RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-02545 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States of Transfer or Discharge, reflect the following awards and decorations: 1. Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM). 2. National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) - administratively corrected. 3. Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM) - administratively corrected. 4. Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). 5. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA) – administratively corrected. 6. Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He should have been awarded the AFEM for his service between October 1962 and June 1963, during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The NDSM was not added to his DD Form 214 at the time of his separation from the service. The AFEM and the KDSM (did not exist prior to discharge) should have been awarded for his service in Korea. Also, he should have been awarded the VSM (which did not exist prior to his discharge) for his temporary duty assignments to Vietnam. The PUC and AFOUA should have been awarded for his service with the 303rd Bomb Wing. He further states he could be denied benefits from the Veterans Administration if the requested medals are not added to his DD Form 214. He would also be denied personal credit and recognition for his contributions during a very difficult and tumultuous period in the history of the United States. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 18 September 1959. On 1 August 1963, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with 3 years, 10 months, and 14 days of active service. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the AFEM, PUC and VSM. DPSID states after a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel record, they were unable to verify award of the PUC or the AFOUA for service with the 303rd Bomb Wing, the AFEM and the VSM. DPSID was unable to locate any official documentation verifying the applicant deployed from home station to the area of eligibility in direct support of the operations in Cuba during the AFEM award inclusive period of 24 October 1962 to 1 June 1963; rendering the applicant ineligible for award of the AFEM. The applicant’s dates of service in Korea between 9 May 1961 and 9 June 1962 are prior to the award inclusive dates of 1 October 1966, and 30 June 1974 for award of the AFEM. DPSID was unable to verify the 303rd Bomb Wing received award of the PUC while the applicant was assigned to the unit. After a thorough review of the applicant’s official record they were unable to verify Vietnam service. There is no official documentation in the applicant’s record to verify he served on temporary duty for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in Vietnam. However, if the applicant provided official documentation verifying service in Vietnam for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days he could elect to receive award of the VSM in lieu of the AFEM. DPSID was able to determine that the AFOUA, NDSM and the KDSM should have been awarded during the applicant’s service and was not reflected in his records. Upon final board decision, administrative correction of the applicant’s official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DPSOR. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant states he was assigned to the 6499th Support Group in parts of 1961 and 1962 and helped the group receive the AFEM. He was recommended for airman of the quarter award after being in Korea for a couple of months. He further states he was engaged in activities affecting the interests of the Republic of Korea and the United States. 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 an error or an injustice. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission, to include his rebuttal to the Air Force advisory, 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 applicant has failed to sustain his burden of proof of the existence of an error or injustice. Therefore, other than the administrative corrections cited above, we find no basis to recommend granting any additional 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-2014-02545 in Executive Session on 2 April 2015, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 17 June 2014, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Available Master Personnel Record. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 22 September 2014. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 October 2014. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 29 October 2014, w/atchs.