ARLINGTON, Va. — Soldiers who face roadside bomb and car-bomb attacks could now qualify for the Army’s Combat Infantryman Badge, which is for infantry and Special Forces soldiers, according to the Army.

While such attacks do not automatically merit the badge, they should be considered as part of recommendations for the award, the message said.

The move is one of several changes to awards criteria announced in a July 22 servicewide message. The changes are effective immediately and retroactive to Sept. 18, 2001.

The wording of the change to the Combat Infantryman Badge’s criteria is as follows: "Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), vehicle-borne IEDs (VBIEDs) and the like are direct fire weapons. While no fixed qualifying distance from an explosion of these devices can be established, commanders should consider the entirety of the combat situation when considering award of the CIB."

Marines who respond to roadside bomb attacks have been eligible for the Marine Corps’ Combat Action Ribbon since March 2006.

"I consider exposure to a detonated IED as being enemy fire, therefore, Marines who take appropriate actions during such an engagement meet both CAR (Combat Action Ribbon) requirements," then-Commandant Gen. Michael Hagee said.

Another change deals with the Combat Action Badge, established in 2005 for soldiers not directly assigned to an infantry unit.

Right now, a select number of general officers, such as the commander of U.S. troops in Iraq, can authorize the award, said officials at Army Human Resources Command. Now they can delegate that authority to subordinate general officers and colonel-level commanders, officials said.

In a separate change, regional medical center commanders now also have the authority to issue the Combat Action Badge, officials said.

The Army also announced that the badge will not be awarded automatically to soldiers awarded the Purple Heart, the Army message said.

The Army also has broadened the eligibility criteria for the Combat Medical Badge.

The words "not to include aviation" have been deleted from the criteria, to allow medical personnel attached to combat aviation units, the message said. Retroactive awards will not be given for service prior to Sept. 18, 2001.

For more information, go to MilPer Message 08-190 at: https://perscomnd04.army.mil/milpermsgs.nsf.

Francis C. Facenda Born in Philadelphia, PA on Oct. 4, 1924. Departed on Nov. 6, 2008. Resided in Westville, NJ.
Visitation:	Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008
Funeral Mass:	Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008
Cemetery:	Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery
FACENDA, Francis C., 84 of Westville, formerly of Philadelphia, on November 6, 2008. Legacy Frank as he was affectionately known, was born, raised and lived in Philadelphia until he was married and moved to Westville 57 years ago. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, who proudly served in the 101st Airborne Division during World War II, where he was a recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Frank was a member of the VFW, the Disabled American Veterans, the 101st Airborne Association and an honorary lifetime member of the Westville Fire Dept. Before retiring in 1970, Frank was an expeditor for RCA in Camden for 29 years. He was a founding member and former President, commissioner and manager of the Westville Little League for 15 years. Frank was huge baseball fan, whose greatest enjoyment was watching the Phillies. Family Frank is the beloved husband of 57 years to Mary (nee Kindick); Devoted father of Vincent J. Facenda; Dear brother of Joseph (Sue) and the late Albert. Farewell Service Viewing Tuesday 8:30 – 9:45AM in the St. Anne's RC Church, 213 Woodbine Ave, Westville, NJ. Funeral Mass 10AM Interment Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Williamstown, NJ In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Westville Fire Dept, 836 Broadway, Westville, NJ 08093 Tributes and memories may be shared by clicking the "share a memory" link.

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Melvin Frank Lett
Melvin Frank Lett passed away on April 27, 2009. He was born March 22, 1920 in Willoughby, Ohio. He was a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division. He was in the invasion of Europe (D-Day), also in Battle of the Bulge. He earned the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He was in the Army for 24 years. Melvin later drove a bookmobile for 15 years for Penrose Library. He has a son, Juergen Gradl, in Bruckberg, Germany. Melvin was preceded in death by his wife, Freide Lett and his parents Frank and Hazel Lett. He was a life member of the 101st Airborne Division, VFW Post #3917, American Legion Post 38, and the Enlisted Assoc. #1. Melvin has requested no services.

Thomas James Wharf
WATERLOO, IA Thomas James Wharf, of Waterloo, Iowa, died Friday, March 27 in Snow Shoe Township, PA. Born July 2, 1948 in Boston. 101st Airborne U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran. Owner/Operator of Tom Wharf Trucking Survived by his wife Sally and son Matthew, both of Waterloo, mother Dorothy Alldridge, brothers Mark and Russell and niece Jean, all of Wareham MA, nephew Thomas and niece Sheri of New Haven, IN. Preceded in death by his father Thomas, 3 brothers Christopher, William and Stephen, niece Lee Ann, sister Donna. Services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, April 10th at Massachusetts National Cemetery, Connery Avenue, Bourne, MA 02532. Phone: 508- 563-7113, followed by coalition at Plymouth VFW, 7 Hills Rd., 12:30 to 3 p.m. May the family and friends of this veteran accept our condolences from the 101st Airborne Division Association.


Denis and Erma Parsons at the 2008 Reunion in Reno, NV	Andre Muerisse (l) from Belgium and Denis Parsons (r) (327 GIR) visit the statue of General McAuliffe in Bastogne prior to the May 30th Memorial Services in 1996.

Adolphe G. Gueymard
ADOLPHE G. GUEYMARD, 95, a native of St. Gabriel, Louisiana, died on Monday, the 8th of December, in Houston, where he resided for the past sixty years. Mr. Gueymard graduated from LSU in 1935, with a degree in Petroleum Engineering. He served as Senior Vice President and Manager of the Energy Division of First City National Bank of Houston until his retirement in 1973. After retirement, he served as a member of the Board of Directors of several national and multinational corporations including Zapata Corporation, Camco, Inc., British Bornco Exploration, First City National Bank of Houston, Harrisburg Bank and Maxwell Laboratories. He has long been noted for his fervent support of LSU, as well as the University of St. Thomas and other educational institutions. Mr. Gueymard served as President of the LSU Foundation in 1969, and was one of the founders of Campanile Charities and established the Gueymard Professorship in Geology & Geophysics at the University. In 2000, he was inducted into the LSU Alumni Hall of Distinction and in 2006, into the LSU Basic Sciences Hall of Distinction. His military service during World War II, in the 101st Airborne is somewhat legendary. He was in the third glider plane to land behind enemy lines at Normandy on D-day, fought in the Battle of the Bulge and survived the siege of Bastogne. He was twice the recipient of the Bronze Star. He was preceded in death by his parents, the late Adolphe and Felicia Babin Gueymard; his wife, the late Josephine Roberts Gueymard; his brothers, the late Dr. T. H. Gueymard, Ernest A. Gueymard and Joffre T. "Shot" Gueymard; and his sisters, The late Marguerite Haydock and Marie Pegg. He is survived by his nephews, David Gueymard of Baton Rouge, Robert Haydock of San Francisco, J. Thomas Pegg of Vicksburg, Mississippi and Joffre Gueymard, Jr. of Alpharetta, Georgia; and his nieces, Anne Shirley of Baton Rouge, Joan McCloskey of Morgan City, Louisiana, and Kathleen Gueymard of Denver. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six until eight o'clock in the evening on Wednesday, the 10th of December, in the Library of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. Additionally, friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from nine until ten o'clock in the morning on Friday, the 12th of December, at St. Gabriel Catholic Church of St. Gabriel, Louisiana, where the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at ten o'clock. The entombment service will immediately follow in the St. Gabriel Church Cemetery.