IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 4 January 2011
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20100017286
THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE:
1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any).
2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any).
THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:
1. The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.
2. The applicant states he served for a year in a combat zone in military occupational specialty (MOS) 11B (light weapons infantryman), but he never received orders awarding him the Combat Infantryman Badge.
3. The applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214.
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant's failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing.
2. The applicant's active duty military records from 1966 to 1970 are not available for review. However, the DD Form 214 provided by the applicant is sufficient to conduct a fair and impartial review of this specific request.
3. The applicant's DD Form 214 shows:
a. he enlisted in the Regular Army on 11 January 1966 for 4 years;
b. he was awarded MOS 11B;
c. he was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal and the [Republic of] Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960);
d. his last duty assignment was with Company C, 3rd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, located in the Panama Canal Zone; and
e. he was released from active duty on 16 January 1966 in the rank of sergeant/pay grade E-5.
4. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides that the Combat Infantryman Badge is awarded to infantry officers and to enlisted and warrant officer persons who have an infantry MOS. They must have served in active ground combat while assigned or attached to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size.
5. U.S. Army Vietnam Regulation 672-1 (Awards and Decorations) specifically governed award of the Combat Infantryman Badge to Army forces operating in South Vietnam. This regulation specifically stated that criteria for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge identified the man who trained, lived, and fought as an infantryman and the Combat Infantryman Badge was the unique award established to recognize the infantryman and only the infantryman for his service. Further, "the Combat Infantryman Badge is not an award for being shot at or for undergoing the hazards of day-to-day combat." This regulation also stated the Combat Infantryman Badge was authorized for award to infantry officers and to enlisted and warrant officer persons who have an infantry MOS and required that they must have served in active ground combat while assigned or attached to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. The applicant contends that his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.
2. There are no available special orders awarding the applicant the Combat Infantryman Badge.
3. The evidence clearly shows the applicant was awarded an infantry MOS and had served in the Republic of Vietnam. Unfortunately, the available evidence does not show he was assigned to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size while assigned in the combat theater or that he had engaged in active ground combat. Therefore, his request for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge should be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
____X____ ____X____ ____X____ DENY APPLICATION
BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:
The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned.
_____________X____________
CHAIRPERSON
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20100017286
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ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20100017286
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ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
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