RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:                       DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2005-02569
                                       INDEX CODE:  107.00
      XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX                  COUNSEL: NONE

      XXXXXXXXXXXX                           HEARING DESIRED: NO


MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  2 August 2007


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) with fourth bronze  star,  VSM
with fifth bronze star, VSM with  sixth  bronze  star,  the  Korean  Defense
Service Medal, and the Cold War Medal.

_______________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His local military finance office said the pay  files  he  submitted  should
prove his temporary duty  in  combat  missions  that  entitled  him  to  the
requested awards.  He needs these awards for veteran’s medical benefits.

In support of his application, the applicant provides a  personal  statement
and copies of  military  pay  records.   The  applicant’s  submission,  with
attachments, is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 10 June 1959, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force at the  age
of 17 in the grade of airman basic (E-1) for a period  of  four  years.   He
was progressively promoted to the grade of master sergeant  (E-7)  effective
1 August 1978.

Special Order TB-971, dated 20 October 1971, indicates the applicant  served
temporary duty in Suwon Air Base, Korea, for a period of 59 days.

The applicant was voluntarily released from  active  duty  on  31 July  1983
with an honorable  characterization  of  service  and  retired  effective  1
August 1983.  He served 23 years, 10 months and 21 days of active duty.

The applicant’s DD Form  214,  Certificate  of  Release  or  Discharge  From
Active Duty, reflects his award of the Air Medal with one oak leaf  cluster,
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Medal, Air Force  Expeditionary  Medal,  Non-
commissioned Officer  Professional  Education  Graduate  Ribbon,  Army  Good
Conduct Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with four  oak  leaf
clusters, National  Defense  Service  Medal,  Air  Force  Presidential  Unit
Citation, Air Force Outstanding  Unit  Award  with  one  oak  leaf  cluster,
Republic of  Vietnam  Gallantry  Cross  with  device,  Republic  of  Vietnam
Campaign Medal, and  Air  Force  Good  Conduct  Medal  with  four  oak  leaf
clusters.  On 31 October 2005, a DD Form 215, Correction  to  DD  Form  214,
was issued to add his award of  the  Air  Force  Commendation  Medal,  Basic
Aircrew Badge, and Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPR recommends  denial  of  the  applicant’s  request  for  award  of
additional Air Medals for missions flown.  DPPPR states they are  unable  to
find evidence that he was recommended for, or awarded  additional  oak  leaf
clusters to his Air Medal.  Additionally, they  are  unable  to  verify  any
additional  awards  of  the  VSM  not  already  listed  on   his   discharge
certificate.  The DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant indicates he is not requesting any more Air Medals.   The  Air
Force advisory took his comments out of context.  He is  looking  for  three
more awards of the VSM.  In addition, he notices the Korean Defense  Service
Medal and the Cold War Medal are also not listed on his DD Form  214  or  DD
Form 215.  The applicant’s rebuttal 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 an error or injustice warranting partial  relief  with  respect
to the request for the  KDSM.   We  note  the  applicant’s  record  contains
verification that he was assigned to the Republic  of  Korean  effective  29
October 1971 for a period of 59 days,  meeting  the  award  criteria  of  30
consecutive days.   Therefore,  we  recommend  the  applicant’s  records  be
corrected to show he was awarded the KDSM for the  period  29  October  1971
through 27 December 1971.

4.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been  presented  to  demonstrate  the
existence of an error or injustice  warranting  the  award  of  the  Vietnam
Service Medal with 5th, 6th, and 7th Bronze Stars.  We find no  evidence  in
the applicant’s  record,  nor  has  he  submitted  evidence  to  verify  his
entitlement to additional Vietnam Service Medals not  already  reflected  on
his  DD  Form  215.  In  this  regard,  we  agree  with  the   opinion   and
recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility  and  adopt
their rationale 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 part  of
the application.

5.  We note the applicant’s added request for award of the  Cold  War  Medal
in his rebuttal to the Air Force advisory opinion.  The applicant has  since
been notified the Cold War Medal is a commemorative medal not sanctioned  by
the Department of Defense to those who served  during  the  Cold  War.   The
Cold War Recognition Certificate recognizes members of the Armed Forces  and
civilian personnel of the US Government who served the United States  during
the Cold War and can be obtained from commercial sources.
________________________________________________________________

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  Korean  Defense
Service Medal, for the period 29 October 1971 through 27 December 1971,  for
the sacrifices and contributions he made while serving in  the  Republic  of
Korea.

________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered this application in  Executive
Session on 10 May 2006, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                 Mr. Michael V. Barbino, Panel Chair
                 Ms. Barbara R. Murray, Member
                 Mr. Wallace F. Beard Jr., Member

All members voted to correct the records, as  recommended.   The  following
documentary evidence for AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2005-02569 was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 24 Feb 06, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 28 Mar 06.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 7 Apr 06.
    Exhibit E.  Applicant’s Letter, not dated.




                                   MICHAEL V. BARBINO
                                   Panel Chair



AFBCMR BC-2005-02569




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 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, be corrected to show that he was
awarded the Korean Defense Service Medal, for the period 29 October 1971
through 27 December 1971, for the sacrifices and contributions he made
while serving in the Republic of Korea.






JOE G. LINEBERGER

Director

Air Force Review Boards Agency