The Combat Infantry Badge (CIB) was established by the War Department on 27 October 1943. Lieutenant General Lesley J. McNair, then the Army Ground Forces commanding general, was instrumental in its creation.
For award of the CIB a Soldier must meet the following three requirements:
(1) Be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties.
(2) Assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat.
(3) Actively participate in such ground combat. Campaign or battle credit alone is not sufficient for award of the CIB.
Combat Infantry Badge centered above the ribbons
The Combat Action Ribbon (colloquially “CAR”), is a United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard military decoration awarded to those U.S. sea service members “who have actively participated in ground or surface combat.”
Combat Action Ribbon
My Vietnam Experience 
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Action_Ribbon
Thanks for that Rocky – I put an adder in my post
CIB 1966-1967 A C0. , 1/26th Inf., 1st ID-Vietnam
CIB – C 1/5, E 1/5, H Co. 75th Inf, Ist Cav. Div 69-71 RVN, Cambodia, Laos
Mr. Kent, first off words could not express the gratitude i have for you and all the others that served. my dad was in vietnam from 1969 – 1970. i was fortunate enough to grow up with a dad that had fought in vietnam i was very proud of him, but he only allowed me to look at his CIB until i was like 15 years old, then he let me hold and told me of the importance of it right then i knew why he had not let me handle it. My Apologies i got sidetracked, however wanted to thank you first and foremost before my question. if you don’t mind me asking that is. i do hope that is alright. did you serve with LRRP’s in H Co. 75th Inf., or with the H Co. 75th Ranger? i am not sure if that had both for the H Co., but would love to learn. i am researching for a book i am writing about LRRP’s, and i know they were reorganized into the 75th ranger unit at some point in 68′ or 69′ i am not sure? did you do any long range recon patrols or go to the macv-recondo school in NhaTrang? if you were a LRRP or knew any, i would love to hear more of your story. i am not sure if this website is moderated often or not for things like this, but if you come across this and have any LRRP or 75th Rangers please let me know by replying to this. i appreciate your time in taking a moment to read this, and to other vetrans of vietnam, i am grateful for you.
thanks for this info. Gary had one and it was funny when we got it I mean he was attached to a Cav Unit. He flew Choppers or
Al always told me that his CIB meant more than his Bronze Star or his Army Commendation with V. I guess I understand why.
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Most Vietnam vets, including myself, agree with Al – good reason its placement on the uniform is the highest.
Thus, while I spent most of each week for over a year in the field informally attached to an infantry company in the field, including several fire fights and hot LZ landings, and usually at the platoon level, and although I carried an M-16 and several magazines, I was there as a public information office photographer and not eligible for the CIB. And I agree that I was not serving as an infantryman at the time.
The CIB Glory proclamation is too over the top. No one I know ever thought about “Glory” in a fire fight. Or heroism for that matter. They just did what they do. Some more than others. — “CIB Envy” has long been present in the Army. I recall news accounts of transport drivers petitioning the army for CIB awards- during the ridiculous Panama “invasion”. And other complaints from deployed military that felt they deserved some recognition. As such the Combat Action badge emerged as a consolation award for Non Combatant military occupations. I recall in Basic training at Ft. Bliss, both of my Platoon’s Drill Sgt.s had CIB’s— You looked at them as if they were Gods. I recall when I received my orders for my CIB— the platoon Sgt just handed me the multiple copies of the order—No Ceremony No hand shake. Just “Here you go”. And when me and another Infantry soldier (Named “Mountain” because he was 6ft4) got off the plane at DFW in Dallas- in brand new uniforms— Discharged from the Army— Mountain and I walked off the air craft— and in the Waiting area were about 2 dozen straight out of Basic GI’s sitting there. We walked out together and stopped. They looked at us— Tanned with bleach blonde hair from the SE Asia sun and our CIB’s— and they in Greens with their National Defense ribbon Greens.— We looked at them— their eyes were burning a hole in our chests where our new CIB’s were displayed. No one said anything for a minute— and I said aloud, “It’s all over boys— we’re out!!!” They burst into applause and several shook our hands as we exited onto the concourse.—- That was recognition beyond any ceremony.
Mike Whatley
Charlottesville, Va
Web Page: https://wa4d.radio/category/vietnam-war/
101st Abn Division. 70-71
Any chance you remember a Larry Ezerkis. He arrivedin Bien Hoa on April 1, 1070. 1st Air Cav
Served during operation white Wing in around LZ ENGLISH in 1966 as a 31f40 (INFANTRY COMMO CHIEF) supporting 1ST air Calvary! Under fire during this time. VA said i was CIB qualified but never heard anything more. Just wondering!