RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-05385 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He served in Thailand from 1 June 1965 to 15 September 1965. He served with the 355th Armament and Electronic Squadron. He had a copy of the TDY order reflecting destination classified; however, after 47 years he has not been able to find the order. The applicant provides no documentation in support of his appeal. The applicant's complete submission is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ _ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 4 October 1961. On 1 October 1965, the applicant was honorably released from active duty and transferred to the Air Force Reserve. He served 3 years, 11 months and 28 days on active duty with no foreign and/or sea service. The VSM is awarded to service members of the Armed Forces who served at any time between 4 July 1965 and 28 March 1973, in Vietnam, its contiguous waters, or airspace thereover; or in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia, or the airspaces thereover. To be eligible, a service member must be: (1) attached or regularly serving for one, or more, days with an organization participating in or directly supporting ground (military) operations, (2) attached to or regularly serving for one, or more, days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations, (3) actually participate as a crew member in one or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations, or (4) serve on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days, time limitations which may be waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations. ________________________________________________________________ _ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial. DPSID states the VSM is awarded to all service members of the armed services who between 4 July 1965 and 28 March 1973, served in the following areas of Southeast Asia: Vietnam and the contiguous waters and airspace; in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the airspace thereof and in the direct support of military operations in Vietnam for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days. After a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel record they were unable to verify award of the VSM. There is no documentation in the applicant’s record to verify he served in the area of eligibility for award of the VSM. Based on their review of the applicant’s official military personnel record, they were able to determine that the National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) should have been awarded during the applicant’s service from 4 October 1961 to 1 October 1965 and was not reflected in his records. Administrative correction of the applicant’s official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DPSOY. The DPSID complete evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant states the only proof he had was TDY orders that were issued at the time of deployment which he no longer has in his possession. Other service members that he has talked to and served with know that he was in the area of eligibility because their stories are identical. The applicant’s complete response 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 an error or injustice. After a thorough review of the evidence of record and noting the VSM criteria, we are not persuaded that he meets the eligibility criteria for this medal. Should the applicant provide documentation showing he served in the area of eligibility for a sufficient period for award of the VSM, we would be inclined to review this case again for possible reconsideration. Therefore, other than the administrative corrections to be completed by AFPC/DPSOY, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application. ________________________________________________________________ _ THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of an 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-2012-05385 in Executive Session on 13 August 2013, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 14 November 2012. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Available Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 2 January 2013. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 3 February 2013. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, 31 March 2013.