RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  02-00042
            INDEX CODE:  107.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED: NO

___________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214 be corrected to reflect medals for service while on
temporary duty (TDY) to Takhli, Thailand.

___________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

While TDY to Thailand some medals were omitted or were  not  listed
on his DD Form 214.  During the last part of 1972 and  early  1973,
he participated in F-111 munition support while  TDY  to  Thailand.
His medical records should  reflect  visits  for  back  injury  and
malaria.  He further indicates that this mission was classified for
national security.

Applicant’s request is at Exhibit A.

___________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 6 Apr 72, applicant enlisted  in  the  Regular  Air  Force.   He
served on active duty until his discharge on 5 Apr 76.

Applicant’s records  reflect  that  he  was  awarded  the  National
Defense Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service  Award  and  Air
Force Good Conduct Medal.

Other 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 at Exhibit C.

___________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPPR reviewed this  application  and  recommended  denial.
His DD Form 214 reflects no foreign service.  On  1  May  02,  they
requested a copy of  applicant’s  TDY  orders  and  travel  voucher
showing that he was deployed  to  Thailand  in  direct  support  of
operations in Vietnam prior to 28 Mar 73, but he did not respond.

Applicant’s records reflect two items regarding his overseas  duty,
but they are inconclusive:

      a.  A base level records review listing,  dated  11  Jan  75,
reflects  the  entry,  “NR-DAYS-SEA  156,”  however,  there  is  no
indication in the applicant’s record to  show  when  the  156  days
occurred, or the location in “SEA.”

       b.  Applicant’s  separation  physical,  dated  13  May   75,
contains an entry referencing medical treatment in  Thailand  1973.
However, again there is no indication of the time period, and there
is no  indication  that  the  information  was  obtained  from  the
applicant’s medical files or whether the  applicant  provided  that
information to the doctor conducting the examination.

The Vietnam Service  Medal  is  awarded  for  service  in  Vietnam,
Thailand, Laos or  Cambodia  during  the  period  of  4  Jul  65  –
28 Mar 73.  Since the applicant did not specify which medal he  was
referring to, they presume that he was  referring  to  the  Vietnam
Service  Medal  for  the  TDY  to  Thailand.   Unfortunately,   the
applicant’s records do not reflect that he was deployed to Thailand
in direct support of operations in Vietnam for 30 consecutive days,
or the time period he was in Thailand.  Since the applicant did not
provide any documentation, and there is nothing in his  records  to
indicate the entire 156 days were spent  in  other  Southeast  Asia
(SEA)  countries,  such  as  Korea  or  Japan,   without   official
documentation showing he was in Thailand for 30 consecutive  or  60
nonconsecutive days prior to 28 Mar  73,  they  cannot  verify  his
eligibility for the Vietnam Service Medal.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C.

___________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

He states the basis of his request was to  have  his  DD  Form  214
upgraded to show the most current status.   He  was  guessing  that
after 30 years his missions would have  been  declassified  and  he
would be able to get his records fixed to show the TDY.  He further
states that the Vietnam Service Medal is one of several  medals  he
is requesting including some as far back  as  basic  training.   In
referring to the TDY orders or travel vouchers, he says  when  they
got to the end of the processing line, they ended up in the  trash,
and if they were not destroyed, they are somewhere else.

Applicant indicates  that  the  Phoenix  VA  hospital  should  have
documentation showing visits to the Takhli Hospital  for  VD,  back
injury and malaria.

In support of his appeal, applicant submitted a  letter  and  three
pictures.

A complete copy of the Applicant’s response 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.  Insufficient  relevant   evidence   has   been   presented   to
demonstrate the existence of error or injustice.  We took notice of
the applicant's complete submission in judging the  merits  of  the
case; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of  the
Air  Force  office  of  primary  responsibility  and  adopt   their
rationale as the basis for our conclusion that  the  applicant  has
not been the victim of an error or injustice.   Therefore,  in  the
absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to
recommend granting the relief sought in this application.

___________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified  that  the  evidence  presented  did  not
demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; that  the
application was denied without a personal appearance; and that  the
application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of  newly
discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application.

___________________________________________________________________

The following members of  the  Board  considered  this  application
AFBCMR Docket Number 02-00042 in Executive Session  on  9  Oct  02,
under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

      Mr. Vaughn E. Schlunz, Panel Chair
      Mr. Clarence D. Long, III, Member
      Ms. Brenda L. Romine, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 23 Dec 01, w/atch.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPR, dated 10 Jun 02, w/atchs.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 21 Jun 02, w/atchs.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, undated.




                                   VAUGHN E. SCHLUNZ
                                   Panel Chair