c 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

IN THE MATTER OF: 

DOCKET NUMBER:  98-00241 

dWL  1 4  

COUNSEL:  None 

HEARING DESIRED:  No 

Applicant  requests award of the Silver Star medal  for World War 
I1 actions.  Applicant's submission is at Exhibit A. 

Applicant's military personnel records were destroyed by fire in 
1973.  The Air  Force  indicates he  was  issued  a  re-constructed 
Discharge Certificate on 22 Jan 93.  His Report of Separation was 
reviewed  and  it was  determined that he was  entitled  to the Air 
Medal  with  four  (4) Oak  Leaf  Clusters  (~OLCS), Asiatic-Pacific 
Campaign Medal  with  one  (1) Silver  and  one  (1) Bronze  Service 
Star, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, American Campaign Medal, and 
World  War  I1  Victory  Medal  which  were  forwarded  to  applicant. 
His  Report  of  Separation  was  corrected  to  add  the  American 
Campaign  Medal  and  World  War  I1  Victory  Medal.  However,  the 
applicant  did  not  provide  any  documents  or  corroborating 
statements to  show that he  was  recommended  for  the  Silver Star 
medal  or  that  such  a  recommendation  was  ever  in  official 
channels. 

_-  

The  Recognition  Programs  Branch,  AFPC/DPPPRA,  reviewed  this 
application  and  indicated  that  many  individuals  were  promised 
certain decorations by their commanders and/or supervisors during 
World War I1 but never followed through.  After over 53 years and 
with  no  records  to  review  or  documentation  provided,  DPPPRA 
cannot verify  the  applicant's  eligibility or entitlement to the 
Silver  Star medal.  They  cannot  verify  anything  regarding his 
service except what  is listed on his  Report  of  Separation, not 
even  his  unit  of  assignment. 
Therefore,  they  recommend 
disapproval of applicant's  request. 

After  careful consideration of applicant's request for  award of 
the  Silver Star medal  and  the  available  evidence of  record, we 
find  insufficient  evidence  of  error  or  injustice  to  warrant 
corrective action.  The facts and opinions stated in the advisory 
opinion appear to be based on the evidence of record and have not 
been rebutted by applicant.  Absent persuasive evidence applicant 
was denied rights to which entitled, appropriate regulations were 
not followed, or appropriate standards were not applied, we  find 
no basis to disturb the existing record. 

Accordingly, applicant's request is denied. 

The Board staff is directed to inform applicant of this decision. 
Applicant should also be informed that this decision is final and 
will  only be  reconsidered upon  the presentation of new  relevant 
evidence  which  was  not  reasonably  available  at  the  time  the 
application was filed. 

Members  of  the  Board  Mr.  LeRoy  T.  Baseman,  Mr.  Gregory  H. 
Petkoff,  and  Mr.  Patrick R.  Wheeler  considered  this application 
on  2 July  1998  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  Air  Force 
Instruction 36-2603, and the governijg statuLe,  10, U.S.C. 1552. 

Exhibits : 
A.  Applicant's DD Form 149 
B.  Advisory Opinion 
C.  AFBCMR Ltr Forwarding Advisory Opinion 

L - = f i i  

LeROY T. BASEMAN 
Panel Chair 

.- - 

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR  FORCE 

HEADQUARTERS  AIR  FORCE  P E R S O N N E L  CENTER 

RANDOLPH  AIR  FORCE BASE TEXAS 

MEMOWDUM FOR AFBCMR 

FROM:  HQ AFPCDPPPRA 

550 C Street West Ste 12 
Randolph AFB TX 78150-4714 

12 February 1998 

SUBJECT: Amlication for Correction of Military Records (DD F o m  149) 

I.  REQUESTED ACTION.  Applicant requests award of the Silver Star Medal for World War I1 
actions. 
2.  BASIS FOR REQUEST. Applicant states he and others were “promised” this decoration for 
flying hazardous missions over Borneo. 

3.  FACTS. 

a.  Applicant’s records were destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records 

Center.  He was issued a re-constructed Discharge Certificate in 1993.  His Report of Separation 
was forwarded with the Application. 

b. Applicant also wanted to know why he had never received his medals.  His Report of 

Separation was reviewed, and it was determined that he is entitled to the Air Medal with 4 Oak 
Leaf Clusters, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Service Star, Philip- 
pine Liberation Ribbon, American Campaign Medal, and World War I1 Victory Medal.  These 
were sent to him (see attached letter), and his Report of Separation corrected to add the American 
Campaign Medal and World War I1 Victory Medal. 

c.  Applicant did not provide any documents or corroborating statements to show that he was 

recommended for the Silver Star Medal, or that such a recommendation was ever in official 
channels. 

4.  DISCUSSION, Many individuals were promised certain decorations by their commanders 
andor supervisors during World War I1 (as during most wars), but never followed through. 
After over 53 years,  and with no records to review or documentation provided, we can not verify 
the applicant’s eligibility or entitlement to the Silver Star Medal.  We can not verify anything 
regarding his service except what is listed on his Report of Separation, not even his unit of 
assignment. 

5.  RECOMMENDATION. 

We recommend disapproval of the applicant’s request for award of the Silver Star Medal. 

FOR THE COMMANDER 

G E O R ~ A  A:  WISE, DAFC 
Recognition Programs Branch 
Promotions, Evd& Recognition Div 

9800241 

OEPARTMENT O F  THE AIR  FORCE 

HEADQUARTKRS  AIR  PORCC PERSONNEL CENTER 

RANDOLPH  AIR  FORCE BASE TEXAS 

HQ AFPCDPPRR 
550 C Street West, Ste. 11 
Randolph AFB TX 78 150-47 1 3 

FEE 2 5  1338,  . .- . 

I 

Reference your Application for Correction of Military Record, DD Form 149,t6 Jan 98. 
The attached DD Form 215, Correction to WD AGO Form 53-98, Military Record and Report of 
Separation, has been prepared to correct Itern 29 of the WD AGO Form 53-98 issued to you on 
22 Nov 1945, reflecting award of the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory 
Medal. 

The attached DD Form 2 15 should be attached to your original copy of WD AGO Form 

53-98 as evidence of this correction. 

All agencies previously furnished a copy of the WD AGO Form 53-98 have been 

provided with a copy of the DD Form 215. 

Your Application for Correction of Military Record will be forwarded to the Air Force 
Board for Correction of Mditary Records for their determination concerning your requat for 
award of the Silver Star Medal. 

Sincerely 

y &L%* 

WXLLIAM GILBERT, GS-6 
Retirement & Separations Ops Sec 
Directorate of Pers Program Mgt 

-  . 

’ 

DEPARTMENT OF T H R  AIR  FORCE 

HEADQUARTER8 AIR  FORCL PLRSONNLL CLNTPR 

RANDOLPH AIR  FORCE BA8E TLXAS 

HQ AFPCDPPPRA 
550 C S-t 
Randolph AFl3 TX 78150-4714 

West Ste 12 

12 February  1998 

This is an interim response to your 16 Jan 98 Application for CorreCtion of Military Record 
questing issuance of the Silver Star Medal for actions during World War II. This office is re 
sponsible for determining Air Force members’ eligibility and entitlement to awards and decora- 
tions, and your case was sent to us for review. 

In your Application, you asked where were your Theatre of War medals.  Although your 

records were in the section of the National Personnel Records Center that was destroyed in 1973, 
a copy of your Report of Separation was available.  From that document, we were able to verify 
that you are entitled to the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal 
with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Service Star, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, American Campaign 
Medal, and World War I1 Medal. You will find these enclosed with this letter, including the 
World War I1 HonorabIe Service Lapel Button. 

Your case has been forwarded to the Board for action regarding award of the Silver Star 

Medal, and you will receive separate correspondence regardmg that action. 

Siricerely 

GEORGU~ A. %,E,  DAFC 
Recognition Programs Branch 
Promotion, Eval, & Recognition Division 

i .   . ..  . 

...  , 

~.. __,  ~..~,. , . . . . ...  .... 

9800241 
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