RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-01258 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

1. The Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM) be added to his DD 
Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, 
if entitled. 

 

2. He be awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) per 
the enclosed documentation, if entitled. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

While stationed at Clark Air Base (AB), Republic of the 
Philippines in 1968, he deployed to Korea with 12 other airmen 
to assist the Strategic Air Command (SAC) during the Pueblo 
Crisis. There must be a manifest on record. 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides a copy of his 
DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of 
Transfer or Discharge, a personal statement and the KDSM 
criteria. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

On 5 August 1965, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air 
Force. 

 

On 27 January 1969, he was discharged with an honorable 
discharge. He had 3 years, 5 months and 23 days of total active 
service. 

 

His DD Form 214 reflects award of the Small Arms Expert 
Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR), National Defense Service Medal 
(NDSM) and the Air Force Good Conduct Medal (AFGCM). 

 

The KDSM is awarded for military service in the Republic of 
Korea (ROK) and surrounding waters after 28 July 1954, to a date 


to be determined by the Secretary of Defense. Individuals must 
have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating or 
serving on all the land area of the ROK, and the contiguous 
waters out to 12 nautical miles, and all airspace above all the 
land area of Korea and the waters areas. To be eligible for the 
KDSM, personnel must have been physically present in the areas 
above for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days. 
Service member must have been assigned, attached or mobilized to 
units operating in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive or 
60 nonconsecutive days. 

 

The AFEM is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces 
who, after 1 July 1958, have participated in a United States 
military operation and encountered foreign armed opposition, or 
were in danger of hostile action by foreign Armed Forces. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial. DPSIDR states after a review of 
the applicant’s military personnel record (MPR), they are unable 
to determine the applicant’s entitlement to either the KDSM or 
the AFEM. In addition, no documentation found within the 
applicant’s MPR revealed he was a part of a United States 
military operation, as outlined in DoD 1348.33M, Manual of 
Military Decorations and Awards, that qualifies for award of the 
KDSM or the AFEM. 

 

The complete DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the 
applicant on 13 May 2011 for review and comment within 30 days 
(Exhibit D). As of this date, this office has not received a 
response. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 


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. After a 
thorough review of the available evidence of record and the 
applicant’s complete submission, we are not persuaded he is 
entitled to these awards. Therefore, 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. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find 
no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this 
application. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 

 

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not 
demonstrate the existence of material 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. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered Docket Number 
BC-2011-01258 in Executive Session on 12 July 2011, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 Panel Chair 

 Member 

 Member 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 31 March 2011, w/atchs. 

Exhibit B. Applicant's Available Military Records. 

 Exhibit C. HQ AFPC/DPSIDR, Letter, dated 4 May 2011. 

 Exhibit D. SAF/MRBR, Letter, dated 13 May 2011. 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair