RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-03348 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214 Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected as follows: 1. Reflect award of the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM). Administratively Corrected 2. Reflect award of the Presidential Unit Citation with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster (PUC w/1OLC). Partial Administrative Correction 3. He be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He has the documentation to show that he earned the AFCM, PUC w/1OLC and the VSM and would like them on his discharge record for his military monument. He would really like these to be added for his headstone. In support of his request, the applicant submits a copy of his temporary duty (TDY) orders to Vietnam and a copy of the AFCM special order. The applicant’s complete submission with attachments is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 15 August 1964. On 30 November 1968 he was retired from the Air Force in the grade of Technical Sergeant (TSgt) E-6 with an honorable characterization of service and was credited with serving 20 years, 10 months and 16 days of total service which includes 2 years, 11 months and 26 days of “Foreign and/or Sea Service. The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not reflect award of the AFCM, PUC w/1OLC or the VSM. 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 there over in the direct support of military operations in Vietnam. The specific eligibility criteria require a member to be either: Attached to or regularly serving for one, or more, days with an organization participating in or directly supporting ground (military) operations, Attached to or regularly serving for one, or more, days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations, Actually participate as a crew member in one or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations, or Serve on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days, which may be waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations. By letter dated 2 November 2011, AFPC/DPSIDRA advised the applicant his request was partially resolved administratively. After a thorough review of his military personnel records and documentation provided, they were able to verify his entitlement to the AFCM. They were also able to verify his entitlement to the PUC for assignment to the 9th Field Maintenance Squadron, Beale Air Force Base, California, from 31 March 1968 to 30 November 1968. Unfortunately they were unable to verify entitlement to the 1st OLC to the PUC or the VSM. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial. DPSIDR states after a thorough review of the applicant’s military personnel records (MPR) and assigned units, they were unable to verify entitlement to the PUC w/1OLC or locate any official documentation verifying the applicant served in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, or Laos. The complete DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant submitted a copy of his “In-Service Schools” Training Record and letter with additional information on units he served in. He reiterates his Vietnam service was classified as secret. He deployed for 45 days in April 1968. 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 with regard to the applicant’s request for award of the PUC w/1OLC and the VSM. 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 that relief beyond that already granted administratively is not warranted. Therefore, we find no basis to favorably consider 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 this application BC-2011-03348 in Executive Session on 5 April 2012, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered for BC-2011- 03348: Exhibit A. DD Form 149 dated 26 August 2011, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 2 November 2011. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 2 December 2011. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 10 December 2011, w/atchs Chair