RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03516 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: YES _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to reflect entitlement to the following medals: 1. The World War II Victory Medal (WWIIVM). 2. The American Defense Service Medal (ADSM). 3. The Berlin Airlift Device (BERADEV). 4. The United Nations Medal (UNM). 5. The Purple Heart Medal (PH). 6. The Republic of China Service Medal (RCSM). _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: His DD Form 214 only reflects two ribbons, several other awards are missing. The applicant's complete submission is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant’s DD Form 214, for the period 22 Nov 48 to 21 Nov 51, reflects he was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal-Germany. His DD Form 214, for the period 22 Nov 51 to 11 Aug 55, reflects he was awarded the following medals: the National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and the Korean Service Medal. His DD Form 214, for the period 12 Aug 55 to 18 Sep 61, reflects he was awarded the following decorations and medals: the Good Conduct Medal with four Bronze Loops (GCM w/4BLs), and the Air Force Longevity Service Award with three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (AFLSA w/3OLCs). His DD Form 214, for the period 19 Sep 61 to 18 Sep 65, reflects he was awarded the following medals: the Air Force GCM, the CGM w/4BL, and the AFLSA w/2OLCs. His DD Form 214, for the period 19 Sep 65 to 31 Jul 70, reflects he was awarded the NDSM w/1BSS, AFLSA w/4OLCs, AFGCM w/2OLCs. AFPC/DPSID was able to verify the applicant was awarded the KSM, KWSM, NDSM w/1BSS, GCM w/4BL, UNSM, and the AOM-Germany, as reflected on his DD Forms 214. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for award of the UNM, BERADEV, WWIIVM, RCSM, ADSM, and PH. DPSID was unable to verify the applicant served in any United Nations Group, and therefore could not recommend approval of the UNM. The BERADEV is awarded for military service of 92 consecutive days with a unit credited with participation in the Berlin Airlift, between 26 Jun 48 and 30 Sep 49. DPSID was unable to verify the applicant’s participation in the Berlin Airlift, rending him ineligible for award of the BERADEV. The WWIIVM commemorates military service during the Second World War and is awarded to any member of the United States military, including members of the armed forces of the Government of the Philippine Islands. The medal is awarded for any active duty or Reserve service period between 7 Dec 41 and 31 Dec 46. The RCSM was awarded between 7 Dec 41 and 14 Jul 48. The applicant entered the service on 22 Nov 48 and was outside the award period. The ADSM is awarded to all persons who served on active duty at any time between 8 Sep 39 and 7 Dec 41, if the active duty order specified service for a 12-month period of longer. DPSID was unable to locate medical documentation reflecting the applicant sustained an injury caused by an enemy and had received medical attention. To award the PH would be contrary to the eligibility criteria established by Department of Defense Manual (DoDM) 1348.33, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards. The Purple Heart Review Board (PHRB) has the authority, on behalf of the Secretary of the Air Force, to determine a veteran’s entitlement to the Purple Heart. Each request is considered based on the policies and criteria in use at the time the veteran was injured, and the determination is dependent on the documentary evidence presented. In order to present a request to the PHRB the required documentary evidence and information is required. The applicant’s request for award of the ADSM, RCSM, and the WWIIVM could not be verified as his service dates render him ineligible for these awards. The complete DPSID evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: On 9 Nov 12, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant for review and comment within 30 days. To date, a response has not been received (Exhibit D). _________________________________________________________________ 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 to warrant award of the WWIIVM, ADSM, BERADEV, UNM, PH and RCSM. We note the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR) has done a thorough review of the applicant’s military records and were unable to verify his entitlement to the aforementioned awards and decorations. The applicant has provided no evidence to dispute this finding; therefore, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force OPR and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application. 4. The applicant's case is adequately documented and it has not been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel will materially add to our understanding of the issues involved. Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably considered. _________________________________________________________________ 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-2012-03516 in Executive Session on 18 Apr 13, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 3 Aug 12. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 3 Nov 12, w/atchs. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 9 Nov 12. Panel Chair