IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 3 September 2013
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20130001308
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 the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) be added to his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge).
2. The applicant states:
* he served with the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam as an infantryman
* even though his military occupational specialty (MOS) was changed to personnel specialist, he spent 7 months "in country" before his vision problem occurred that caused his MOS reclassification
3. The applicant provides:
* DD Form 47 (Record of Induction)
* DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record)
* 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 was inducted into the Army of the United States on 2 March 1966. He was awarded MOS 11B (light weapons infantryman) and later MOS 71H (personnel specialist). His DA Form 20 shows his duty MOS as 11B while he was assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry of the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam from 15 August 1966 to 11 December 1966. On 1 March 1968, he was honorably released from active duty.
3. His DD Form 214 does not show the CIB as an authorized award.
4. There are no orders for the CIB in the available records.
5. Item 41 (Awards and Decorations) of his DA Form 20 does not show entitlement to the CIB.
6. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the CIB 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. Additionally, appendix V of U.S. Army Vietnam Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) provides that during the Vietnam era the CIB was awarded only to enlisted individuals who held and served in MOS 11B, 11C, 11D, 11F, 11G, or 11H.
7. U.S. Army Vietnam Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards), in effect at the time, governed award of the CIB to Army forces operating in South Vietnam. This regulation stated the criteria for award of the CIB identified the man who trained, lived, and fought as an infantryman and the CIB was the unique award established to recognize the infantryman and only the infantryman for his service. Further, "the CIB is not an award for being shot at or for undergoing the hazards of day-to-day combat." This regulation also stated the CIB was authorized for award to officers, enlisted personnel, and warrant officers who held 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:
Evidence shows the applicant held and served in an infantry MOS while assigned to an infantry company in Vietnam. However, there is no evidence of record which shows he served in active ground combat. Regrettably, there is insufficient evidence on which to add the CIB to his DD Form 214.
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 that 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) AR20130001308
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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130001308
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ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
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