>If the French government can recognize our service men after all these years, then it is time that our government recognize them as well.

There are concerned people that represent another country…the Philippines.

Ref: WW II Filvet to lead delegation to US Congress for full equity

http://www.asianjournal.com/fil-am-news/3-filamnews/9466-ww-ii-filvet-to-lead-delegation-to-us-congress-for-full-equity.html

Next week a number of delegates will seek justice for Filipino veterans of WWII. What's puzzling is where is the support for American veterans that participated in the same battles?

I was exposed to the injustice several years ago by an 89 year old retired USAF Colonel, a veteran of Bataan and Corregidor. He resided in a nursing home in Tucson, Arizona, and asked for my assistance in the process to receive recognition for his service as an infantryman.

Various AAF units formed the First Provisional Air Corps Regiment, II Corps (PACR). It was lead into battle by Colonel Doane, 31st Infantry Regiment. There are descriptions of the unit’s participation in battles from four sources.

The majority were taken prisoner, killed in action or killed in captivity. Those that survived, and repatriated during 1945, only a small number were processed correctly, and recognized fully for their combat roles. Records reveal the Bronze Star Medal [with] the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) were awarded until 2003. Congressman Patrick Kennedy (RI) presented the CIB to a former AAF member of PACR.

A joint agreement on 20 December 1948 by the U.S. Army and USAF authorized all AAF personnel be under the jurisdiction of the USAF regarding awards and decorations. Exception were certain badges including the CIB. The U.S. Army retains sole authority to award the CIB.

AAF veterans and/or next of kin are required to request the CIB through the Army Boards for Correction of Military Records. Currently, the Army Review Boards Agency, Awards and Decorations Branch, Ft. Knox, Kentucky refuse to recognize any AAF veteran the CIB.

Such action is contrary to guidelines, dated 1943, 1944, previous action by the U.S. Army Reserves, and history of recipients they fought along side.

Please note the previous procedure for several AAF units. The document was discovered in a POW's biography.

One distinguished AAF veteran involved leading a group of men into battle was Lt. Colonel William E Dyess. (Dyess AFB, Texas was named after him). Records reveal he was not fully recognized for his combat service. He earned the Bronze Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal (1st Oak Leaf Cluster), and the Combat Infantryman Badge he never received.

(Ref: 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs,

http://www.dyess.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3803 ).

Robert

Some WWII Combat Engineers deserve the combat infantry badge. My father, for one, served with the 234 Combat Engineers battling from D+3, Normandy beaches, through Belgium, Holland and finally Germany. When casualties in the regular infantry regiments became high, as the war progressed though Europe, combat engineer battalions were used as infantry. My father went on many of these infantry patrols, attached to the 29th and 30th divisions and was wounded by enemy machine gun fire on the Siegfried line while on a night patrol. Combat engineer companies were moved around and attached to different divisions at different times where they were needed. In addition, when the engineers built many of the bailey bridges, it was under enemy fire. The Germans did not just sit back and watch them build a bridge and welcome them into Germany.

 

My father is very humble about his service and has just started talking about his experiences at 87 years old. He did not even have his medals until two years ago when he found out he was eligible to get them, he only had the ribbons and never saw the medals all these years. Two years ago, he was awarded the French, Legion of Honor by the French consulate for his participation in the liberation of France.

 

If the French government can recognize our service men after all these years, then it is time that our government recognize them as well. Many of these guys went through hell and saw things that no one should see or experience. If a soldier can prove he served the required amount of time on the front lines, then they should get the combat infantry badge and be eligible for a bronze star.

Interesting this should be re-visited today, for I just got back from the Engineer's Museum at Fort Leonard Wood and have just downloaded all the photos from my camera. Would like to share a few with you, which are related to engineers fighting as infantry.

Note where it states:

"All engineers have the secondary mission to fight as infantry."

I will tell you what else combat engineers do that you may not know, they gather intelligence. My father volunteered to go into an enemy occupied town to get engineering drawings of the Albert Canal and Meuse River. The Germans controlled the dams and were using them to flood the land downstream to slow the progress of the allied advance. By getting the engineering drawings from the town, it provided valuable intelligence in accomplishing the mission to cross those obstacles. He was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Army for his service.

Clearly, combat engineers were on the front lines and in many cases ahead of the infantry and armored divisions. Without the engineers the armored divisions and their supplies would not have been able to advance, since the Germans flooded most of the land and blew the bridges behind them as they retreated.

I am not saying every combat engineer deserves the CIB and Bronze Star, but clearly some do. Maybe the officers sitting at HQ miles behind the line do not but the guys on the front line in active combat for months certainly qualify by any standard.

AMEN to that.

I have contacted several offices of DOD, and continue to wait for a response. I would like to share WD Circular 105. I wish to bring to your attention the basis (or justification) determining the CIB is authorized to any and all U.S. Army personnel that met WD Circular 105, page 2, paragraph IV..Badge. The key word is [any] infantryman.

This guideline applies to all U.S. Army personnel up to 11 May 1944 when WD Circular 186 was adapted.

Obviously, it did not require a combatant to be assigned to an infantry unit and/or possess the MOS of an infantryman.

WD Circular 269 was amended by WD Circular 105. Retroactive award of the Expert and Combat Infantryman badges may be awarded to any infantryman who, on or after 6 December 1941, has established eligibility and been recommended for such award under the provisions of paragraph 2b or paragraph 3.

Would appreciate any response to a simple interpretation.

Robert

==========================================

Marion's note - October 19, 2011 - Looks like the Photo Buckets documents are no longer available. Sorry, for I have no control of off-site materials.

Took one yesr to receive response from DOD IG.

Thank you for your correspondence to the Department of Defense (DoD)

Hotline.

In order for the DoD Hotline to initiate an inquiry of any complaint

that we receive, it must be determined that:

* the matter concerns a violation of Federal law within the DoD's

investigative purview;

* the DoD has sufficient facts to initiate an inquiry;

* the DoD Hotline is the most appropriate agency to take action on

the complaint.

Based on a thorough review of the information provided, there does not

appear to be a sufficient basis for the DoD Hotline to initiate an

inquiry. Your request for reconsideration and submission of additional

information must be submitted to the Army at:

Awards and Decorations Branch - Policy

ATTN: AHRC-PDP-A

1600 Spearhead Division Avenue

Fort Knox, KY 40122

I appreciate your bringing this matter to our attention.

Sincerely,

Department of Defense Hotline

_________________________________________________________

The above address is the office contacted previously. Their response was denial. I have contacted FOIA at Ft. Knox regarding the issue.

Robert

I am adding (with permission) a letter which Bill on the Hill sent to me a while back.

Hi, Marion...I have just spent about an hour reading commentary about the CIB. Thought I would tell you one of my experiences.

 

At the end of the War in Europe, I was sent to Division Rear to work up the points for my Company (Co. B, 312th Engr. Combat Battalion). Although I was trained as an Infantryman (combat ready in 13 weeks in 1943), I had become a Combat Engineer before going overseas with the 87th Infantry Division. In my initial baptism of fire in France I served as an Infantry Rifleman the very first day in combat. Also, I served as an Infantry Rifleman during several days during the last two weeks of the war.

 

At Division rear I went thru their chow line. Every food server was wearing the CIB. Several times I engaged one or more of those food servers in conversation and found out that most of them never even had to hit the ground with artillery shells raining in. My conversations with these men usually had a bit of humor in them...no arguments or disagreements. Personally, I knew that I was not eligible for the CIB and never questioned that. Based on my service record, in 1945 I applied for and received the EIB (Expert Infantry Badge).

 

You most likely are aware that there is a Combat Engineer Badge. It is not offcial and should not be worn on the uniform. Of course there is no formal award or cash involved. I wear the CEB on my VFW cap. It is too bad that they did not make it an official badge, with or without extra pay.

 

As for myself, I am quite satisfied that I was able and did perform on several occasions as an Infantryman, and felt that I was skilled in doing so. After the War, I was a Lt. Col. Battalion Commander in the ROTC, and that was an Infantry Battalion.

 

All the best, Bill on the Hill

I can only say as somewhat of an outsider in this matter that I have a lot respect for Marion and others who are determined to right what appears to me to be a wrong. I know from my long association with her website that M1 has continually fought to ensure the award of the CIB goes to those who fought as infantry during WWII. The sadness in this is that the Combat Engineers veterans of WWII are a dwindling number and may not have lived long enough to collect their CIB. That is a travesty!! I wish all success in their quest.

Colin.

Thank you Colin for your input. It's just something that many of us feel very strongly about and with all good intentions and from the heart. It's great to have yet another person stand beside us on this issue.

God bless ya!

M1

Okay, here's another BIG feather in our caps! Read with interest, the letter which I received from Karrie this week. I've asked her to copy of the 1948 letter for us, so I can share with you.

Hi Marion,

How are you? I am well. Just wanted to let you know while cleaning in my cellar last night I came across a box which while rummaging in it I came across a discharge looking envelope. I almost shrugged it off thinking oh it's the same copy of his discharge paper, but something made me take a closer look. Well I opened it and I almost dropped the letter. It was a letter dated 1948 issuing my grandfather the CIB! We are now going to resubmit to have his discharge changed to correctly reflect what we have already known. I just had to share the news since you have stuck with me from the beginning.

 

Karrie

Hmmm, after looking over her grandfather's history, I see he also served with the 106th Inf Div, so.... Well, will have to wait and see what the document states. Will post as soon as I have it in my possession.

As you can see, this topic hasn't been addressed in over two years. I just want to make sure that people know that this is still an ongoing pursuit for many. I still think it merits further inquiry.

Dear Comrades

50 years ago on June 25, 1966 myself and 75 others of the Army's 1st Brigade 101st Abn Div, 326th Combat Engr Bn A Co. APO SF 96347 So. Viet Nam were awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge on Special Order Number 176 . I have the order that was sent to me after I was discharged confirming the award. See attached orders. Now for the story.

I was an inactive member of the VFW for years. Finally becoming active after I retired. A VFW friend had asked if I had received all the medals that I was due, I hadn't according to my DD214. He was our Service Officer and explained the procedure. So I sent a copy of my DD214 along with my copy of the orders for the CIB to the TACOM office in Philadelphia, PA (my request #A2NBJ2Z2Z5NXK). In approximately 4 weeks I received in the mail all the medals that were on my DD214 along with the Combat Infantryman Badge that I had orders for, that was not on my DD214. The reason that the CIB was not noted on my discharge was because I was discharged June 21, 1966 and the CIB orders were dated Jun 25, 1966.

OK, so now I have conformation of my war time medals and awards, time to get my DD214 corrected, right? I go through the process of sending all the information and document (this was done through our VA advocate in my area) to the Nat'l Personel Records Center in St. Lewis, Mo. I received their reply back, stating that they could not find the original orders, and explaining to me that my MOS (Combat Engr) did not qualify me or the others on the order for the Combat Infantryman Badge, therefore that award could not be entered on my DD214. I was told that I could appeal so that is where I'm at now.

I explained in my appeal doc (DD form 149) that the denial was an affront, to our war time service. Was this just a very cruel joke played on us by the US Army, and the 101st Airborne Div.? Myself and I'm sure all the others on that Special Order Number 176 were and are proud of our service and hold the Combat Infantryman Badge, THAT WE EARNED, very dear. It is a consent reminder of our proud service and of those that did not come home with us. I don't know if we will win, but for myself I will wear that little badge on my 101st ball cap and on my old uniform with pride, I have the orders for that award, regardless of what the "Army Review Boards Agency's" determination will be.

I hope there are forum members on here that wre on the same orders as I. Please feel free to contact me.

Hi. I'm happy that you shared your story (albeit sad and frustrating) with our forum members. As I stated to you in our private exchange, this is simply an effrontery to you, my father and so many other fine engineers who fought as infantrymen, but yet, not given credit for the CIBs that you so clearly earned.

My plea to the army board went as expected - they flat out said no!

As you can see, this topic of conversation has been going on for years here on the forum, and for decades preceding this website's existence. What can be done about it? I'm not certain, but we aren't by any means giving up hope, though I must admit, it seems fruitless.

One person even told me that my dad didn't earn his and that he must have picked it up on the battlefield. I about hit the ceiling. Wait, I think I did. What a blasphemous statement. It still incenses me to this day.

Marion,

There has been several if not many precedents set, I've read several in here. My hope is that a few of my fellow comrades listed on the orders might be members of this site, or know of others listed that the CIB was entered on their DD214. who knows? That guy that said that a about your father, was/is a jerk, and saying something like that only shows that that fool was never in combat, and should just shut his mouth.