RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2006-00453
            INDEX CODE:  107.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO


MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  19 AUG 07


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The applicant requests his records be corrected to  reflect  award  of
the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM).

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The AFCM was awarded to him after he was discharged.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 6 March 1968, the applicant  enlisted  in  the  Regular  Air  Force
(RegAF) in the grade of airman basic (AB) for a period of four years.

His records reflect he was awarded the National Defense Service  Medal
(NDSM), Vietnam Service Medal  (VSM),  Republic  of  Vietnam  Campaign
Medal (RVCM) and the Air Force Good Conduct Medal (AFGCM).

On 27 October 1971, the applicant was honorably separated in the grade
of sergeant.  He served 3 years, 7 months and 22 days of  active  duty
service.

AFPC/DPPPRA informed the applicant they  were  unable  to  verify  his
entitlement to the AFCM and that  the  special  order  was  needed  to
verify his entitlement to the AFCM.  They requested he submit a
copy of the special  order  awarding  the  medal.   The  applicant  in
response to DPPRA submitted a copy of the citation for the AFCM.

A DD Form 215 will be issued to add the  Air  Force  Outstanding  Unit
Award with Valor (AFOUA w/V), the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry  Cross
with Palm (RVNGC w/P) and three Bronze Stars to  the  Vietnam  Service
Medal to the applicant’s DD Form 214.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPR recommends the applicant’s request for the AFCM be  denied.
DPPPR states they were unable to verify the applicant’s entitlement to
the AFCM.  They requested he provide  a  copy  of  the  special  order
awarding the AFCM.  The applicant was unable  to  locate  the  special
order and provided a copy of the citation.   However,  DPPPR  verified
the applicant’s entitlement to the Air Force  Outstanding  Unit  Award
(AFOUA), VSM with three Bronze Stars (VSM w/3 BS), Republic of Vietnam
Gallantry Cross with Palm  (RVNGC  w/P).   DPPPR  further  states  the
applicant’s DD Form 214 will be administratively corrected to  reflect
the aforementioned awards.  In addition the RVNGC w/P is an award of a
foreign government and is not stocked or issued by the  United  States
Government.  They provided the applicant with information as to  where
he could obtain the decoration.

A complete copy of the evaluation, with attachments,  is  attached  at
Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant reviewed the Air Force evaluation and states he has  the
original copy of the  citation  with  the  raised  seal  and  official
certificate, however, he finds it hard to believe that somewhere there
is not a copy of the original special order for the medal, except  for
the one that was sent to him with the medal some 30 years  ago,  which
he no longer has.

He was awarded the New York State Medal of Merit on 9 July 1982, which
the AFCM was a prerequisite.

He is not gaining anything monetarily with the AFCM; he is just trying
to get what was justly earned and replacement of the medal.

He further states if given the information on where special orders are
filed, he is willing to do the leg work to locate the  special  order.
If the hard copies of the certificate and citation are needed, he will
be happy to provide them (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 error or injustice.  Although  the  orders  awarding  the
applicant the AFCM are unavailable, the applicant has provided a  copy
of  the  citation  and  certificate  awarding  him  the   AFCM.    The
applicant’s record reflects he was awarded several medals and  ribbons
for his excellent service.  We believe it is  possible  the  applicant
was awarded the AFCM for  his  achievements  and  it  was  simply  not
reflected on his separation documents.  With no basis to question  the
applicant’s integrity, and  in  recognition  of  his  service  to  the
Nation, it is our opinion that any doubt should  be  resolved  in  the
applicant's favor.  In view of this, we do not believe the absence  of
the special orders awarding the AFCM should prevent him from receiving
the  requested  relief.   Therefore,  we  recommend  his  records   be
corrected to the extent indicated below.

_________________________________________________________________

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
Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service for the period  4
November 1970 to 29 October 1971.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 24 May 2006, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                       Mr. Michael J. Novel, Panel Chair
                       Mr. Reginald P. Howard, Member
                       Mr. James A. Wolffe, Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket  Number
BC-2006-00453 was considered:

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 8 Feb 06, w/atch.
      Exhibit B. Avaialble Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 28 Mar 06.
      Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 31 Mar 06.
      Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 12 Apr 06.




                             MICHAEL J. NOVEL
                             Panel Chair





AFBCMR BC-2006-00453




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        , be corrected to show that on 27 October 1971 he was
awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for the period 4 November 1970 to
27 October 1971.





                             JOE G. LINEBERGER
                             Director
                             Air Force Review Boards Agency