RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  98-03320
                 INDEX CODE:  107

                 COUNSEL:  NONE

                 HEARING DESIRED:  NO


________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He receive the awards of the National Defense  Service  Medal  (NDSM);
the Air Force Overseas Short Tour  Ribbon;  and,  the  Southwest  Asia
Service Medal.

________________________________________________________________

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.

Applicant’s submission is attached at Exhibit A.

________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The relevant facts pertaining to this application, extracted from  the
applicant's available military records, are contained  in  the  letter
prepared by the appropriate Air Force office of primary responsibility
(OPR).  Accordingly, there is no need to recite these  facts  in  this
Record of Proceedings.

________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The  Chief,  Recognition  Programs  Branch,  Promotion,  Evaluation  &
Recognition Division, AFPC/DPPPR, states that the applicant previously
requested the awards through the  National  Personnel  Records  Center
(NPRC) and was informed that his DD Form 214, Certificate  of  Release
or  Discharge  From  Active  Duty,  was  illegible.   On  22 Dec   98,
AFPC/DPPPR requested the applicant provide a legible copy  of  his  DD
Form 214 and documentation to verify the location and inclusive  dates
he was in the Persian Gulf.  He did not respond, and his records  were
returned to NPRC on 22 Feb 99 without further action.   On  8 Jul  99,
after receiving his DD  Form  149,  the  applicant  was  requested  to
provide a legible copy of his DD Form 214 and documentation to  verify
the location and inclusive dates he was in the Persian  Gulf.   Again,
he did not respond.

The applicant was notified that the illegible DD Form 214 could not be
corrected, but that his entitlement to the Air  Force  Overseas  Short
Tour Ribbon and NDSM was verified.  He was advised that, if  he  could
obtain a legible copy of his DD Form 214, he could use this letter  to
have it updated.

Without copies of his temporary duty (TDY) orders, showing he was sent
in direct support of Operation  DESERT  SHIELD/STORM,  or  his  Travel
Voucher,  showing  he  was  in  the  Area  of  Responsibility  for  30
consecutive days, AFPC/DPPPR cannot verify  his  eligibility  for  the
Southwest Asia Service Medal (or number of bronze service  stars),  or
either Kuwait Liberation Medal.  Applicant has not  responded  to  any
requests for a legible copy of his DD Form 214, or  for  documents  to
verify his eligibility for any Persian Gulf awards.

A copy of the Air Force evaluation, with attachments, is  attached  at
Exhibit C.

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the  applicant  on
27 Sep 99 for review and response 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 timely filed.

3.    Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented  to  demonstrate
the existence of probable error or injustice warranting award  of  the
NDSM and Air Force Overseas Tour Ribbon.  Even  though  the  applicant
did not respond to the requests to provide a legible copy  of  his  DD
Form 214, we note that his entitlement  to  the  NDSM  and  Air  Force
Overseas Short Tour Ribbon  was  verified  by  DPPPR.   Therefore,  we
recommend his records be corrected as indicated below.

4.    Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate
the  existence  of  probable  error  or  injustice  with   regard   to
applicant’s remaining  requests.   After  a  thorough  review  of  the
evidence of record and applicant’s submission, we  are  not  persuaded
that his DD Form 214 should be corrected  to  bestow  any  awards  and
decorations for service in Southwest Asia as requested.  The applicant
failed to respond to the Air Force’s requests for a  legible  copy  of
his DD Form 214 or for documents to verify  his  eligibility  for  any
Persian Gulf  awards.   Therefore,  absent  documentation,  i.e.,  TDY
orders,  travel  vouchers,  etc.,  showing  he  was  in  the  area  of
responsibility for 30 consecutive days, we find no basis to  recommend
award of any Persian Gulf awards.

________________________________________________________________

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
NDSM and the Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon.

________________________________________________________________

The following members of the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 14 December 1999, under the provisions of AFI 36-
2603:

                  Ms. Patricia J. Zarodkiewicz, Panel Chair
                  Ms. Patricia D. Vestal, Member
              Ms. Melinda J. Loftin, Member

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

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 7 Apr 98, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 10 Sep 99, w/atchs.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 27 Sep 99.




                                   PATRICIA J. ZARODKIEWICZ
                                   Panel Chair


INDEX CODE:  107

AFBCMR 98-03320




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, be corrected to administratively resolve the awards
of the National Defense Service Medal and the Air Force Overseas Short
Tour Ribbon.




                                                            JOE     G.
LINEBERGER
                                                         Director
                                                           Air   Force
Review Boards Agency