DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

WASHINGTON, DC 

NOV 3 0 1998 

Office of the Assistant Secretary 
AFBCMR 97-03 19 1 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF 

Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air Force Board for Correction 
of Military Records and under the authority of Section  1552, Title  10, United States Code (70A 
Stat 116), it is directed that: 

ilitary records of the Department of the Air Force relating to 
be corrected to show that he was awarded the Vietnam 
ations in Vietnam on 15 September 1969. 

Air Force Review Boards Agency 

. 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

N@V 3 0 1998 

- 

IN THE MATTER OF: 

DOCKET NUMBER:  97-03191- 

COUNSEL: 
HEARING DESIRED: 

.L 

NO 

APPLICANT REOUESTS THAT: 

His  DD  Form  214  (Armed Force  of  the  United  States  Report  of 
Separation) be corrected to show that he was temporary duty (TDY) 
to 
Vietna 
-. 
Tactical Airlift Squadron 

the 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 
Applicant  makes  no,. contentions  on  his  application  other  than 
saying unit  and  time  spent  in Vietnam  with  the 
Tactical 
Airlift Wing; home bas- 
Applicant's  complete submission is attached at Exhibit A. 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

It appears that the applicant's military personnel records were 
destroyed by fire in 1973.  Therefore, neither his service in the 
Air  Force  nor  the  facts  surrounding  his  alleged  TDY  spent  in 
Vietnam can be verified. 
The Air Force indicates that AF Form 7 (Airman Military Record), 
Item  2,  reflects  the  applicant  served  in  the  Air  Force  from 
25 Oct 66 -  16 Sep 79, with two tours in Taiwan: 

30 Apr 67 -  30 May 68 
2 JUl 69 -  2 OCt 70 

Airlift Squadron 

Organizational Maintenance 

On 10 Nov 97, AFPC/DPAIPl requested the applicant furnish copies 
of  TDY orders, Travel Vouchers, etc., in order  to substantiate 
his claim.  In response, the applicant submitted a photograph and 
a letter from an individual, dated 28 Nov 97, who indicated that 

AFBCMR 97-03 19 1 

AB  in  Sep  69  and  that  the 
C-130 aircraft that was TDY 
on a mission  delivering  supplies to  Phu Cat  AB  and 

he  and  the applicant met  at 
applicant was part of the cr 
to 
other military installations in Vietnam  (see Exhibit C). 
Applicant's DD Form 214  reflects he was released from active duty 
on 16 Sep  7 0   under  the provisions of AFM  39-10  (Convenience of 
the  Government)  in  the  grade  of  sergeant  with-  an  honorable 
characterization of  service.  He was  credited with  3  years, 10 
months, and 22 days of active service. 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

The  Assignment  Advisor,  AFPC/DPAIPl,  reviewed  this  application 
and  indicated that, in  their  review of  the  records, they were 
unable  to verify  that  the  applicant  had  performed  TDY  duty  in 
Vietnam.  They requested the applicant furnish any documents that 
he  might  have  in  his  personal  files  that  would  confirm  any 
Vietnam  service.  He  was  informed  of  the  type  of  documents 
needed, i .e. ,  TDY  travel  orders, paid  travel vouchers, and any 
other items he might have to help DPAIPl make  a decision on his 
claim  of  Vietnam  service. 
In  conclusion,  without  source 
documents, the request should be disapproved.  However, although 
the normal documents DPAIP1 uses to verify overseas duty are not 
available  to  verify  applicant's  claim  of  Vietnam  service,  he 
submitted  a  hand  written  notarized  letter  sild  a  photo  of  two 
airmen  standing at  an  entry  door of  a military  aircraft.  The 
aircraft appears to be a USAF  C-130.  The applicant is the airman 
with  the  sergeant  stripes  and  his  left  hand  on  his  left  hip. 
Based on the letter and the photo submitted by the applicant, it 
appears that he was in Vietnam for at least one day in Sep 69. 
A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation, with attachments, is 
attached at Exhibit C. 
The Recognition Programs Branch, AFPC/DPPPRA, also reviewed this 
application  and  indicated  that  the  Vietnam  Service  Medal  is 
awarded to all members of  the Armed Forces of the United  States 
serving during the period  4  Jul 65 -  2 8   Mar  73  in Vietnam or in 
Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, in direct  support of operations in 
Vietnam.  To be eligible, a service member must be: 

(1)  Attached to or regularly serving for one or more  days 
with  an  organization  participating  in  or  directly  supporting 
ground  (military) operations. 

(2)  Actually  participate  as a  crew member  in one  or more 

aerial flights directly supporting military operations. 

( 3 )   Serve TDY  for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days. 

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AFBCMR 97-03 I9 I 

There  is  no  indication  in  the  applicant’s  records  that  he 
performed  any  TDY  trips  while  on  active  duty.  After  being 
requested  to  furnish  copies  of  official  documentation  to 
substantiate his claim, he provided an unsubstantiated letter and 
photograph, neither of which can be verified.  Applicant has not 
provided any documentation to show that he was TDY  to Vietnam in 
direct supDort of military oDerations there, that he was TDY to 
Vietnam for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or, that he 
was a regularly assigned crew member.  Although DPPPRA does not 
doubt that the photograph may have been taken in Vietnam, it is 
not  an  official  document  and  it  does  not  verify  any  of  the 
eligibility criteria.  The applicant has failed to substantiate 
his  claim  in any way  and  DPPPRA recommends  disapproval of  his 
request to have his DD Form  214 reflect duty in Vietnam. 
A complete copy of their evaluation, with attachment, is attached 
at Exhibit D. 

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 
Counsel  indicated  that  the  applicant  was  unable  to  produce 
additional information to substantiate his claim.  Counsel states 
that  the  applicant  was  assigned  to  the  314th OM  Squadron  in 
Taiwan  and  elements  of  the  314th OM  Squadron  flew  numerous 
missions  into the Republic of  South Vietnam  during the Vietnam 
War.  The applicant flew on several of  these missions in 1968, 
1969  and  1970. 
The  accumulative  time  ’In  Country”  totals 
approximately 8  months  (more or less) with the majority of  time 
\\In Country” between  1969 and  1970.  On one  specific occasion, 
the applicant spent 66 days “In Country” in 1970 at Tan Son Nhut 
AFB.  While assigned to this duty, the applicant was authorized 
and paid  “hazardous duty“ pay  for this period  and  a  review of 
unit log books, morning reports, etc., should confirm his claims. 
This  information  is  crucial  in  establishing  the  applicant‘s 
eligibility for medical treatment by the Veterans’ Administration 
(VA) for a serious medical condition that can only be attributed 
to  being  in  Vietnam  and  which  the  applicant  is  currently 
experiencing. 
Counsel‘s complete response is attached at Exhibit F. 

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. 

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AFBCMR 97-03 19 1 

3 .   Sufficient  relevant  evidence  has  been  presented  to 
demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.  Even 
though the applicant has not substantiated that he was ever TDY 
to the Republic of South Vietnam during the Vietnam W a r ,   we note 
the statement provided by an individual who indicated that he and 
the  applicant  corresponded  on  several  occasions  while  the 
applicant was  on several different TDY assignments in ,Vietnam. 
In view of  this statement, we  are convinced that  the applicant 
was  TDY  in  the  Republic  of  Vietnam  for  at  least  one  day. 
Therefore, in order to offset any possibility of an injustice, we 
recommend his records be corrected as indicated below. 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: 
The  pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force 
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that he was awarded 
the VSM for direct support of operations in Vietnam on 15 Sep 69. 

The following members of the Board considered this application in 
Executive Session on 29  September 1998,  under the provisions of 
AFI 3 6 - 2 6 0 3 :  

Mr. Vaughn E. Schlunz, Panel Chair 
Mr. Richard A. Peterson, Member 
Mr. Patrick R. Wheeler, Member 
Mrs. Joyce Earley, Examiner (without vote) 

All  members voted  to correct the records, as recommended.  The 
following documentary evidence was considered: 

Exhibit A.  DD Form 149,  dated 21 Oct 97,  w/atchs. 
Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 
Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPAIPi, dated 1 9   Dec 97,  w/atchs. 
Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPRA, dated 22 Dec 97,  w/atchs. 
Exhibit E.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 5 Jan 98. 
Exhibit F.  Letter fr counsel, dated 3 Mar 98. 

Panel Chair 

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