RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2005-
00126
INDEX CODE: 107.00
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: YES
MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE: 11 JULY 2006
___________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
He be awarded the Purple Heart (PH) Medal.
___________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He ruptured his eardrum while dive-bombing during the Vietnam War
in 1966. He was operated on and his eardrum was replaced.
Applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.
___________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
Applicant served in the Army Air Corps from 29 Jan 43 to 18 Feb 46.
He served in the Air Force in an enlisted status from 10 Nov 49 to
15 Dec 50. He was commissioned on 16 Dec 50 and served on
continuous active duty until his retirement effective 1 Sep 75.
His DD Forms 214, Reports of Separation from Active Duty, reflect
he was awarded the Air Force (AF) Outstanding Unit Award with three
Oak Leaf Clusters (OLC’s) and one “V” Device, Republic of Vietnam
Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, with one device,
Korean Service Medal, with one Bronze Service Star, United Nations
Service Medal, with one Bronze Service Star, World War II Victory
Medal, American Campaign Medal, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship
Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal, with Bronze Service Star, AF
Longevity Service Award, with one Silver Cluster and one Bronze
Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, with one OLC, and AF
Commendation Medal, with one OLC.
An Aeromedical Summary dated 22 Apr 74, states applicant had a
history of chronic suppurative otitis media, bilaterally, since
childhood with a multiple episodes of ruptured tympanic membrane.
He began flying in 1951 and in the interim until 1954 had several
episodes of suppurative right otitis media requiring
hospitalization. By 1954, he had developed a significant right
side hearing loss and was granted a waiver for his hearing defect.
The applicant had little difficulty with ear infection after 1955
until 18 December 1966 when he suffered a ruptured right tympanic
membrane while dive bombing over North Vietnam in a F105. He was
subsequently evacuated to Clark AFB and then to Maxwell where
tympanoplasty was performed in January of 1967.
The Officer Effectiveness Report (OER) covering the period 9 Sep 66
through 10 Sep 67 reflects applicant “was hospitalized because of
an ear injury resulting from his flying duties.”
___________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
HQ AFPC/DPPPR recommends the applicant’s request be denied. To be
awarded the PH a member must provide a detailed personal account,
eyewitness statements, and medical documentation to show the wound
received treatment by medical personnel and occurred as a direct
result of enemy action. The applicant did not attach any
supporting documentation to support his claim. AFPC researched the
applicant’s personnel record and could not find any support for
award of the PH.
A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation is attached at Exhibit
C.
___________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
On 18 May 2005, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to
the applicant for review and comment within 30 days. As of this
date, no response has been received by this office (Exhibit D).
___________________________________________________________________
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 thoroughly
reviewing the evidence of record, we are unpersuaded the requested
relief should be granted. The applicant’s contentions are duly
noted; however, we do not find these assertions, in and by
themselves, sufficiently persuasive to override the rationale
provided by the Air Force. Therefore, in the absence of evidence
to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting
the relief sought in this application.
4. The applicant's case is adequately documented and it has not
been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel will
materially add to our understanding of the issue involved.
Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably considered.
___________________________________________________________________
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 Docket Number BC-2005-
00126 in Executive Session on 24 August 2005, under the provisions
of AFI 36-2603:
Ms. Kathleen F. Graham, Panel Chair
Mr. Michael K. Gallogly, Member
Mr. John B. Hennessey, Member
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 4 Jan 05.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 13 May 05.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 18 May 05.
KATHLEEN F. GRAHAM
Panel Chair
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