RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  01-02316
            INDEX CODE:  107.00, 100.01,
                             100.03, 110.01,
                              124.00
            COUNSEL:  None

            HEARING DESIRED:  No

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to reflect a name change from R--- P. K--- to
R--- P. H---.

His records further be corrected to show that:

He entered the Air Force on 10 September 1949 and was discharged on 10
September 1955.

He entered the Army Reserves from school and then went  directly  into
the Air Force.

His blood type O Negative, rather than A.

He was assigned to duties at the Azores, French Morocco, North Africa,
Libya, Italy, France, Switzerland, Holland, Japan, Taiwan, Korea,  and
“Weisburton,  Germany,  Neitherlands,  Bad  Hamburger  British  zone,”
flying supplies, wounded and dead in and out of Korea.

He is entitled to the “Disabled American Veterans 110% Purple  Heart,”
the Holland Disguised Service Medal, and the Korean War Medal.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He is running for Junior Vice President of  the  Veterans  of  Foreign
Wars and need these errors corrected.

In support of his application, he provided a  personal  statement  and
copies of a Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) statement  of  rating
and his separation document.   The  applicant’s  complete  submission,
with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 11 August 1950, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force  in
the grade of private for a period of 4 years.  Records reveal that  he
had prior serve in the  Navy  Reserve.   During  his  enlistment,  the
applicant performed duties for a  short  period  of  time  as  an  Air
Policeman  and  thereafter  as  a  Medical/Dental  Helper.    He   was
progressively promoted to the temporary and permanent grades of airman
first class (E-3) with a date of rank of 15 November 1951.   Available
records reveal that, with the exception of the period 13 February 1951
to 14 August 1952, when he was assigned  to  Wheelus  Field,  Tripoli,
Libya, he was assigned to Westover AFB, Massachusetts.  Aside from his
discharge document, which indicates his blood type is A, his  military
personnel records contain only  one  other  document  containing  this
information -- an Immunization Register initiated on 21  August  1950,
in which it is indicated his blood group is O.

The applicant’s separation document indicates that the  applicant  was
voluntarily honorably discharged prior to his expiration  of  term  of
service on 9 September 1953.  He had served 3 years  and  29  days  on
active duty in the Regular Air Force.  He was credited with 1 year,  5
months and 25 days of foreign or SEA service.  There was no indication
that the  applicant  was  awarded  any  decorations,  medals,  badges,
commendations, citations and campaign ribbons or that he had  received
wounds as a result of action with enemy forces.

As a result of the submission of this appeal, on 5 November 2001,  the
applicant’s records were administratively corrected  to  show  he  was
entitled to the Good  Conduct  Medal,  the  National  Defense  Service
Medal, and the Korean Service Medal.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSAMP recommended denial of the applicant’s request for  a  name
change.  DPSAMP indicated  that  they  requested  that  the  applicant
provide a certified copy of the court order  that  directed  the  name
change.  If the court order was dated on  or  before  the  applicant’s
discharge date, a correction would be possible.  Since  the  applicant
has not responded  to  their  request,  they  are  unable  to  make  a
determination either way.  However, they note that AFI 36-2608,  Table
7.3, provides that records of former members should not  be  corrected
to show name changes occurring after discharge (see Exhibit C).

AFPC/DPPPR recommended denial of the applicant’s request for a  change
to the Purple Heart Medal.  On 30 October  2001,  DPPPR  notified  the
applicant of the criteria for award of the Purple Heart and  requested
he provide additional information to substantiate his claim.   He  did
not  respond.   DPPPR  stated  that  there  is  no  evidence  in   the
applicant’s military personnel  records  that  supports  that  he  was
injured as a direct result of  enemy  action;  therefore,  he  is  not
entitled to the Purple Heart.

A complete copy of this evaluation is at Exhibit D.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on
8 February 2002 for review and comment.  As of this date, this  office
has received no response.

_________________________________________________________________

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.  After reviewing the evidence  of
record, we are not persuaded that the applicant’s records are in error
or that he has been the victim of an injustice.  His  contentions  are
noted; however, in our opinion, the detailed comments provided by  the
appropriate Air Force offices concerning the applicant’s requests  for
a name change and the Purple  Heart  Medal  adequately  address  those
allegations.  Therefore, we agree with opinions and recommendations of
the Air  Force  and  adopt  their  rationale  as  the  basis  for  the
conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an  error  or
injustice.  As to the applicant’s request for a change  to  his  blood
type, while there is conflicting information in his record  concerning
this matter, without corroborative evidence from the applicant  as  to
his correct blood type, i.e., A or O, favorable consideration of  this
request is not contemplated.   We  have  also  noted  the  applicant’s
requests for changes to the dates of entry and discharge from the  Air
Force, his duty history, and  for  award  of  the  “Holland  Disguised
Service Medal.”  Without substantiating evidence  from  the  applicant
concerning these issues, we have no basis on which to recommend  these
requests be granted.  Accordingly, in view of the above,  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  in
Executive Session on 22 October 2002, under the provisions of AFI  36-
2603:

                       Ms. Olga M. Crerar, Panel Chair
                       Mr. Mike Novel, Member
                       Ms. Martha Maust, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 9 Aug 01, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSAMP, undated.
      Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 30 Jan 02.
      Exhibit E. Letter, AFBCMR, dated 8 Feb 02.




                             OLGA M. CRERAR
                             Panel Chair