CIB Question

[RifleMaster]

I recently copied Paragraph 2-6, Army Reg. 600-8-22 (Military Awards) Combat Infantryman Badge. Sub-Paragraph e. Special provisions- Republic of Vietnam (2) states: In addition, any officer, warrent officer, or enlisted man .......under appropriate orders was assigned to advise a unit listed in ........ will be eligible for award of the CIB provided all other requirements have been met. Note that it does not specify a length of time assigned to the unit.

On April 2, 1968 a new 11C4H SFC was KIA in his first fire-fight on his first Op. The above reg. leads me to believe that he should have been awarded the CIB. Knowing MACV, doubt if he got it. His tour started March 18, 1968, and he was KIA on April 2, 1968. He was married with four children.

What do you think? Would it be possible to find out if he was awarded the CIB? I have his full name and Serial Number.

Carl/RifleMaster

[MARK92A]

I dont know the specifics of this case, but one thing to do is: Make sure you use the AR applicable at the time. Todays regs may (read as probably arent) the same as 30 years ago. Except for that DA Form 6 Reg.. Thats older than dirt...

[RifleMaster]

MARK92A,

Thanks for the reply!

I remember someone telling me back then that you had to be assigned to the unit for 30 days and of course meet the other reqirements, i.e., actually be in combat. The 30 days may have come from e. (1) which states "Any officer whose branch is other than infantry who, under appropriate orders, has commanded a line infantry ....unit of .......for at least 30 consecutive days is deemed to have been detailed in infantry and is eligible for award of the CIB..........date." The 30 days only applied to officers?

What do you think?

Carl

[MARK92A]

Im not sure about the rules for back then. Best thing to do is call your local Veterans group and ask them. As long as you are talking to them, remember to say "Thank You" for all they have done. Someone there will know or know where to look for that info.

I can only tell you what the current AR says on it, and I'll post the link to is as soon as I find it.

[Gunny Hicks]

Requests for the issuance or replacement of medals, decorations and awards should be directed to the specific branch of the military in which the veteran served.

US Army:
Where to write for medals or decorations:

National Personnel Records Center
Medals Section (NRPMA-M)
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100

Where to write in case of appeal or problem:

Commander
PERSCOM
Attn: TAPC-PDO-PA
200 Stovall Street
Alexandria, VA 22332-0471

Where medals are mailed from:

U.S. Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command, IMMC Soldier Systems Directorate
700 Robbins Avenue
P.O. Box 57997
Philadelphia, PA 19111-7997

Hope this info is helpful.

Semper Fidelis, and best regards on this Veterans Day.

[RifleMaster]

Gunny,

Thanks for the info!

The loss of this particular Teammate hurt. The night before his first op. he asked me about his role in the op. Knowing the area and RIF route, I gave him some tips on equipment (what to take and how to arrange it) and told him to stick close to the Captain. Before they left on the op, he asked me to mail a cassette tape he had recorded to his wife and family. Of course I said I would, and put it in my fatigue pocket. In less than a hour the two Company sweep walked into an ambush in an unlikely location behind a village just off Hwy 13. Spies had given the VC/NVA their sweep route. The enemy had approx. a Battalion of troops, several RPG's, and two 12.7mm machineguns on carts waiting for them! Most of the lead ARVN Company, our Captain, and the new SFC were hit in the kill zone. Our Captain was hit in the head, and the new SFC was KIA instantly by a RPG-2 B-40 rocket. I went right out with the reaction force. The fighting lasted several hours, and I had two MedEvac Hueys shotdown (we secured the crews) before it was over. Our reaction force and other ARVN units started after the VC/NVA. Two days later, I was able to mail the cassette to his wife. She was probably notified before she received his tape.

Yes, at the time I asked myself if I could have done anything differently to prevent his death. Always came up with, No!

So, I would like to know if a CIB was awarded and given to his wife and kids.

I plan to find out.

Best wishes to all you Veterans!

Carl/RifleMaster

[Gunny Hicks]

Carl,

Semper FIdelis

Brian Hicks
GySgt USMC