RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: 98-02788
INDEX CODE 107.00
COUNSEL: No
HEARING DESIRED: Yes
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
Award of the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) and the Republic of Vietnam
Campaign Medal (RVCM).
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
The reasons the applicant believes the records to be in error or
unjust and the evidence submitted in support of the appeal are at
Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The Recognition Programs Branch, HQ AFPC/DPPPRA, advised the applicant
on 16 October 1998 that his DD Form 214 had been administratively
corrected to reflect award of the VSM.
A review of his medical records reveals medical entries dated 15 and
16 October 1962, 28 September 1965, and 13, 14, and 16 October 1965 by
the dispensary in Takhli AB, Thailand.
The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application, extracted
from the applicant's military records, are contained in the letter
prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force. Accordingly,
there is no need to recite these facts in this Record of Proceedings.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
The Recognition Programs Branch, HQ AFPC/DPPPRA, reviewed the appeal
and provides rationale for why applicant’s request for the RVCM should
be denied.
A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation is at Exhibit C.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
A complete copy of the evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 28
October 1998 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date,
no response has been received by this office.
_________________________________________________________________
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. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate
the existence of probable error or injustice to warrant granting
relief. To meet the criteria for award of the RVCM, the applicant
needed an aggregate of six months of direct combat support to the
Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces if stationed outside the geographical
limits of South Vietnam. The Air Force concluded he served five months
in Thailand, which entitled him to be administratively awarded the
VSM. Based on the 1962 medical entries at Takhli AB, Thailand, we
believe the possibility exists that the applicant may very well have
also met the criteria for the RVCM. Since he should not be deprived of
a medal to which he may be entitled, we believe any doubt in this case
should be resolved in his favor. Therefore, in order to preclude a
possible 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 his DD Form 214
reflects award of the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal for six
months of combat service in direct support to the Republic of Vietnam
Armed Forces.
_________________________________________________________________
The following members of the Board considered this application in
Executive Session on 15 April 1999, under the provisions of AFI 36-
2603:
Mr. Richard A. Peterson, Panel Chair
Mr. Gregory W. Den Herder, Member
Mr. Grover L. Dunn, Member
All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The
following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 28 Sep 98, w/atchs
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPRA, dated 16 Oct 98.
Exhibit D. Letter, AFBCMR, dated 28 Oct 98.
RICHARD A. PETERSON
Panel Chair
AFBCMR 98-02788
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 LEONIDAS C. NORTHERN, 229-54-4838, be corrected to
show that his DD Form 214 reflects award of the Republic of Vietnam
Campaign Medal for six months of combat service in direct support to
the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces.
JOE G. LINEBERGER
Director
Air Force Review Boards Agency
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