award of the Purple Heart and the Good Conduct Medal. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected: a. by showing he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge on 7 April 1951; b. by awarding him...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060012098
The evidence of record shows that the applicant was awarded the Korean Service Medal and that he participated in 2 campaigns in Korea. Therefore, it would be appropriate to correct his records to show these two badges. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding the applicant the Combat Infantryman Badge for satisfactory performance of duty in ground combat against enemy ground forces from 4 November...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140006176
IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 2 December 2014 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20140006176 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) to add the Combat Infantryman Badge. His DD Form 214 shows his MOS as 3666, his most significant assignment as the Medical Company, 5th Infantry Regiment, and does not list the Combat Infantryman among his awards.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001064276C070421
The applicant requests, in effect, that his record be corrected to show he served as a tanker as opposed to a tailor, as is listed in his separation document (DD Form 214). The applicant’s military records were not available to the Board for review. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the individual concerned the first award of the Army Good Conduct Medal for his honorable period of service from 2 February 1951 to 16 January 1954; by...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080006309
Therefore, there is insufficient evidence to support an award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. The applicant claims that while he served in Korea the tank that he was on was hit by a bomb and he was thrown from the tank and bruised all over his body and he now wishes to be awarded the Purple Heart; however, he has provided no evidence that he was wounded as a result of enemy activity. _________x_____________ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 2005006592C070206
The applicant requests award of the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Korean Service Medal. Once the Korean War Service Medal has been authorized by the Department of the Air Force, the applicant may apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records to add this foreign award to his DD Form 214. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending his DD Form 214 to show that he was awarded...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002070294C070402
The Board also noted that the applicant's DD Form 214 prepared at the time of his separation from the Army, which he authenticated in his own hand, shows that he was not entitled to award of the Purple Heart and that he was not wounded as a result of engagement with an armed hostile enemy. The Board also noted that there is no evidence in the applicant's service personnel or medical records that would support his contention that he was wounded in action during the Korean War. The applicant...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070010034
The applicants military records are not available to the Board for review. Due to a fire at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973, the only available record for the Board to consider in its deliberation was his DD Form 214, which shows he held a medical MOS as a Medic and that his significant unit of assignment was the Medical Company of the 5th Cavalry Regiment. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by...