AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

IN THE MATTER OF: 

DOCKET NUMBER:  97-03560 

COUNSEL:  NONE 

HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REOUESTS THAT: 

1. His  Certificate  of  Release  or  Discharge  from  the  Armed 
Forces, DD Form 214, be corrected to show that he was awarded the 
Air Force Training Ribbon and the Vietnam  Service Medal, rather 
than the Air Force Training Vietnam Service Medal. 
2. He be awarded the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, with 
device and the Persian Gulf Medal. 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

The Federal Aviation Administration  (FAA) has stated that the Air 
Force Training Ribbon and Vietnam Service Medal are one and the 
same;  therefore,  he  could  not  be  considered  for  a  job. 
In 
addition, the Persian Gulf Medal was left off his DD Form 214 due 
to the large number of discharges; however, he needs his records 
to  reflect  this  award  for  the  Department  of  Veterans  Affairs 
(DVA) . 
The applicant's complete submission is attached at Exhibit A .  

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air  Force on 18 November 
1969. 

The  applicant's  DD  Form  214  issued  upon  his  24  April  1973 
discharge for immediate reenlistment, indicates that he completed 
no service in Indochina, Vietnam, and Korea. 

On 31 December 1991, the applicant was relieved from active duty 
and retired for years of service in the grade of master sergeant, 
effective  1 January 1992.  The applicant completed 21 years, 2 
months, and 17 days of active service. 

The applicant's DD Form 214 issued upon his retirement reflects 
that he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal; the Air Force 
Commendation Medal, with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters (OLC); the Air Force 

Good  Conduct Medal, with  5 OLC; the Armed  Forces Expeditionary 
Medal,  with  2  OLC;  the  USAF  Professional  Military  Education 
Graduation Ribbon; the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon; the 
Humanitarian Service Medal, with 4 OLC; the Air  Force Longevity 
Service Award  Ribbon, with  4  OLC; the National  Defense Service 
Medal, with 1 Bronze Service Star; the Air Force Overseas Service 
Ribbon -  Short, with 1 OLC; the Presidential Unit Citation; the 
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, with 2 OLC; and the Air Force 
Training Vietnam  Service Medal.  However, there is no Air Force 
Training Vietnam Service Medal. 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

The  Recognition  Programs  Branch,  AFPC/DPPPRA,  reviewed  this 
application and  states that on  18  December 1997,  the  applicant 
was requested to provide documentation verifying his presence in 
Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos or Thailand during the Vietnam  era, his 
eligibility for the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon and a 
bronze  service  star, and  his  presence  in  the  Persian Gulf  in 
direct support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm; however, he did 
not respond to their request. 

AFPC/DPPPRA states the applicant's records reveal that he is not 
eligible  for  the  Vietnam  Service  Medal.  His  records  do  not 
verify  his  eligibility  for  the  Small  Arms  Expert  Marksmanship 
Ribbon  or  an  additional  award  of  that  ribbon, and  he  did  not 
furnish documentation to substantiate this claim.  In addition, 
the applicant's records do not  reveal  that  he  was  ever  in  the 
Persian Gulf, nor did  he  provide  documentation to  substantiate 
this claim.  Except  for Enlisted  Performance Reports, there  is 
little documentation in the applicant's records, and they cannot 
verify the majority of the awards and decorations listed on his 
final DD  Form  214.  Therefore, they  recommend  amending his  DD 
Form 214  issued upon his retirement to reflect award of the Air 
Force Training Ribbon, rather than the Air Force Training Vietnam 
Service Medal; however, they recommend denial of the remainder of 
his requests. 

A  complete  copy  of  the  Air  Force  evaluation  is  attached  at 
Exhibit C. 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

The applicant reviewed the Air Force evaluation and states that 
his  DD  Form  214,  dated  24  January  1977,  reflects  that  he 
completed 6  months and 25 days of foreign service.  In addition, 
copies of  medical  reports indicate that  he  was  hospitalized  in 
Thailand during the month of July 1975 from injuries sustained on 
duty, which  lead  to  the  removal  of  his  appendix.  Since  this 
occurred during the war and was from injuries sustained on duty, 
he wants to know if he is entitle to the Purple Heart. 

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c 

In regard  to the  device  to the  Small Arms  Expert  Marksmanship 
Ribbon, he states that he is unable to verify his entitlement to 
the bronze service star, since his weapons training card had to 
be turned in during Desert Shield. 

Concerning his service during the Gulf War, he notes that at the 
time of his retirement, there was a major draw down in the forces 
and the personnel office was over-tasked.  There were mass out- 
processed  and  there were  mistakes on almost everyone's  DD Form 
214.  There were a large number of personnel, like himself, that 
were  assigned to the  28th AD, 552nd AWACS  that were  involved  in 
Desert Shield/Storm that did not  receive their Gulf War medals. 
His  duty  was  logistics  and  he  deployed  many  times  carrying 
materials from the US to Saudi and then returning to the US on a 
regular basis. 

The applicant's complete response is attached at Exhibit E. 

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 

1.  The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing 
law or regulations. 

2.  The application was timely filed. 
3.  Insufficient  relevant  evidence  has  been  presented  to 
demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.  After 
thoroughly  reviewing  the  evidence  of  record  and  noting  the 
applicant's contentions, we  are not persuaded the applicant has 
been  the victim  of  an  error or  injustice.  The  applicant's DD 
Form 214 issued upon his retirement erroneously indicates that he 
was  awarded  the Air  Force  Training Vietnam  Service Medal.  In 
fact, these  are  two  separate  awards  -  the  Air  Force  Training 
Ribbon  (AFTR) and the Vietnam Service Medal  (VSM).  The applicant 
is entitled to the AFTR; however, he is not eligible for the VSM. 
The  appropriate  office  of  the  Air  Force  will  administratively 
correct the applicant's  records to reflect this.  The applicant 
has  provided  no  evidence, nor  do his  records  indicate that  he 
served in Southeast Asia in support of the Vietnam conflict.  To 
the contrary, the DD Form  214  issued upon the applicant's  1973 
reenlistment  indicates  he  completed  no  service  in  Indochina, 
Vietnam, and Korea.  We also find no evidence the applicant ever 
disputed the fact that he was not eligible for the VSM until he 
was  considered  for a position  by  the  FAA.  In  support of  his 
request  for  the  VSM,  the  applicant  has  provided  documentation 
regarding an appendectomy he received at the 432nd USAF Hospital 
in  Thailand;  however,  this  does  not  substantiate  that  he  was 
assigned  TDY  for  30  consecutive  or  60  nonconsecutive  days  in 
support  of  the  Vietnam  conflict . 
Although  not  formally 
requesting  the  award,  the  applicant  raises  the  question  of 
whether he is eligible to receive the Purple Heart  (PH) based on 

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injuries sustained while  on duty  in Thailand which  led  to  his 
appendectomy.  The PH is awarded for wounds received as a direct 
result  of  enemy  actions.  The  documentation  the  applicant  has 
provided  indicates  that  his  appendectomy was  the  result  of  an 
appendicitis, not  due to wounds  received as a direct  result of 
enemy actions.  In regard to the device to the Small Arms Expert 
Marksmanship  Ribbon  (SAEMR),  the  applicant  has  provided  no 
evidence  that  he  qualified  expert  in  both  the  M-16  rifle  and 
issue handgun.  The applicant also contends that due to a major 
draw down in forces, the personnel office was over-tasked and as 
a  result,  he  was  not  awarded  the  Persian  Gulf  Medal  (PGM) . 
However, his records do not  indicate that he ever served in the 
Persian Gulf area and is eligible for the award.  The applicant 
has  been  advised  to  provided  documentation  to  support  his 
requests and has failed to do so.  Therefore, in the absence of 
evidence  to  the  contrary,  we  find  no  compelling  basis  to 
recommend granting the relief sought in this application. 

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 

The  applicant  be  notified  that  the  evidence presented  did  not 
demonstrate  the  existence  of  probable  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 this application in 
Executive Session on 22 September 1 9 9 8 ,   under the provisions of 
AFI 36-2603: 

Mr. David W. Mulgrew, Panel Chair 
Mrs. Margaret A .   Zook, Member 
Mr. Gary Appleton, Member 
Mr. Phillip E. Horton, Examiner (without vote) 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 16 Nov 9 7 ,   w/atchs. 
Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 
Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPRA, dated 25 Feb 9 8 .  
Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 9 Mar 9 8 .  
Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 10 Mar 9 8 ,   w/atchs. 

DAVID W. MULGREW 
Panel Chair 

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DEPARTMENT OF THE A I R   FORCE 

HEADQUARTERS AIR FORCE  PERSONNELCENTER 

RANDOLPH AIR  FORCE  BASE TEXAS 

MEMORANDUM FOR AFBCMR 
FROM:  HQ AFPC/DPPPRA 

550 C Street West Ste 12 
Randolph AFB TX 781504714 

25 February 1998 

SUBJECT: Application for Correction of Military Records (DD Form 149) 

1.  REQUESTED ACTION. Applicant requests his DD Form 214 be corrected to read, “AF 
Training Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal” instead of “AF Training Vietnam Service Medal,” add 
one bronze service star to the Small A r m s  Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, and add “Persian Gulf 
Medal.” 
2.  BASIS FOR REQUEST. Applicant needs this information to be considered for a job by FAA 
and for Veterans Administration. 

3.  FACTS. 

a.  Applicant served on Active Duty 18 Nov 69- 17 Aug 79; he then enlisted in the OK Air 
NationaI Guard for 20 Aug 79-13 Jul80; and then on Active Duty again 14 Jul 80-3 1 Dec 91. 

b.  The applicant’s 18 Nov 69-24 Apr 73 Report of Separation does not reflect any overseas 
assignment(s) or the Vietnam Service Medal.  His Enlisted Performance Reports do not reflect 
any overseas duty. We must, therefore, conclude that he is not eligible for the Vietnam Service 
Medal, and this entry is an error. 

c.  Applicant was requested on 18 Dec 97 to provide documentation verifying his presence in 
Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos or Thailand during the Vietnam era, his eiigibility for the Small Arms 
Expert Marksmanship Ribbon and a bronze service star, and his presence in the Persian Gulf in 
direct support of Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM.  He did not respond to this request. 

4.  DISCUSSION.  Applicant’s records reveal that he is not eligible for the Vietnam Service 
Medal.  His records do not verify his eligibility for the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Rib- 
bon or an additional award of that ribbon, and he did not furnish documentation to substantiate 
this claim.  AppIicant’s records do not reveal that he was ever in the Persian Gulf, nor did he 
provide documentation to substantiate this claim.  Except for Enlisted Performance Reports, 
there is little documentation in the applicant’s records, and we can not verify the majority of 
awards and decorations listed on his 14 Jul80-3 Z  Dec 91 DD Form 214. 

P 

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a 

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5.  RECOMMENDATION. 

, 

A.  We recommend disapproval of the appliqt’s request for his DD Form 2 14 be corrected 
to read, “AF Training Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal” instead of “AF Training Vietnam Serv- 
ice Medal,” add one bronze service star to the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, and 
add “Persian Gulf Medal.” 

b, We recommend deletion of “AF Training Vietnam Service Medal” and only the addition 

of “AF Training Ribbon” on the applicant’s 31 Dec 91 DD Fonn 214. 

FOR THE COMMANDER && 

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GEORGIA A. WISE, DAFC 
Recognition Programs Branch 
Promotions, Eval & Recognition Div 

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