RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

 AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-01150 

 

 COUNSEL: 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His undesirable discharge be upgraded to honorable. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He was discharged upon disclosure of his sexual orientation. He 
was ostracized from his unit, and not deployed to Greenland. He 
served his country with honor, respect and loyalty, never 
violating any laws or legal regulations. Upon entry to the 
US Air Force, he was 18 years old and this issue was not part of 
his life, or a decision he conscientiously made. However, when 
he was approximately 20 year of age, in the Air Force, his life 
changed. Since then, he has lived his life quietly. This 
"undesirable" discharge was not something that he caused; it is 
something resulting from what his life came to be. 

 

His discharge was not based on violation of law, nor military 
performance, loyalty, or honorable service, but on social 
acceptance. Society and Congress now accepts this lifestyle 
within the ranks of the military. He did not have a court 
martial nor Non-judicial punishment to the best of his knowledge. 

 

In support of his appeal, the applicant submits copies of his 
DD Form 214, Report of Transfer from the United States Air Force, 
issued in conjunction with his 15 Oct 55 separation; a letter of 
support from counsel; extracts from his military personnel record 
(MPR); and case file, AFBCMR Docket No. BC-2006-02824 redacted. 

 

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit A. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 11 Jun 52 for 
a period of four years. 


 

The group commander notified the applicant of administrative 
discharge action for homosexuality. The proposed action was 
based on an investigation initiated by the Office of Special 
Investigations, at the commander’s request. 

 

On 15 Oct 55, the applicant was discharged by reason of 
homosexuality, with service characterized as undesirable. He was 
credited with three years, four months, and five days of active 
duty service. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

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. We have thoroughly reviewed the circumstances surrounding the 
applicant's discharge. Considered alone, it appears the 
discharge proceedings were proper and characterization of the 
discharge was appropriate to the existing circumstances. 
Consideration of this Board, however, is not limited to the 
events which precipitated the discharge. Further, we may base 
our decision on matters of equity and clemency rather than simply 
on whether rules and regulations which existed at the time were 
followed. Under our broader mandate and after careful 
consideration of all the facts and circumstances of the 
applicant's case, and in view of the absence of any derogatory 
information since his separation, his otherwise honorable 
service, the letter of support submitted in his behalf, and since 
it has been over 55 years since his separation, we believe an 
upgrade of the characterization of his discharge to fully 
honorable is warranted on the basis of clemency. Accordingly, we 
recommend the applicant’s records be corrected to the extent 
indicated below. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: 

 

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force 
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that, on 
15 October 1955, he was honorably discharged and furnished an 
Honorable Discharge Certificate. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 


The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2011-01150 in Executive Session on 13 December 2011, 
under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The 
following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 23 Mar 11, w/atchs. 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair