Third Award of the Combat Infantry Badge

06/16/2025

ATTENTION ON DECK! Please note for action the passing of a true American icon and hero, Col Lou Faistenhammer, Jr. His well written obituary does a damn good job of telling his story but falls woefully short of telling the full story as it pertains to one of the rarest groups of warriors who ever put the uniform. Those men who have earned the covenant "Third Award of the Combat Infantry Badge". Some will read this and miss the deeper and more extraordinary history of a very exclusive list of servicemembers. Others will immediately know and understand what that means.

One of the rarest military accomplishments (awards, medals, badges, etc.) ever to grace Army class "A" uniforms, the elite Combat Infantry Badge. This time-honored blue badge of courage sits a top all ribbons and medals. It has this hallowed position because of the respect bestowed upon those warriors who have earned it. In that 250-year history of the US Army, less than 350 men have been awarded a second star attached to their CIB indicating a third action, in a third combat scenario in a third different war/conflict. For these men that is WW2, Korea and Vietnam. Compare that to the 3,520 men who have earned the nation's highest award, the Congressional Medal of Honor. It is a rare group indeed. This page/Community was created to share their stories. Like myself, a lot of family, have contributed to that cause. The National National Infantry Museum maintains a dignified and respectful exhibit at their beautiful museum at Fort Benning, Georgia. Until you get there, browsing our page, will give you your best opportunity to learn more about these men. Most of the information has been provided by the US Army with the addition of some family members and or military historian.

One of the glaring losses is the missing warriors who have been left off the "official list". Over the past decade we have collected more than 20 additional names of men who have actually earned the Third Award but for whatever governmental reasons, been left off the official list. One such man is Col. Faistenhammer.

The sons and daughters, grandchildren and friends of these warriors are getting old as well. Not sure who is left to tell their stories, but my hopes are someone who reads this can help with cause.

Col. Ludwig “Lou” Faistenhammer, Jr., 101, passed away on Thursday, June 12, 2025 at Country Meadows Leader Heights. He was the husband of the...

10/17/2024

The Army’s new Master Combat Badge (MCB) Explained:

The Army has authorized a new badge for soldiers who have earned both the Combat Infantryman Badge and Expert Infantryman Badge.

06/29/2024

Forgive the previous post and please note, for the record, COL Cecil “Sus” Nist outstanding Find-a-Grave entry below 🇺🇸.

USMA Class of 1923. Cullum No. 7118. He was the son of Charles W. Nist and Florence Welch Nist.On February 12, 1925, he married Ellen Mary Swan, the daughter of Chaplain Thomas E. Swan.They were the parents of three children. Cecil Ward Nist was born on August 10, 1900 in Fillmore, Ohio, the son of....

11/20/2023

Last of a rare breed. While there is no official count of remaining CIBx3 awardees still living we can still honor and recognize their achievements and careers. One duch “rare breed” is Lt. General David E. Grange.

Retired Lt. Gen. David E. Grange Jr., a decorated veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam and the revered namesake of the Army’s Best Ranger Competition, died Sept. 11. He was 97.

08/10/2023

Remembering and honoring LTC Ralph Mueller and his service to our country 🇺🇸

View Ralph F. Mueller's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

06/02/2023

Remembering and honoring our vets this weekend, the week, this month, this year and this lifetime. 🇺🇸

06/01/2023

A random notification popped up on my laptop about another hero of our country, JUAN TRUJILLO. This Warrior met all the qualifications and so-called requirements to have received the Third Award of the Combat Infantry Badge. Unfortunately, his name and thereby, his contribution to the freedoms we cherish, has been lost due to an military overlook. We have identified many others deserving the honors. .

View JUAN TRUJILLO's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

04/21/2023

Third Award of the Combat Infantry Badge recipient SGM Schmidt guest appearance with the one and only Groucho Marx. 🇺🇸

04/11/2023

🇺🇸 Attention on Deck! For any of our Arlington National Cemetery area folks please note for action. SGM Schmidt’s, recipient of the Third Award of the Combat Infantry Badge, full honors ceremony is a go!

09/15/2022

One of the very few men to earned the Third Award of the Combat Infantry Badge has left the battle field 🇺🇸

The soldier for whom the Army’s Best Ranger Competition is named passed away Sept. 11 at age 97.

07/10/2022

My father, 1st Sgt Lionel Pinn, Sr, often spoke of his partnership with SGM Shumate in Nam and at Bragg. I’m sure he was known and respected among the Warriors honored here

Sergeant Major Walter L. Shumate:

Walter L. Shumate served seven tours in Vietnam. His first tour was in 1962 with 1st Special Forces Group (1st SFG (ABN)) assigned to I Corp area. He returned for a second tour in 1963 and 1964 with 1st SFG (ABN) assigned to the II Corp area. Walter returned for a fourth tour in 1966 with 5th SFG (ABN), Project Delta (B-52), Recon Section. His fifth tour was in 1969 with 5th SFG (ABN), Recondo School assigned as an Instructor (Instructor Number 212). Shumate’s sixth tour was in 1970 with Military Assistance Command Vietnam Studies and Observations Group (MAC V SOG), Command and Control Central (CCC) assigned to the Hatchet Forces. His final tour was in 1972 with MAC V SOG, Task Force 2 Advisory Element (TF2AE / CCC) assigned to the Hatchet Forces.

Full Bio:
SGM Walter L. Shumate was born in Pocahontas, Virginia on September 20, 1934. He began his military career in February 1952 as an Airborne Infantryman and was assigned to the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team (Rakassans), serving in the Korean War. He later served in the 11th Airborne Division (ABN DIV) (Germany), in the Pathfinder Platoon and as an Airborne / Jumpmaster School instructor. Next, he was assigned to the 82nd ABN DIV where he served as a Squad Leader in the 504th PIR. In January of 1962 he volunteered for Special Forces, completed the SFQC as a Light Weapons Sergeant and was assigned to SFOD-A 323, C co, 1st SFG (A), Okinawa. Between 1962 and 1964 he and his detachment deployed to Vietnam twice.

In 1963 SGM Shumate completed a dive course taught by a U.S. Navy Underwater Demolition Team and embarked on a program he would continue throughout much of his military career, teaching Combat Diver & Maritime Operations. In 1964 SGM Shumate completed HALO training in Okinawa prior to being assigned to the 7th SFG (A) at Ft. Bragg, NC, where he was subsequently attached to the Special Warfare Training Group
in support of advanced infiltration training. During this period he was responsible for gaining the approval from the U.S. Navy to allow the Army to utilize their facilities in Key West, FL in support of SF dive training. SGM Shumate designed and implemented
a program of instruction that became the nucleus of what is known today as the Special Forces Underwater Operations Course.

In 1966 SGM Shumate returned to Vietnam where he served for a year as a Recon Team Leader in Project Delta. The following year he was reassigned to Ft. Bragg and served for over two years as an instructor on the HALO Committee. In 1969 SGM Shumate was assigned to the 46th Special Forces Company (A) in Thailand where he ran an Underwater Operations Course.

In 1970 he returned to the Special Warfare Training Group and helped stand up a permanent SCUBA School in Key West, FL. In 1971 he returned to Vietnam and served a year in MACV SOG-CCC. In 1972 he was assigned to Okinawa and served 2.5 years as the Operations Sergeant of a SCUBA Team in the 1st SFG (A) and often ran a Combat Diver Course for the Group.

In 1974 he returned to Ft. Bragg where he once again served as a Team Sergeant and later a Company SGM in 2/7th SFG (A). From 1977 to 1982 SGM Shumate served in 1st SFOD-D where he ran Selection & Training and also participated in Operation Eagle Claw, the attempt to rescue Americans taken hostage in the wake of the Iranian Revolution. SGM Shumate Retired in 1982 and continued to serve in Delta as a civilian until his death in 1993. In 1994 the Free Accent Dive Tower at the Special Forces Underwater Operations School was named in honor of SGM Shumate.

SGM Shumate’s awards and decorations include: Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Bronze Star; Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm; Korean Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars; United Nations Service Medal; Vietnamese Campaign Medal; Master Parachutist Badge; Combat Infantry & Expert Infantry Badges; Combat Diver Badge; Master Freefall Badge; and the Special Forces & Ranger Tabs.

The Giant Killer book & page honors these incredible war heroes making sure their stories of valor and sacrifice are never forgotten. The book which features the incredible life of the smallest soldier, Green Beret Captain Richard Flaherty (101st Airborne & 3rd SF Group 46th Co.) and several of the other heroes featured on this page is available on Amazon & Walmart. God Bless our Vets!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Story source Soc. Mil

01/07/2022

🇺🇸 Sad to report another member of a rare breed of Warriors, Lt. Col Robert Chisholm, has completed his tour on earth. One of less than 350 men in history to have earned Third Award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. Hand Salute 🇺🇸

Archive photos: Lt. Col. Robert E. 'Bob' Chisolm.