Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite wants Combat Action Badge retroactive

Bill calls for Army to retroactively award CAB

By Matthew Cox - mcox@militarytimes.com
Posted : Saturday Jul 5, 2008 7:27:13 EDT

Tens of thousands of veterans from conflicts dating back to World War II could become eligible for the Combat Action Badge if a Florida congresswoman gets her way.

Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Fla., recently secured language in the House version of the fiscal 2009 Defense Authorization Bill to require the Army to retroactively award the CAB to former soldiers who “participated in combat during which the person personally engaged, or was personally engaged by, the enemy at any time during the period beginning on December 7, 1941, and ending on September 18, 2001 … if the Secretary [of the Army] determines that the person has not been previously recognized in an appropriate manner for such participation.”

The version of the bill has yet to go to conference with the Senate.

The Army created the CAB in May 2005 to recognize non-infantry soldiers — eligible for a different award — who come into direct contact with the enemy. The Army has awarded 47,457 CABs to soldiers who have served in Iraq and 7,861 to soldiers for Afghanistan service.
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