RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2009-00877 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His records be corrected to reflect that he was awarded the 
Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). 

 

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He served in Vietnam around Christmas and New Year of 1968 and 
was discharged from the Air Force in March 1969. He needs 
verification of his service in Vietnam to be eligible to join 
the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post. 

 

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A. 

 

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STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 10 June 1968 
and was progressively promoted to the grade of airman first 
class (E-3), having assumed that grade effective and with a date 
of rank of 1 January 1969. 

 

The VSM is awarded to all service members of the Armed Forces 
who between 4 July 1965 and 28 March 1973, served in the 
following areas of Southeast Asia: in Vietnam and the contiguous 
waters and airspace, in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia or the 
airspace thereof and in the direct support of military 
operations in Vietnam. 

 

On 12 March 1969, the applicant was honorably discharged from 
the Air Force by reason of physical disability that existed 
prior to service (EPTS) after serving nine months and three days 
of total active service. 

 

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 


 

HQ AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial of the applicant’s request. 
DPAPP states there is no documentation in his military personnel 
records that verify any temporary duty (TDY) or assignment in 
Vietnam. Additionally, the applicant was asked to provide 
source documents to verify his assignment or TDY in Vietnam. He 
did not respond to their request 

 

The complete DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit D. 

 

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the 
applicant on 12 February 2010 for review and comment within 30 
days. As of this date, this office has received no response 
(Exhibit C). 

 

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THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 

 

1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by 
existing law or regulations. 

 

2. The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the 
interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file. 

 

3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. We took notice 
of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of 
the case; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation 
of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt its 
rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not 
been the victim of an error or injustice. The applicant’s 
records were thoroughly reviewed, however, no documentation was 
found nor did he provide any evidence to substantiate his 
eligibility for award of the Vietnam Service Medal. In view of 
the above, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief 
sought in this application. 

 

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THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 

 

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not 
demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice; that the 
application was denied without a personal appearance; and that 
the application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of 
newly discovered relevant evidence not considered with this 
application. 

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The following members of the Board considered BC-2009-00877 in 
Executive Session on 18 March 2010 under the provisions of AFI 
36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

, Member 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 3 Mar 09. 

Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. 

Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 1 Feb 10. 

Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 12 Feb 10. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair