IN THE CASE OF:  	  

		BOARD DATE:  18 August 2015	  

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20150000055 


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 reconsideration of his earlier request for correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show award of the Combat Medical Badge. 

2.  The applicant states:

* the Board previously acknowledged he served in Iraq through two campaigns
* during this time, he was working on many civilian and enemy soldiers, as well as U.S. Soldiers
* he held military occupational specialty (MOS) 91W (Healthcare Specialist) and the airborne identifier (he completed Airborne school)
* he enclosed a newspaper article about their casualty collection point or aid station that shows they did their jobs as medics
* the civilian newspaper reporter describes how he worked on a badly wounded civilian child
* he worked on many wounded civilians in Iraq and he also worked on Soldiers
* his command sergeant major pinned two awards of the Army Commendation Medal on his chest
* he does not want to contact other medics for statements because he believes people moved on and want to put this behind them
* he remembers one Soldier from another battalion with a gunshot wound  to the abdomen – they all tried to suppress the bleeding
* they did not have forward operating bases that were secure in Iraq until they settled in Baghdad
* most times they worked on wounded personnel in potentially dangerous situations
* he was told all other medics received the Combat Medical Badge; he is not sure what else to provide this Board to award him the badge

3.  The applicant provides:

* newspaper article, dated 4 May 2003, titled, "The Bridge at Samawah"
* two pages from a book titled, Boots on the Ground
* previous Record of Proceedings
* an unsigned statement indicating he was awarded the Combat Medical Badge

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20140006395 on 2 December 2014.

2.  The applicant provides a new argument, a newspaper article, an unsigned statement, and an excerpt of a book.  This is considered new evidence and warrants consideration by the Board at this time.

3.  The applicant's records show he enlisted in the Regular Army on 19 May 1999.  He was trained in and held MOS 91B.  He also completed airborne training and was awarded MOS 91B1P (the P character represents the special qualification identifier for parachutists).

4.  He served in Iraq from 15 March to 22 August 2003.  He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment.

5.  He was honorably released from active duty on 30 November 2003.  His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded or authorized the:

* Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award)
* Army Good Conduct Medal
* National Defense Service Medal
* Army Service Ribbon
* 
Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar
* Parachutist Badge

6.  On 2 December 2014, the Board determined there was no evidence showing he was awarded or met the criteria for award of the Combat Medical Badge.  The Board denied this portion of his application but granted other relief.  As a result, he was issued a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214) on 26 March 2015 that added award of the:

* Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars
* Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

7.  He provided:

	a.  a newspaper article, dated 4 May 2003, titled, "The Bridge at Samawah."  The report describes events that took place on 4 April 2003 related to a bridge crossing in the city of Samawah, Iraq.  The applicant placed a star next to one paragraph describing a wounded civilian child and wrote, "wounded I worked on." 
Another entry mentions the applicant and another medic trying to place an intravenous line in the wounded civilian boy;

	b.  two pages from a book titled, Boots on the Ground.  The two pages also talk about U.S. medics treating civilian Iraqi casualties.  It also describes the conditions of an aid station during the early phases of Operation Iraqi Freedom; and

	c.  an unsigned statement bearing no letterhead or other identifying marks which states:

The Combat Medical Badge is awarded to [Applicant] for participation in combat operations while serving in a medical position while assigned to 2-325th AIR in Iraq in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM for the period 31 March 2003 to 8 May 2003.

Signed

A____ N.G. G____
COL, IN
Commanding

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Combat Medical Badge may be awarded to members of the Army Medical Department (colonels and below), the Naval Medical Department (captains and below), and the U.S. Air Force Medical Service (colonels and below), assigned or attached by appropriate orders to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size, or to a medical unit of company or smaller size, organic to an infantry unit of brigade or smaller size, during any period the infantry unit is engaged in actual ground combat on or after 6 December 1941.  Battle participation credit alone is not sufficient; the infantry unit must have been in contact with the enemy.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant held a medical MOS and he was assigned to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size.  However, there is no evidence in the available records and he provides none to show he satisfactorily performed medical duties while his unit was engaged in actual ground combat and/or he was personally present and under fire.

2.  His participation in two campaigns in Iraq is not sufficient by itself.  By regulation, battle participation credit alone is not sufficient; the infantry unit must have been in contact with the enemy.

3.  The newspaper article and excerpts from a book he provided do not show he performed medical duties while the unit was engaged in actual ground combat.  The newspaper article states he helped treat a wounded boy.

4.  In the absence of additional documentary evidence such as after action reports, operations orders, morning reports, intelligence estimates, and/or officer staff duty logs confirming that he was personally present and under fire and performing his medical duties while the infantry unit was engaged in actual ground combat, he does not meet the criteria for this badge.

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 to amend the decision of the ABCMR set forth in Docket Number AR20140006395, dated 2 December 2014.



      _______ _   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)                                         AR20150000055



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20150000055



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