RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2005-03150
                       INDEX CODE:  107.00
                       COUNSEL:  NONE

                       HEARING DESIRED:  NO

MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  30 SEP 07

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to reflect he was  awarded  the  Bronze  Star
Medal (BSM).
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was awarded the BSM and it is listed on his DD Form 214, but it was
never formally presented to him while on active duty.

Applicant's complete submission,  with  attachments,  is  attached  at
Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force (RegAF) on 2 September
1965, as airman basic (AB) for a period of four years.

The applicant was recommended for the BSM for meritorious service  for
his deployment in Saudi Arabia for the period 5 July 1991 to 2 October
1991.  On 16 July 1992 the approval authority disapproved the BSM.

His DD Form 214 reflects he was awarded the Bronze Star  Medal  (BSM),
Meritorious  Service  Medal  (MSM)  with  three  Devices,  Air   Force
Commendation Medal (AFCM) with two Devices, Air Force Outstanding Unit
Award (AFOUA) with two Devices, Air Force Good Conduct  Medal  (AFGCM)
with seven Devices, Air Force  Recognition  Ribbon,  National  Defense
Service Medal (NDSM) with one Device, Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) with
one Device, Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon with one Device,  Air
Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon with four Devices, Air Force Longevity
Service  Award  (AFLSA)  with  five  Devices,  Noncommissioned  Office
Professional Military Education Ribbon, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship
Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross
(RVGC) with Device, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM) with one
Device.

The applicant was honorably retired on 1 February 1992 in the grade of
chief master sergeant (CMSgt).  He served 26 years, 4  months  and  29
days of active duty service.

The  applicant  submitted  an  application  dated  13   October   2005
requesting  verification  of  his  BSM.   On  14  December  2005,   HQ
APFC/DPPPR informed the applicant that he was recommended for the  BSM
but the approval authority disapproved the recommendation on  16  July
1992 and that his records will be amended to remove the BSM  from  his
DD Form 214.

On 3 March 2006, a DD Form 215 was issued to delete the BSM  from  the
applicant’s DD Form 214.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPPR recommends the applicant’s request for award of the  BSM
be denied.  DPPPR states the special  order  is  the  official  source
document to validate a decoration.  Although the BSM is listed on  the
applicant’s DD Form 214, the special order validating he  was  awarded
the medal was not located in his military records.

A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation is attached at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant  reviewed  the  Air  Force  evaluation  and  states  his
original request was to verify his BSM.  He knows he was submitted for
the medal and the last days “in-country”, were extremely hectic and he
could not remember if the medal had been formally  presented  to  him.
He simply wanted the medal presented to him formally, if that had  not
been done.

He understands the recommendation for disapproval.  He also states  he
has read about people claiming to have ribbons and awards  they  never
received.  He does not after all his honorable service want  something
that he did not earn.   His  problem  is  now  the  embarrassment  and
humiliation he will have to face.  He thought he earned the  award  in
fact, he knows he did.  When he saw the BSM listed on his  record,  he
thought he had been awarded the recognition  he  deserved,  given  the
circumstances and events  surrounding  the  time  he  spent  in  Saudi
Arabia.  He does not understand how this  happened.   Now  because  of
some clerical
error, almost 30 years of honorable service is ruined and he will have
to suffer the embarrassment and humiliation of this error.  He wonders
how the error happened and does he have any recourse?

_________________________________________________________________

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 an error or an injustice.  After reviewing and noting
the applicant's complete submission  in  judging  the  merits  of  his
request for the award of the BSM for the  period  5  July  1991  to  2
October 1991; we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the  Air
Force and adopt its rationale as the basis for our decision  that  the
applicant has failed to sustain his burden that he has suffered either
an error or an  injustice.   Although  the  applicant’s  DD  Form  214
reflects he was awarded the BSM, no official documentation  was  found
in the applicant’s records to verify he was entitled to the BSM.   His
personnel records contain a citation  for  the  BSM;  however  it  was
stamped disapproved  by  the  approval  authority  on  16  July  1992.
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 AFBCMR Docket Number BC-
2005-03150 in Executive Session on 6 June 2006, under  the  provisions
of AFI 36-2603:

                       Mr. James W. Russell III, Panel Chair
                       Ms. Janet I. Hassan, Member
                       Mr. Elwood C. Lewis III, Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket  Number
BC-2005-03150 was considered:

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 29 Mar 06 w/atchs.
      Exhibit B. Military Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPR, 18 Apr 06.
      Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 28 Apr 06.
      Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 1 May 06




                             JAMES W. RUSSELL III
                             Panel Chair