| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Nancy L. Amos | Analyst |
| Mr. John N. Slone | Chairperson | ||
| Mr. Donald P. Hupman, Jr. | Member | ||
| Mr. William D. Powers | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: That he be awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).
APPLICANT STATES: That he believes all of the units attached to the 1st Infantry Division earned the CIB. He served one year on the battlefield attached to the 1st Infantry Division. The Army General Order for the CIB reads: 1st Infantry Division (along with attached units). He provides his Report of Transfer or Discharge, DD Form 214; Correction to DD Form 214, DD Form 215; a certificate showing he was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Medal (sic); the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry (sic); a 6 March 2002 Review Boards Agency letter providing him the DD Form 215; and a Department of Veterans Affairs Rating Decision dated 14 July 2000 describing his unit's mission as supporting evidence.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records show:
He was inducted into the Army on 3 April 1968. He completed basic combat training and advanced individual training and was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 54A (Chemical Operations Apprentice), whose proponent is the Chemical Corps.
The applicant arrived in Vietnam and was assigned to the 266th Chemical Platoon, 1st Infantry Division on or about 19 September 1968 where he performed duties as a decontamination equipment helper. He was awarded primary military occupational specialty 54B (Decontamination Specialist) on 26 January 1969. He departed Vietnam on 29 August 1969. He was released from active duty on 2 April 1970.
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:
1. The evidence of record shows that the applicant held a Chemical Corps MOS, not an Infantry MOS, and that he performed duties directly related to his MOS in support of an infantry unit. The Board acknowledges the valuable services he and his unit performed during his tour in Vietnam; however, they do not qualify him for award of the CIB.
2. The applicant does not provide the "Army General Order for the CIB" for the 1st Infantry Division (along with attached units). However, if such orders were issued, they may have erroneously awarded the CIB where the eligibility criteria had not been met. Such orders would be an insufficient reason to grant the award in this case.
3. 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
__JNS__ __DPH___ __WDP__ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2002073448 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 2002/09/12 |
| 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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