| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Kenneth H. Aucock | Analyst |
| Ms. Shirley L. Powell | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Walter T. Morrison | Member | |
| Mr. Thomas A. Pagan | Member |
2. The applicant requests award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB), which the applicant refers to as the Expert Combat Infantryman Badge.
3. The applicant states that he was in the Normandy invasion with the 101st Infantry. He participated in the battle of Metz where he received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
4. The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army on 2 December 1943, and completed special training as a rifleman at Camp Blanding, Florida. His WD AGO Form 100 (Separation Record) shows that he was an infantry instructor for 8 months and taught the use of the rifle, carbine, machine gun, Browning automatic rifle, first aid, chemical warfare, and infantry drill. He served in the European Theater of Operations from September 1944 to February 1945.
5. The applicant underwent medical board proceedings on 22 March 1945 and was determined to be unfit for duty because of a duodenal ulcer. His medical records show that he was wounded in action by shrapnel in September 1944 (date not certain), treated at an aid station, and returned to the line without hospitalization. His unit is shown as Company K, 101st Infantry Regiment, 26th Infantry Division.
6. The applicant was discharged at Rhoads General Hospital in Utica, New York on 24 March 1945. His WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Service) shows that he was an infantryman, that he was also a rifleman instructor, and that he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one bronze service star, the Purple Heart, and the Army Good Conduct Medal. His unit is shown as the 101st Infantry.
7. On 10 January 1968 the applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement.
8. The Unit Citation Campaign and Credit Participation Register shows that the 101st Infantry Regiment was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (now the Presidential Unit Citation) and the Citation in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for its actions while the applicant was assigned to that organization.
9. War Department Circular 269-1943 established the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Expert Infantryman Badge to recognize and provide an incentive to infantrymen. The Expert Infantryman Badge was to be awarded for attainment
of certain proficiency standards or by satisfactory performance of duty in action against the enemy. The Combat Infantryman Badge was awarded for exemplary conduct in action against the enemy. War Department Circular 186-1944 further provided that the Combat Infantryman Badge was to be awarded only to infantrymen serving with infantry units of brigade, regimental or smaller size. Additionally, World War II holders of the Combat Infantryman Badge 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. The Awards Branch, Total Army Personnel Command, has advised in similar cases that, during World War II, the Combat Infantryman Badge was normally awarded only to enlisted individuals who served in the following positions:
a. Light machine gunner (604)
b. Heavy machine gunner (605)
c. Platoon sergeant (651)
d. Squad leader (653)
e. Rifleman (745)
f. Automatic rifleman (746)
g. Heavy weapons NCO (812)
h. Gun crewman (864)
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The applicant was an infantryman and served in combat with an infantry company. He is entitled to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.
2. The applicant's service as an infantry instructor for 8 months and his combat service would appear to be justification for that award. In this instance, the benefit of doubt should go to the applicant. Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Expert Infantryman Badge.
3. The applicant is entitled to award of the Presidential Unit Citation and the Citation in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army. He is entitled to award of the World War II Victory Medal. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. That award should be reflected in his records.
4. 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 Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Citation in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Bronze Star Medal.
BOARD VOTE:
__SLP __ __WTM__ __TAP __ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
___ Shirley L. Powell____
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2003085511 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20030909 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | YYYYMMDD |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR . . . . . |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.00 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070002735
The evidence of record further shows that award of the Combat Infantryman Badge is recorded in Item 31 of the applicants WD AGO Form 53-55. The evidence of record shows that an award of the Combat Infantryman Badge is considered to be a citation in orders. 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 Purple Heart for wounds received in action in the European-African-Middle Eastern...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070004996C071029
Therefore, the Bronze Star Medal is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized either badge for service during World War II. The wartime buddy recommends the applicant be awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge as he states, "He richly deserves it and awarding him one at this time, along with the bronze star that goes with it, will correct an injustice of many years." Therefore, the Board requests that the CMSD-St. Louis administratively correct the records of the individual concerned...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100025408
The applicant's military service records are not available to the Board for review. c. There is no evidence he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. Therefore, it would be appropriate to correct his records to show this unit award.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070000932
The applicant requests, in effect, that item 31 (Military Qualification and Date), of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation), be corrected to show that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this unit award. 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 and adding it to...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002075497C070403
The applicant requests award of the Infantry Badge, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Army of Occupation Ribbon, the Bronze Star Medal and all other awards he is authorized. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, shows that the applicant’s unit during World War II was awarded occupation credit which is authority for award of the Army of Occupation Medal to soldiers assigned to the unit during the period of qualifying service. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002081860C070215
There is no evidence in the available records which shows the applicant received combat infantry pay during World War II while assigned in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations. Therefore, his military records should be corrected to show these medals. Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of his military records to show this unit citation.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050002059C070206
The applicant requests, in effect, correction of his military records to show award of the Purple Heart, assault credit for two combat glider landings, the Presidential Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster, and three foreign unit awards; specifically, the French Croix de Guerre, Netherlands Orange Lanyard, and Belgian Fourragere. In addition, he contends that his military service records should be corrected to show award of the Presidential Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster, the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002068505C070402
Item 34 (Wounds Received In Action) of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55, which was authenticated in his own hand, shows the entry “NONE.” There is no record that the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart and there are no medical records available. The evidence of record shows that the applicant was eligible for the POW Medal; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show that he was awarded the POW Medal. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2015 | 20150003542
The FSM served a period of qualifying service for award of the World War II Victory Medal; however, this award is not listed on the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 to show he was awarded or authorized the World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp. As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the...
ARMY | DRB | CY2005 | 20050006584
Rowland C. Heflin | |Member | The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. The applicant states, in effect, that he was in combat in the Philippines in 1945 but, his discharge says nothing about the Combat Infantryman Badge. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. deleting the Victory Ribbon and the APT Ribbon, with one bronze service star, from the...