ADDENDUM
                                     TO
                            RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  98-00904
                 INDEX CODE:  131

                 COUNSEL:  NONE

                 HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

RESUME OF CASE:

On 13 November 1998, the Board considered and  denied  an  application
for correction of military records from subject applicant.   Applicant
requested that he receive the award  of  the  Air  Force  Commendation
Medal (AFCM) for the periods 1961 - 1964 and 1971 - 1973.  The  Board,
after reviewing the evidence of  record  and  applicant’s  submission,
concluded that there was insufficient evidence of error  or  injustice
to warrant corrective action.  A copy of  the  Record  of  Proceedings
(ROP), with attachments, is attached at Exhibit F.

Applicant has now submitted a letter, dated 29 April 1999, attaching a
statement  from  a  retired  senior  master  sergeant,  who  was   the
applicant’s immediate supervisor for the  period  1961  to  1963,  who
states that the applicant is deserving of  the  AFCM.   The  applicant
also attaches a  copy  of  a  newspaper  article  which  pictures  him
receiving an award of “Maintenance Man of the  Month”  from  the  Base
Commander.

Applicant’s submission is attached at Exhibit G.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the
existence  of  probable  error  or  injustice.   After  reviewing  the
applicant’s military records  and  the  documentation  submitted,  the
majority of the Board believes there was an injustice to the applicant
regarding the award of the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) for the
period 1961 to 1964.   There  is  no  official  documentation  in  the
applicant’s record that a recommendation for an  award  was  submitted
for the 1961 to 1964 period; however, a  statement  submitted  by  the
applicant’s former immediate  supervisor  at  Offutt  Air  Force  Base
during the time period in question, indicates that the  applicant  was
made aware of this award and was informed that it would  be  presented
upon his arrival in Korea.  We also note the article in the Air  Force
Times in which the applicant was presented an award  for  “Maintenance
Man of the Month” for September 1962, having competed with  500  other
individuals.   It  appears  that  the  applicant  was  an  outstanding
performer and was deserving of the AFCM for  the  1961  to  1964  time
period.  Although there is doubt as to whether an  award  package  was
ever placed in the proper channels or approved, the  majority  of  the
Board believes that doubt should be resolved in favor of the applicant
and he should be awarded  the  AFCM  for  the  period  1961  to  1964.
Therefore, in view of the above and in the absence of evidence to  the
contrary, the majority of the Board recommends the applicant’s records
be corrected to the extent indicated below.

2.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented  to  demonstrate
the  existence  of  probable  error  or  injustice  with   regard   to
applicant’s request for the award of the AFCM for the period  1971  to
1973 and promotion to the grade of master sergeant(E-7).  As stated in
the HQ AFPC/DPPPRA evaluation, dated 17 April 1998, an  AF  Form  642,
Recommendation  for  Decoration,  was  signed   by   the   applicant’s
commander; however, this form appears inconsistent as the front of the
form states that the AFCM is  for  outstanding  achievement,  but  the
narrative portion  states  that  the  decoration  is  for  meritorious
service.  There is no documentation of record that this recommendation
was forwarded and placed into the  proper  channels  or  that  it  was
approved by the appropriate officials.

3.  We note that in the applicant’s original application, he submitted
a Weighted Airman Promotion Score (WAPS) notice for the 72A7 promotion
cycle reflecting that he missed  promotion  to  the  grade  of  master
sergeant by 2.50 points.  It would appear that if the three (3) points
from the award of the 1961 to 1964 AFCM were added to his test  score,
he  would  have  been  a  selectee.   However,   without   independent
corroboration of his WAPS score, we are not persuaded to  promote  him
on the basis of the evidence before us.  We therefore agree  with  the
previous recommendations of the Air  Force  and  adopt  the  rationale
expressed as the basis for our decision that the applicant has  failed
to sustain his burden that he has  suffered  either  an  error  or  an
injustice with regard to the 1971 to 1973 AFCM award.   Therefore,  we
find no compelling basis to recommend granting the award of  the  AFCM
for the period 1971 to 1973  or  promotion  to  the  grade  of  master
sergeant.

_______________________________________________________________________
_____________________

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
Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM)  for  meritorious  service,  while
assigned to Offutt  Air  Force  Base,  Nebraska,  for  the  period  21
September 1961 to 25 March 1964.

_______________________________________________________________________
_____________________

The following members of the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 6 June 1999, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                  Mr. Vaughn E. Schlunz, Panel Chair
                  Mr. Richard A. Peterson, Member
              Mr. Patrick R. Wheeler, Member

By a majority vote, the Board voted to grant the  applicant’s  request
for the award of the AFCM for the period 1961 to  1964.   Mr.  Schlunz
voted to deny the 1961 to 1964 AFCM but  did  not  wish  to  submit  a
minority report.  All members voted to deny  the  applicant’s  request
for the award of the AFCM for the period 1971 to 1973 and promotion to
the grade of master sergeant.  The following documentary evidence  was
considered:

   Exhibit F.  ROP, dated 13 Nov 98, w/atchs.
   Exhibit G.  Applicant's Letter, dated 29 April 1999, w/atchs.




                                   VAUGHN E. SCHLUNZ
                                   Panel Chair

AFBCMR 98-00904




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:

      The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air
Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that he was awarded
the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) for meritorious service, while
assigned to Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, for the period 21
September 1961 to 25 March 1964.







   JOE G. LINEBERGER

   Director

   Air Force Review Boards Agency




AFBCMR 98-00904
Index Code:  107.00, 131.00




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:

      The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air
Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that:

      a.    He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM)
for meritorious service, while assigned to Offut Air Force Base,
Nebraska, for the period 21 September 1961 to
25 March 1964.

      b.    He was promoted to the grade of master sergeant,
effective and with a date of rank of 1 January 1972.

      c.    On 1 February 1974, he was retired for length of
service, in the grade of master sergeant.







      JOE G. LINEBERGER
      Director
      Air Force Review Boards Agency