Posted on Jan 13, 2017
Can someone be a "twice awarded Combat Infantry Badge recipient" from different wars (Korea & VN)?
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Combat
Combat Infantry Badge (CIB)
Awards
Infantry
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 221
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I know this is old, SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint, but I wanted to highlight this famous soldier's exploits. Colonel Ola Lee Mize (now deceased) was a recipient of the Medal of Honor and was awarded the CIB twice for actions in Korea and Vietnam. Read his bio. It's almost unbelievable, but it's all true! His CIB had one star, which denotes two awards.
I met COL Mize once in early 1972.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ola_L._Mize
I met COL Mize once in early 1972.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ola_L._Mize
Ola Lee Mize (August 28, 1931 – March 12, 2014) was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Korean War.
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LTC Stephen C.
I’m most envious, MSG James Devereaux! When I met COL Mize, he was pretty much retired in place (and deservedly so). He was the Senior Army Advisor to the 20th SFG(A) in Birmingham, AL. He was born in N AL, so this final assignment was tailor made for him.
Even at a desk job he was still hell on wheels, though! If he walked into the hall, people scattered to the four winds! If you weren’t doing something, he’d find something for you to do!
Even at a desk job he was still hell on wheels, though! If he walked into the hall, people scattered to the four winds! If you weren’t doing something, he’d find something for you to do!
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I got my first for Vietnam. Went to Grenada with 1/508, 1st Bde, 82nd Abn Div. Had to stand in formation and watch as they “gave” everyone that went that didn’t have one , a CIB. Said us Vietman vets didn’t get one cause we already had one. Went to SWA(Desert Shield/Storm) with 2/505, 82nd. They did the same thing to us vets! Tell me why it says in this article that I should have 3 stars and only have one ? Huh?
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SSG Robert Webster
CSM Henry Behr , I do believe that you meant 2/508th for Grenada. That was right after we returned from the Sinai.
Reminder - your retirement ceremony was on 25 Jan 1996, and it was hosted by BG E.P. Smith, ADC(O); out in front of the Division Museum.
And yes, you and a few others got screwed.
Reminder - your retirement ceremony was on 25 Jan 1996, and it was hosted by BG E.P. Smith, ADC(O); out in front of the Division Museum.
And yes, you and a few others got screwed.
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CPT William Jones
Get you copy of your orders showing all the required data and have your dd 214 corrected. If you went to RVN you are retired now and have lots of time
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CPT William Jones
The time is the way to separate the awards. During WE ll you coul do Europe side and then Japanese side all one war different theatres COL (Join to see)
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CPT William Jones
Cambodia was linked to RVN. I was there when Nixon let us go into Cambodia no CIB passed out except as part of your RVN tourSSgt Bruce Probert
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It's very confusing if you try to compare it to the USN and USMC's CAR (Combat Action Ribbon) The CIB is much more restrictive in that it is awarded to Infantrymen only and for eras of time. The way to simplify it ( and the years I'm listing are probably off) is if you saw combat as an Infantryman in any war zone from 1941-1945, 1950-1953 , 1961-1998 and 2001-Present you rate a CIB with a stars designating subsequent awards.
The USMC award a CAR to any MOS that is involved in Ground Combat ( Colonel and below) They also award it for different war zones. Hypothetically a Soldier who saw combat in Vietnam, Beruit, Grenada, Panama, Somalia, Desert Storm, Afhganistan and Iraq would have a CIB with a single star on it Whereas His Marine Counterpart would have 8 awards total.
The USMC award a CAR to any MOS that is involved in Ground Combat ( Colonel and below) They also award it for different war zones. Hypothetically a Soldier who saw combat in Vietnam, Beruit, Grenada, Panama, Somalia, Desert Storm, Afhganistan and Iraq would have a CIB with a single star on it Whereas His Marine Counterpart would have 8 awards total.
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1stSgt Eugene Harless
PO2 Anthony Burton - Note the USN in my comment. Navy and Marines have same parameters, however I should have added "surface Combat" as well. Navy Vessels fired upon by missles can be eligible. When it comes to going through mine infested waters it can be arbitrary. Sort of the same thing happened on land in Desert Storm when the Marines and Navy attached to them breached the minefield in Kuwait. It was generally accepted if you passed through a mined area you were technically " under fire". More recently the USMC became a bit stingier in some commands and went as far as saying that being on a base that was attacked by incoming mortars or rockets wasn't qualifying. You ( or your Unit) had to directly engage the enemy. There has also been recent interpretation in order to award the CAR to Special Operations Units ( SEALS) who enter an inherently dangerous area and either observe or accomplish a mission without firing a weapon or being fired upon.
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SPC John Cummings
Once again USN/USMC get it right. Over Army. In 03 OIF I saw profile riders get a CIB for mission that some of us MP stood in for, and since, I got out before CABs were authorized I received nada. Obviously, butt hurt about it, but getting better
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You can get additional awards of the CIB, it's denoted with a Star added to the badge. I think the highest anyone has gotten is 3 CIB's.
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At my first company after AIT 2\12 Cav 1st Cav this was 1974 my 1st SGT had a wreath and two stars. WWII, Korea,and Vietnam.
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SSG Byron Howard Sr
CPO Lionel Pinn 1st SGT Truman. He was pretty cool. Told me he was not going to retire till he was an E10 Sgt of the war.
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CPO Lionel Pinn
SSG Byron Howard Sr
I would like to know more about 1sgt Truman. He is not listed on the current roster of 3xCIB recipients at the National Infantryman Museum. Needs to be added with confirmation. Thank you.
I would like to know more about 1sgt Truman. He is not listed on the current roster of 3xCIB recipients at the National Infantryman Museum. Needs to be added with confirmation. Thank you.
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Ok check out this guy I server under at Ft Bragg CSM 7th SFG and Draby's Rangers and Son Tai Raid etc and man confirmed to have the most POW rescue operations. He was knows as "Pappy" and true to the name, he also was part of the inception of Delta.
Command Sgt. Maj. Galen C. Kittleson
1924-2006
The U.S. soldier who performed more prisoner-of-war raids
than any other in American history.
Command Sgt. Maj. Galen C. Kittleson
1924-2006
The U.S. soldier who performed more prisoner-of-war raids
than any other in American history.
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SSG Keith Amacher
What I see from the other posts if someone does have 3 CIBs they had better be one bad ass and from my experience you wouldn't even know unless you saw their PTSD brother...
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CPO Lionel Pinn
Can you share more info on SM Kittleson? He was not noted on the original list. Needs to be updated. Ty
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Yes. The Army tracks this very carefully. There are soldiers who earned the CIB at least three times (WWII, Korea, and Vietnam). The Infantry Museum at Fort Benning also maintains a list of those awarded multiple CIB. I would presume there are those who have eared multiple CIB in the current era as well (e.g. The Persian Gulf War, as well as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan...).
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SGT(P) Joe Zitzelberger
LtCol George Carlson - They lumped the Gulf War in with Vietnam, along with Somalia, Panama, Granada, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, et al. Like a 40 year period ending in 1995.
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asked why one of my battles who served in OEF and OIF why it wasn't considered seperate and was told because they weren't, sure but idk might as well of been
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SPC (Join to see)
1stSgt Eugene Harless - I've been told that a lot of service members in WWII should have been awarded more medals then they had been but people who could have sent that up the chain we're KIA so it never happened. Then I've also been told that at the wars end a lot of guys just want to get home and didn't care about the recognition.
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1stSgt Eugene Harless
SPC (Join to see) - Well one thing to remember is that a lot of awards simply didn't exist at the time. Like you were saying many recommendations were lost in the paperwork, or the recommending officers became casualties or transfered before the paperwork was submitted or corrected.
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SSG Carlos Madden
I was just about to ask the same thing. LTC John Mohor's example makes sense though.
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SGM Erik Marquez
1stSgt Eugene Harless -"Its based on Eras, not war zones"
Exactly ..eras or time periods, not conflicts , deployments or wars
The CIB is authorized for award for the following qualifying wars, conflicts, and operations
There are 14 possible award periods, to include, eras, conflicts and individual operations, that are grouped into 4 qualifying events in four periods of time.
(1) World War II (7 December 1941 to 3 September 1945).
(2) Korean War (27 June 1950 to 27 July 1953).
(3) Republic of Vietnam Conflict. Service in the Republic of Vietnam Conflict (2 March 1961 to 28 March 1973) combined with qualifying service in Laos; Dominican Republic; Korea on the DMZ; El Salvador; Grenada; Joint Security Area, Panmunjom, Korea; Panama; SWA Conflict; and Somalia; regardless of whether a Soldier has served one or multiple tours in any or all of these areas. The Republic of Vietnam Conflict Era officially terminated on 10 March 1995.
(4) Global War on Terrorism (18 September 2001 to a date to be determined) (Afghanistan, OEF and OFS; Iraq, OIF and OND; OIR).
So Operation Urgent Fury, just Cause, Gothic Serpent all fell under the third qualifying time period..
The 4th qualifying time period Global War covers everything there after.
Exactly ..eras or time periods, not conflicts , deployments or wars
The CIB is authorized for award for the following qualifying wars, conflicts, and operations
There are 14 possible award periods, to include, eras, conflicts and individual operations, that are grouped into 4 qualifying events in four periods of time.
(1) World War II (7 December 1941 to 3 September 1945).
(2) Korean War (27 June 1950 to 27 July 1953).
(3) Republic of Vietnam Conflict. Service in the Republic of Vietnam Conflict (2 March 1961 to 28 March 1973) combined with qualifying service in Laos; Dominican Republic; Korea on the DMZ; El Salvador; Grenada; Joint Security Area, Panmunjom, Korea; Panama; SWA Conflict; and Somalia; regardless of whether a Soldier has served one or multiple tours in any or all of these areas. The Republic of Vietnam Conflict Era officially terminated on 10 March 1995.
(4) Global War on Terrorism (18 September 2001 to a date to be determined) (Afghanistan, OEF and OFS; Iraq, OIF and OND; OIR).
So Operation Urgent Fury, just Cause, Gothic Serpent all fell under the third qualifying time period..
The 4th qualifying time period Global War covers everything there after.
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The whole issue of multiple awards of the combat infantry badge is so much smoke and mirrors that I defy anyone to come up with a rational explanation for it. For instance the Korean War is listed as 27 June 1950 to 27 July 1953. I hate to explain to you that I was there in 1968 and we were shooting it out with the Imu Gan almost every night and we had people in my platoon killed. My Combat Infantry Badge was awarded for Vietnam not for the Dominican Republic!!!
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SGM Erik Marquez
". For instance the Korean War is listed as 27 June 1950 to 27 July 1953. I hate to explain to you that I was there in 1968 and we were shooting it out with the Imu Gan almost every night and we had people in my platoon killed"
Well that would because the historically correct dates for the Korean war were, June 1950 to July 1953.
So in your case, its just that you were there outside the official dates..
Just like there were Soldiers in combat in Viet Nam before and after the official dates Nov 1, 1955 – Apr 30, 1975
Smoke and mirrors, or the adjudicating authority using a common, historically correct, fact based date set ......they had to draw the line someplace,,,, There are servicemen in harms way everyday, someplace in the world..the line had to be drawn somewhere and a random arbitrary date outside of the factual ones would make it more confusing, not less
Well that would because the historically correct dates for the Korean war were, June 1950 to July 1953.
So in your case, its just that you were there outside the official dates..
Just like there were Soldiers in combat in Viet Nam before and after the official dates Nov 1, 1955 – Apr 30, 1975
Smoke and mirrors, or the adjudicating authority using a common, historically correct, fact based date set ......they had to draw the line someplace,,,, There are servicemen in harms way everyday, someplace in the world..the line had to be drawn somewhere and a random arbitrary date outside of the factual ones would make it more confusing, not less
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SFC Thomas Butler
LtCol George Carlson - So if a Soldier participated in Operation Just Cause and then OIF or OEF?
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LtCol George Carlson
Seems to be some dispute even among the Army folks. I was relying on comments that indicated that it was tied to the defined "conflict periods" but someone after me quoted an Army Reg that suggests that there is some division among all the operations lumped under GWOT 2 Aug 1990 - a date to be determined. I can see points both ways, but at this point I would think there would be a LOT of 3rd awards among very senior NCOs and officers who have been in Desert Storm, OIF and OEF.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
LtCol George Carlson - SGM Marquez posted the time periods above, but this is copied straight for Title 32 Code of Federal Regulations .
1) World War II (December 7, 1941 to September 3, 1945).
(2) The Korean Conflict (June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1953).
(3) The Vietnam Conflict. Service in the Republic of Vietnam conflict (after March 1, 1961) combined with qualifying service in Laos (April 19, 1961 to October 6, 1962); the Dominican Republic (April 28, 1965 to September 1, 1966); Korea on the DMZ (after January 4, 1969); El Salvador (January 1, 1981 to February 1, 1992); Grenada (October 23 to November 21, 1983); Joint Security Area, Panmunjom, Korea (November 23, 1984); Panama (December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990); Southwest Asia (January 17 to April 11, 1991); and Somalia (June 5, 1992 to March 31, 1994) is recognized by one award only regardless of whether a soldier has served one or multiple tours in any or all of these areas.
(4) Global War on Terrorism. Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (November 20, 2001 to date to be determined) and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (March 19, 2003 to a date to be determined).
With these groupings, I would think it very rare to see someone with three awards. It's been 17 years since Desert Storm and that would only give you two.
1) World War II (December 7, 1941 to September 3, 1945).
(2) The Korean Conflict (June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1953).
(3) The Vietnam Conflict. Service in the Republic of Vietnam conflict (after March 1, 1961) combined with qualifying service in Laos (April 19, 1961 to October 6, 1962); the Dominican Republic (April 28, 1965 to September 1, 1966); Korea on the DMZ (after January 4, 1969); El Salvador (January 1, 1981 to February 1, 1992); Grenada (October 23 to November 21, 1983); Joint Security Area, Panmunjom, Korea (November 23, 1984); Panama (December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990); Southwest Asia (January 17 to April 11, 1991); and Somalia (June 5, 1992 to March 31, 1994) is recognized by one award only regardless of whether a soldier has served one or multiple tours in any or all of these areas.
(4) Global War on Terrorism. Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (November 20, 2001 to date to be determined) and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (March 19, 2003 to a date to be determined).
With these groupings, I would think it very rare to see someone with three awards. It's been 17 years since Desert Storm and that would only give you two.
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SGM Erik Marquez
LtCol George Carlson - "LtCol George Carlson 5 mo
Then to be legitimate, they have to have been in since before 7 May 1975 maning a minimum age of something like 52. I have a feeling that many don't understand that the Gulf War, OIF, and OEF are all in one period."
No sir, not correct... the third era or time period included "(3) Republic of Vietnam Conflict. Service in the Republic of Vietnam Conflict (2 March 1961 to 28 March 1973) combined with qualifying service in Laos; Dominican Republic; Korea on the DMZ; El Salvador; Grenada; Joint Security Area, Panmunjom, Korea; Panama; SWA Conflict; and Somalia; regardless of whether a Soldier has served one or multiple tours in any or all of these areas. The Republic of Vietnam Conflict Era officially terminated on 10 March 1995.
So Operation Urgent Fury, just Cause, Gothic Serpent all fell under the third qualifying time period.."
Thus those of us that entered service in that third era AND served in one of the qualifying events AND was awarded a CIB, AND award a second in the 4th era, will have a single star representing a second award.
I entered service in 1985, I wore an earned star above my CIB
Then to be legitimate, they have to have been in since before 7 May 1975 maning a minimum age of something like 52. I have a feeling that many don't understand that the Gulf War, OIF, and OEF are all in one period."
No sir, not correct... the third era or time period included "(3) Republic of Vietnam Conflict. Service in the Republic of Vietnam Conflict (2 March 1961 to 28 March 1973) combined with qualifying service in Laos; Dominican Republic; Korea on the DMZ; El Salvador; Grenada; Joint Security Area, Panmunjom, Korea; Panama; SWA Conflict; and Somalia; regardless of whether a Soldier has served one or multiple tours in any or all of these areas. The Republic of Vietnam Conflict Era officially terminated on 10 March 1995.
So Operation Urgent Fury, just Cause, Gothic Serpent all fell under the third qualifying time period.."
Thus those of us that entered service in that third era AND served in one of the qualifying events AND was awarded a CIB, AND award a second in the 4th era, will have a single star representing a second award.
I entered service in 1985, I wore an earned star above my CIB
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