RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-01463 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 1. His records be corrected to reflect entitlement to the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). 2. In the applicant’s rebuttal submission, he requests entitlement to the Air Force Overseas Ribbon – Short Tour (AFOR- ST). ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He should have been awarded the VSM and other medals for his service in Vietnam and other locations. He was stationed in the Philippines and was sent on temporary duty (TDY) to Vietnam on two different occasions. In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge; AF Form 626, Request and Authorization for Temporary Duty Military, and a Statement to Support Combat Zone Exclusion. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ _ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant served on active duty in the Air Force from 27 Dec 67 to 19 Jun 71. His DD Form 214 reflects a total of 3 years, 5 months, and 23 days of total active service with 1 year, 2 months, and 5 days being Foreign Service. The VSM is awarded to all service members of the Armed Forces who, between 4 Jul 65 and 28 Mar 73, 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 for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days and in direct support of military operations in Vietnam. The AFOR-ST was authorized by the Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, 12 Oct 80, the ribbon is awarded to Air Force and Air Force Reserve members credited with completion of an overseas tour on or after 1 Sep 80. [The applicant’s service was from 27 Dec 67 to 19 Jun 71; therefore, he is not entitled to this ribbon.] ________________________________________________________________ _ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial. DPSIDR states they were unable to find documentation to support the applicant served in the area of eligibility for the minimum time required for award of the VSM. The applicant provided a TDY order dated 19 Aug 70, which indicates on 1 Sep 70 he was scheduled for assignment to Detachment 5, 621st Tactical Control Squadron, Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, for 45 days; with variations authorized; however, there is no evidence that would clearly substantiate his service time in Thailand. The “Statement to Support Combat Zone Exclusion” form, which suggests he served in a combat zone during September and October 1970, does not specify the dates he served in Thailand or the location of his assignment. The applicant has not provided documentation which would verify boots on the ground in Vietnam, Thailand, Laos or Cambodia. The complete DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: In the 1970’s a TDY order (AF Form 626), was the only official orders used. He would like to join the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and does not have the proper medals. On 1 Sep 70, he was sent TDY from Clark Air Base, Philippines, to Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. In route, he was detained in Bankok, Thailand, for one day. While sitting in a C-130 near the cockpit, he heard on the radio that a base (Udorn) which is 500 miles due south of Nakhon Phanom, was overrun by the Viet Cong. He performed as a radar operator while at Nakhon Phanom, until his 45 days were up. While serving his 18-month tour at Clark Air Base, Philippines, his unit was shut down and he had to finish his tour in Kumejimia, Okinawa. His orders clearly state he had orders to go to Nakhom Phanom, Thailand. The applicant's complete response, with attachments, is at Exhibit E. ________________________________________________________________ _ 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 thoroughly reviewing the evidence of record and noting the applicant’s contentions, we are not persuaded that his records should be corrected to reflect the VSM. Although the applicant shared his memories, which the board respects, he provided no documentary evidence that would establish his entitlement to the VSM. Without documentary evidence, 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 that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. In regard to the applicant’s request for the AFOR-ST, the applicant’s records indicate he was separated in 1971, before the AFOR-ST was authorized and is ineligible for award of the AFOR-ST. Therefore, 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-2011-01463 in Executive Session on 11 Aug 11, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence pertaining to Docket Number BC-2011-01463 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 18 Apr 11, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 16 May 11. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 Jun 11. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 6 Jul 11, w/atchs. Panel Chair 4 3