RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03452 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His records be corrected to reflect he was awarded and Republic 
of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM). 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of 
Transfer or Discharge, does not reflect his RVCM. He was sent 
the medal sets but never received any paperwork to include 
orders and/or citations. 

 

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

 

_________________ ______________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant’s military personnel records indicate that he 
enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 24 Jan 62 and served on 
active duty until 13 Dec 65, when he was honorably discharged at 
the expiration of his term of service and was credited with 
3 years, 10 months, and 20 days of total active service. The DD 
Form 214 issued in conjunction with his 13 Dec 65 separation, 
reflects 2 years and 1 month of foreign service. 

 

According to a 12 Mar 65 paid travel voucher contained in the 
applicant’s military personnel records, he was designated as a 
crew member on an airlift mission that flew through Vietnam. 

On 20 Sep 12, AFPC/DPAPP notified the applicant that they were 
able to verify his foreign service at Tan Son Nhut AB, Republic 
of Vietnam for one day, 6 Mar 65. This foreign service time is 
reflected on the applicant’s DD 214, therefore a correction of 
his foreign service was not needed. 

 

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POLICY AND LAW: 


 

The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), created on 8 Jul 65, 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 there over and in the direct 
support of military operations in Vietnam. The specific 
eligibility criteria requires; or serve on temporary duty (TDY) 
for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, although these 
time limitations may be waived for personnel participating in 
actual combat operations. However, no member may be issued both 
the AFEM and the VSM for service in Vietnam. 

 

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVNCM) is awarded to 
members who: (1) served for six months in South Vietnam during 
the period 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73; (2) served outside the 
geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct 
combat support to the RVN Armed Forces for an aggregate of six 
months--only members who meet the criteria established for the 
AFEM (Vietnam) or the VSM during the period required are 
considered to have contributed direct combat support to the RVN 
Armed Forces; (3) did not complete the six-month length of 
service required in (1) and (2) but who, during wartime, were 
(a) wounded by the enemy (in a military action), (b) captured by 
the enemy during action or in the line of duty but later were 
rescued or released, killed in action or in the line of duty; 
(4) were assigned in Vietnam on 28 Jan 73, and who served a 
minimum of 60 calendar days in Vietnam during the period 29 Jan 
73 to 28 Mar 73. 

 

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial, indicating that after a thorough 
review of the applicant’s official military personnel record and 
documentation provided, they were unable to verify the service 
member met the criteria for award of the RVCM. While the 
applicant’s foreign service in Vietnam was verified, he did not 
perform the requisite six months of service in support of 
operations within the Republic of Vietnam. A review of the 
applicant’s records revealed that he should have been awarded 
the National Defense Service Medal (NDSM); Vietnam Service Medal 
with one Bronze Service Star (VSM w/1BSS); and Republic of 
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P) and his official 
military personnel records will be administratively corrected by 
AFPC/DPSOY. 

 

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 


 

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the 
applicant on 10 Dec 12 for review and comment within 30 days. 
As of this date, no response has been received by this office 
(Exhibit D). 

 

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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 respect 
to the applicant’s request for the Republic of Vietnam Campaign 
Medal (RVCM). After a thorough review of the evidence of record 
and the applicant’s complete submission, we do not find the 
evidence presented by the applicant is sufficient to convince us 
he should have been awarded the RVCM. In this respect, we note 
the comments of the AFPC/DPSID indicating there is no 
documentation contained in the applicant’s submission or his 
military personnel records indicating that he served in the 
Republic of Vietnam for the requisite six months, or supported 
operations from outside the Republic of Vietnam for an aggregate 
of six months in order to be eligible for the RVCM. We also 
note the Air Force OPR has determined the applicant’s 
eligibility for the award of the National Defense Service Medal 
(NDSM), Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star (VSM 
w/1BSS), and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm 
(RVNGC w/P) and will correct his records administratively. 
Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find 
no basis for us to recommend granting 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. 

 

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The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2012-03452 in Executive Session on 21 Mar 13, under 
the provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2012-03452 was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 1 Aug 12, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 19 Nov 12. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 Dec 12. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair