RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2006-03335
INDEX CODE: 107.00
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
He be awarded the Silver Star (SS), Bronze Star Medal (BSM) and the
Purple Heart Medal (PHM) with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
The medals he is requesting were never awarded to him while he was
serving in Vietnam. Applicant respects the fact that some military
members do not get recognized because their missions are classified.
He also believes there must be some way to recognize these individuals
so many years later. The applicant is suffering from cancer and would
like to leave a legacy to his grand children. He states he was to be
put in for the Bronze Star by an aircraft commander whom the applicant
helped save, along with the plane, the entire crew and other
passengers. Neither the Bronze Star nor the aircraft commander’s
letter ever made it to his military records. He requests award of the
PHM for a wound he received while running from the enemy towards a
landing zone (LZ). He was shot on the top of his foot but when he
received treatment he told the medic he was injured as part of GVN –
the name of his patrol. He believes the medic interpreted his comment
as he was hurt at the gym. He received a 40% disability rating from
the Veteran’s Administration (VA) from a head wound he received during
a mortar attack on his base and believes he should be awarded an
additional PHM for that injury.
In support of his appeal, the applicant has provided personal
statements, letters of support and a medical document confirming his
treatment for cancer.
Applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force (RegAF) on 2 August 1965.
He was progressively promoted to the grade of sergeant with a date of
rank (DOR) of 1 May 1968. The applicant served with the 14th Field
Maintenance Squadron, Nha Trang Air Base, Vietnam from 1967 to 1968.
He was honorably discharged on 8 November 1968 after having served for
three years, three months, and seven days. He was discharged in the
grade of sergeant.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPPPR recommends denial. DPPPR notes he requested award of the
SS And PHM in 2002 and was informed of the requirements for both
decorations. The applicant submitted no additional documentation.
Further, his current account of the injuries he received for award of
the PHM conflicts with the account he provided in 2002. DPPPR could
find no documentation (official recommendation, performance reports,
citations, etc.) to help validate his claim. Therefore, DPPPR
recommends his request for award of the SS, BSM and PHM w/ 1 OLC be
denied.
DPPPR’s complete evaluation is at Exhibit C.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
Applicant is disappointed that the AF chose simply to obtain his
records to verify entries in his military records rather then doing
any research which would tie him to the incidents listed in his
application. As he mentioned in his application, the operations he
believes qualifies him for award of the SS, BSM, and the PHM, w/1 OLC
were classified at the time and to acknowledge any personnel actions
would result in acknowledging the existence of the missions. He is
frustrated by the lack of action by the AF to substantiate his request
as he is sure these secret incidents are recorded somewhere. He asks
again that the Board review the information he has included, do the
kind of research the AF is privy to and reconsider the incidents he
mentions as being true and correct.
Applicant’s complete response, with attachments, 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 timely filed.
3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate
the existence of an error or an injustice. We took notice of the
applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case;
however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force
office of primary responsibility and adopt its rationale as the basis
for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an
error or injustice. We took note of his contention most of his
missions were classified but this fact, in and of itself, does not
relieve the applicant of the burden to provide evidence in his behalf.
Additionally, DPPPR was unable to find any documentation to help
validate his claim that he should be awarded the SS, BSM and the PHM
w/1 OLC. 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-
2006-03335 in Executive Session on 16 February 2007, under the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:
Ms. Charlene M. Bradley, Panel Chair
Mr. Patrick C. Daugherty, Member
Ms. Josephine L. Davis, Member
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 4 Oct 06, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 29 Nov 06.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 15 Dec 06.
Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 3 Jan 07, w/atchs.
CHARLENE M. BRADLEY
Panel Chair
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