Saber Article Index

Jan-Feb Saber

Mike Bodnar
307B N Main Copperas Cove, TX 76522
254-542-1961
E-mail: mbodnar27@gmail.com

 

Medevac 1 and Medevac 2A correction to the last column is 1st Cav Assn Programs Director Tina Wilgeroth informed me from her database check that Ron Huether is a member of the 1st Cavalry Division Association, since 2018. Like all other members of the 1st Cav Div Assn, he has the choice to be as active as he wants to be.

I received snail mail from 196511C B Co, 2-7 Cav Jon Wallenius, in response to my Sept/Oct Saber column. Jon said he read with interest, and a lot of empathy, my writing about the awarding of the Combat Medical Badge. He said that he has similar experiences with the Combat Infantryman Badge, which he properly earned.

Jon was in heavy mortars in the 2nd Infantry Division which became the 1st Cavalry Division after war games with the 11th Air Assault Division (Test). His unit became B Co 2-7 Cavalry and was attached to 1-7 Cavalry which was under strength at LZ X-Ray in the Ia Drang.

Jon mentioned certain non-infantry CIB holders, one whom I know, who are not qualified, he says, stealing valor from those who are. The Army regulation implies, but I do not see it specifically stated, that the Soldier must have an 11 MOS. Unless that has changed, an infantry Soldier is still an 11 MOS series. Anyone who does not have an 11 MOS, who says they have a CIB, is not qualified; never has been, nor never will be qualified. Another qualification is, a recipient must be personally present and under hostile fire while serving in an assigned infantry or SF primary duty, in a unit actively engaged in ground combat with the enemy. I do see 11B MOS as infantryman in the CAB AR, mentioned below, which attempts to distinguish between who is eligible for which award.

I have met U.S. Army Veterans who had an 11 MOS but were not functioning with the other requirement. That is, assigned infantry duty in a unit actively engaged in ground combat with the enemy.

The AR states: “

(3) The definition of requirement to be ‘engaged in active ground combat’ has generated much dialogue over the years as to the original intent of the CIB. The intent has been clarified over time as being personally present, under fire, and engaging inaction against the enemy in ground forces combat. It is not awarded for battle participation credit.

b. For award of the CIB a Soldier must meet the following three requirements:

(1) Be an infantry Soldier satisfactorily performing infantry duties.

(a) A Soldier must be an Army infantry or SF officer (CMF or AOC 11 or 18) in the grade of COL/O6 or below, or an Army enlisted Soldier or warrant officer with an infantry or SF MOS who, subsequent to 6 December 1941, has satisfactorily performed duty while assigned or attached as a member of an infantry, ranger, or SF unit of either a brigade, regimental, or smaller size during any period such unit was engaged in active ground combat.

(b) Eligibility for SF personnel in MOSs 18B, 18C, 18E, 18F, and 18Z (less18D – SF medical sergeant) accrues from 20 December 1989. Retroactive awards of the CIB to SF personnel are not authorized prior to 20 December 1989.

(2) Be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged inactive ground combat.

106 AR 600–8–22 • 5 March 2019

(a) A recipient must be personally present and under hostile fire while serving in an assigned infantry or SF primary duty, in a unit actively engaged in ground combat with the enemy. The unit in question must be a brigade, regiment, or smaller size. For example, personnel possessing an infantry MOS in a rifle squad of a cavalry platoon in a cavalry Troop would be eligible for award of the CIB. Battle or CPC alone is not sufficient; the unit must have been in active ground combat with the enemy during the period.

(b) Personnel with other than an infantry or SF MOS are not eligible, regardless of the circumstances. The infantry or SF CMF, AOC or MOS does not necessarily have to be the Soldier’s primary specialty, if the Soldier has been properly trained in infantry or SF tactics, possesses the appropriate skill code, and is serving in that specialty when engaged in active ground combat as described above. Commanders are not authorized to make any exceptions to this policy.

(c) Awards will not be made to general officers or to members of headquarters companies of units larger in size than brigade.

(3) Actively participate in such ground combat. Campaign or battle credit is not sufficient for award of the CIB.

c. The CIB is authorized for an award for the following qualifying wars, conflicts, and operations. Second and third awards of the CIB are indicated by superimposing one and two stars respectively, centered at the top of the badge between the points of the oak wreath. To date, a separate award of the CIB has been authorized for qualified Soldiers in the following qualifying periods:” TheAR goes on to list those periods:

<https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN18147_R600_8_22_admin2_FINAL.pdf> pages 106-108, including special provisions. The CIB AR starts out by saying: “8 – 6. Combat Infantryman Badge.

a. The CIB was established by the War Department on 27 October 1943. The CIB was designed to enhance morale and the prestige of the ‘Queen of Battle. ‘The badge was intended as an inducement for individuals to join the infantry while serving as a morale booster for infantrymen serving in every theater.

(1) Several factors led to the creation of the CIB, an award that would provide special recognition of the unique role of the Army infantryman, the only Soldier whose daily mission is to close with and destroy the enemy and to seize and hold terrain. “

It should be understood: “

(2) In developing the CIB, the War Department did not dismiss out of hand or ignore the contributions of other branches. Their vital contributions to the overall war effort were certainly noted, but it was decided that other awards and decorations to retain the badge for the unique purpose for which it was established and to prevent the adoption of any other badge, which would lower its prestige. At the close of World War II, the largest war in which the armor and artillery played key roles in the ground campaigns, a review was conducted of the CIB criteria with consideration being given to creating either additional badges or authorizing the badge to cavalry and armor units. The review noted that any change in policy would detract from the prestige of the badge.”

Only the Combat Medical Badge was allowed to provide recognition to the field medic who accompanies the infantryman into battle and shares experiences unique to the infantry in combat.

Then, on 2 May 2005, the chief of staff of the Army (CSA) approved the creation of the Combat Action Badge (CAB) to provide special recognition to Soldiers who personally engaged, or are engaged by, the enemy. The CAB is intended to serve as a companion to the CIB and CMB to recognize the greatly expanded role of non-infantry Soldiers in active, ground combat. The CAB has its own AR requirements which I will not write about. They are complicated and can be read about in the AR mentioned above, pages 110-112. Retroactive awards of the CAB are not authorized prior to 18 September 2001.

Ia Drang Valley 1965 StampI know of-and there were many, many-artillery forward observers who were assigned to infantry units who went through the same experiences as their infantry units but were not qualified for the CIB. Now, the CAB should be a respite. Before, they only had pride in knowing that their skills contributed to so much in their units. Also, as the AR states, other awards and decorations were sufficient to recognize their contributions.

The only AR time factor of thirty days I have read in regards to the awarding of combat badges is: during the Vietnam Conflict, any officer whose basic branch is other than infantry who, under appropriate orders, commanded a line infantry (other than a headquarters) unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size for at least thirty consecutive days is deemed to have been detailed in infantry and is eligible for award of the CIB notwithstanding absence of a written directive detailing that Soldier in the infantry, provided all other requirements for the award have been met. There are other special situations mentioned towards the end of section 8-6, but they all require situations that engage the enemy and are under fire.

The attached stamp artwork is by Jon Wallenius, who is an excellent artist. He mostly uses watercolors, which I understand, the hardest to use.

FIRST TEAM!
Garryowen,
Mike Bodnar C 2\7 '69
MEDEVAC 1-7\70
SO THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE

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