How many combat infantry badges were awarded for Vietnam?

The USMC were rapidly re-deploying from Vietnam by 1969. Most of the US Marine base camps and firebases had been abandoned or re-occupied by US Soldiers, such as Camp Carol (in I Corps), Alpha 2 and Charlie 4 (the northern most US firebases, located on the DMZ), and Dong Ha and Quang Tri (large combat bases). The Combat Action Ribbon was created in the year of the Marine's redeployment from Vietnam.

Although medals and ribbons are important today, especially for those that have never been in combat; ribbons and medals, for the majority of men fighting in Vietnam, were NOT important. We had a saying in Vietnam, concerning the Purple Heart medal, "...that, and a dime will get ya a cup of coffee...", although there are benefits for military awards, getting out of Vietnam with our lives and limbs was far more important at the time.

Probably the most important "ARMY" award was the Infantryman's CIB, and for proof of it's importance, the high brass of the US Army has constantly defended against creating similar badges for the sister combat arms; Artillery and Armor. The Combat Infantryman's Badge was created in WW2, for the common unsung "Dog-Face" foot soldier from WW2, called a "Grunt" in the Vietnam War. Any and all drafted men became "cannon fodder" foot soldiers, since time began, the foot soldier was the agony of all fighting men. Being in the mounted cavalry or the civilized artillery was the easy life of the rich and educated men; but the poor man without a horse (he normally had to purchase his own horse), or the un-educated man without the mathematical ability necessary for the artillery, was destined for the dreary life of the infantry. In WW2, the US Army decided to award such tortured men, and created the CIB...just for them! In Vietnam we had another saying; for those wanting to wear the CIB: "...if you want the darned medal (badge) so bad...then be a GRUNT!"

Not many men were willing to exchange their dry cots for a leech infested watering hole to sleep in!