Combat Action Badge

[I B Hankering]

This is a public service announcement for prior service personnel:

This is a project to have the Combat Action Badge award made retroactive to December 7, 1941.

The Navy-Marine Combat Action Ribbon, first awarded in 1969, was made retroactive to December 7, 1941. The Army Combat Medic Badge was first awarded in 1945 and made retroactive to December 7, 1941. The Combat Infantryman Badge was approved in 1943 and made retroactive to December 6, 1941.

The Army Combat Action Badge, first awarded in 2005, was made retroactive only to September 18, 2001.

If an Army soldier, from December 7, 1941, through September 17, 2011, meets the requirements for this award, they should be accorded the same recognition as the soldiers currently entitled to wear the Combat Action Badge. Therefore, when the Army Board for Correction of Military Records, upon presentation of proper evidence, shall correct their records to show the award of the Combat Action Badge. Many non-infantry soldiers from World II, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, El Salvador, Somalia, the Balkans, actively engaged, or were engaged by, an armed enemy.

Petition at:

http://www.change.org/petitions/the-...ecember-7-1941

[Jackie S]

Well, we call it a "CIB" which means Combat Infrantry Badge.

I was never awarded one, even though I got my legs darned near blowed off in Vietnam. Why? because my MOS was not Infrantry, (11 bravo), but Como.

It would not have been such a big deal untill everybody started admiring that Rifle with the oak leafs around it, worn above everything else. Logic would dictate that if you were awarded a Purple Heart, surely you would qualify for the CIB.

The Army didn't see it that way.

[I B Hankering]

Originally Posted by Jackie S

Well, we call it a "CIB" which means Combat Infrantry Badge.

I was never awarded one, even though I got my legs darned near blowed off in Vietnam. Why? because my MOS was not Infrantry, (11 bravo), but Como.

It would not have been such a big deal untill everybody started admiring that Rifle with the oak leafs around it, worn above everything else. Logic would dictate that if you were awarded a Purple Heart, surely you would qualify for the CIB.

The Army didn't see it that way.

Jackie, this award is called the Combat ACTION Badge and it sounds like you would qualify for it, but Congress has to make it retroactive (from September 2001) to December 7, 1941. The infantry still has the CIB. The CAB is for S & S who were also in a combat situation, such as yourself.

[Guest040616]

Originally Posted by Jackie S

Well, we call it a "CIB" which means Combat Infrantry Badge.

I was never awarded one, even though I got my legs darned near blowed off in Vietnam. Why? because my MOS was not Infrantry, (11 bravo), but Como.

It would not have been such a big deal untill everybody started admiring that Rifle with the oak leafs around it, worn above everything else. Logic would dictate that if you were awarded a Purple Heart, surely you would qualify for the CIB.

The Army didn't see it that way.

I sincerely wish you the best of luck. I hope you will be able to secure the badge! You earned it!!!!!

[Jackie S]

Guys, in all honesty, I have never heard of the CAB.'

This is the CIB.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...54722E&first=1

[JD Barleycorn]

Sounds like a good idea.

The CAB. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Action_Badge

[I B Hankering]

Originally Posted by Jackie S

Guys, in all honesty, I have never heard of the CAB.'

This is the CIB.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...54722E&first=1

It's a relatively new award (2005). The petition is needed to have Congress make the award retroactive to 1941.

It is granted exclusively for contact with enemy combatants, so actions by noncombatants like detainees or rioting civilians do not qualify. The CAB is not awarded unless the soldier is engaged in direct enemy fire. Combat Action Badges awarded to soldiers under indirect enemy fire are awarded to those injured or in direct personal injury threat by said indirect fire [wiki].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Action_Badge