RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  98-00731
            INDEX CODE 107.00
            COUNSEL:  None

            HEARING DESIRED:  No

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214 reflect that his 11 months  and  29  days  of  foreign
service was served in Korea.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He wants to be eligible for membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars
(VFW).

His complete submission is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant’s DD Form 214 indicates that he entered active  duty  on  28
March 1957, was released from active  duty  on  30  March  1961,  and,
according to Block 24.c., did have 11 months and 29  days  of  foreign
service. However, since his records were apparently destroyed  by  the
1973 fire at the  National  Personnel  Record  Center,  there  are  no
documents available to verify what unit he belonged to or  where  this
foreign service occurred.

On 14 May 1998, HQ AFPC/DPAIPP1 asked the applicant  to  provide  some
documentation to substantiate his assertion  that  he  had  served  in
Korea; however, he responded that all he had was his DD Form 214.

The Office of  Separations  and  Retirements  at  HQ  AFPC  informally
advised the AFBCMR Staff that, during the 1957-1961 period, it was DOD
policy for all foreign service (i.e., Alaska, Hawaii, and any location
outside of CONUS) be grouped together and the total time indicated  on
the DD Form 214, but not the actual locations.
_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Assignment Advisor,  HQ  AFPC/DPAPP1,  reviewed  this  appeal  and
states that the applicant was asked to  provide  verification  of  his
foreign service. The applicant advised he only had his DD Form 214 and
that he was assigned to the 6123 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
(6123 ACWS) on or about October 1957 to 1958. The Air Force Historical
Research Agency advised there were no documents reflecting  the  names
of personnel assigned to the Squadron; however, a special order  shows
the Squadron was located at Pyongtaek Auxiliary Field, Korea, for  the
same time frame claimed  by  the  applicant.  Therefore,  the  Advisor
recommends applicant’s records be corrected to show the 11 months  and
29 days of foreign service was served in Korea.

A copy of the complete evaluation is at Exhibit B.

The Recognition Programs Branch, HQ AFPC/DPPPRA,  also  reviewed  this
appeal and does not concur with DPAPP1’s  recommendation  because  the
applicant has not  provided  any  documentation  to  substantiate  his
claims regarding his unit assignment, his service  in  Korea,  or  the
inclusive dates of his overseas tour. There is no block on the DD Form
214 which would be changed to reflect service in Korea except  in  the
Remarks block. This information is not normally on a DD Form  214  and
it should not be changed for one individual in order for him  to  join
an organization.  The author advises that the applicant was advised in
1974 that he was not entitled to the Korean Service Medal  as  he  was
not on active duty during the  Korean  Conflict.  He  has  not  served
during any wartime in a theater of operations and is not eligible  for
any campaign or wartime  credit.  The  author  recommends  applicant’s
request be disapproved.

A copy of the complete evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Applicant reviewed the evaluation and  provides  a  few  more  details
about  his  service.  He  also  states  that  recent  changes  in  VFW
membership eligibility entitle him to post membership.

A copy of  applicant’s  complete  response,  with  attachment,  is  at
Exhibit E.

_________________________________________________________________

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.  The  applicant  clearly
had 11 months and 29  days  of  foreign  service.  The  circumstantial
evidence appears to indicate that  this  time  was  served  in  Korea.
While the applicant has not provided  conclusive  evidence  that  this
foreign service took place in Korea, there is no evidence  proving  it
occurred anywhere  else.  At  the  time  of  his  separation,  foreign
locations were typically not indicated on DD Form 214s. The  available
evidence appears to weigh more in the applicant’s favor and, as we see
no harm in amending his DD Form 214 to reflect service in Korea, as an
exception  to  policy,  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,
issued in conjunction with his honorable release from active  duty  on
30 March 1961, be annotated to include the comment “Served  in  Korea”
in Block 22, Remarks, as an exception to policy.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 23 February 1999 under the provisions of AFI  36-
2603:


                 Mr. Benedict A. Kausal IV, Panel Chair
                 Dr. Gerald B. Kauvar, Member
                 Ms. Melinda J. Loftin, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 11 Mar 98, w/atch.
   Exhibit B.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPAPP1, dated 24 Jun 98, w/atchs.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPRA, dated 1 Jul 98, w/atchs.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 3 Aug 98.
   Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 22 Aug 98, w/atch.




                                   BENEDICT A. KAUSAL IV
                                   Panel Chair




AFBCMR 98-00731




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 his DD Form 214,
issued in conjunction with his honorable release from active duty on
30 March 1961, be annotated to include the comment “Served in Korea”
in Block 22, Remarks, as an exception to policy.





   JOE G. LINEBERGER

   Director

   Air Force Review Boards Agency