RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-03020 (DECEASED) COUNSEL: NONE (APPLICANT) HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: Her late grandfather’s records be corrected to reflect award of the following awards and decorations: 1. Good Conduct Medal (GCM). 2. American Campaign Medal (ACM). 3. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (APCM). 4. World War II Victory Medal (WWIIVM) (administratively resolved). 5. Army of Occupation Medal-Japan (AOM-Japan) (administratively resolved). 6. World War II Lapel Button. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: Her grandfather’s records should be amended to reflect all the awards he and his unit were eligible for. In support of her appeal, applicant provides an expanded statement and copies of her grandfather’s WD AGO Forms 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, the Lineage and Honors History of the 2d Operations Support Squadron, and letters from the National Personnel Records Center and the Army Review Boards Agency. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The service member’s military records were destroyed by the fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in 1973. The service member’s WD AGO 53–55 reflects that he served on active duty from 22 Jan 46 to 17 Jun 47. His report of separation further reflects that he departed for Japan on 6 Aug 46 and returned to the Continental United States (CONUS) on 6 May 47. The GCM is awarded to Air Force enlisted personnel who have honorably completed three continuous years of active service prior to 26 Aug 40, and who are recommended by their commanding officers for exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity throughout the qualifying period, including time spent in attendance at service schools, and there must have been no conviction by court martial. The ACM is awarded to service members who served outside the CONUS in the American Theater for at least 30 days between 7 Dec 41 and 2 Mar 46, or who served during that period for an aggregate period of one year in the CONUS. The APCM is authorized for those who were assigned outside the CONUS in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater between 7 Dec 41 and 2 Mar 46 for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days. The service member’s entitlement to the WWIIVM, the AOM-Japan and Lapel Button have been verified. His records will be updated to reflect the WWIIVM and AOM-Japan. The Lapel Button is already listed on his WD AGO 53-55. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: HQ AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the applicant’s requests for the GCM, ACM, and APCM, indicating there is no evidence of an error or injustice. As for her request related to the GCM, they were unable to verify if the service member’s entire active duty service was honorable; he also did not complete the requisite three years of continuous active service for award of the GCM. As for his request related to the ACM, the service member was ineligible as he did not complete an aggregate period of one year in the CONUS, nor did he serve outside of the CONUS in the American Theater for at least 30 days, during the qualifying period (7 Dec 41 through 2 Mar 46). The service member did not serve during the inclusive period required for award of the APCM. Finally, while the service member’s entitlement to the WWII Lapel Button has been verified, it appears as though his record already reflects his entitlement. AFPC/DPSIDR’s complete 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 23 Sep 11, for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, no response has been received by this office. _________________________________________________________________ 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 an error or injustice with regard to the applicant’s request for the GCM, ACM, and APCM. 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 former service member has not been the victim of an error or injustice. As for the applicant’s request pertaining to the WWII Lapel Button, in view of the fact the former service member’s military personnel records already indicate his entitlement to the Lapel Button, there is no corrective action required by this Board. We note the Air Force office of primary responsibility has verified and administratively corrected the former service member’s record to reflect entitlement to the WWIIVM and AOM- Japan. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting any relief beyond that rendered administratively. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the application was denied without a personal appearance; and 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 AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2011-03020 in Executive Session on 22 Mar 12, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Vice Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2011-03020 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 7 Jul 11, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Available Master Military Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSIDRA, dated 7 Sep 11. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 23 Sep 11. Vice Chair