RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2007-00845
            INDEX CODE:  107.00
            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NOT INDICATED

MANDATORY COMPLETION DATE:  22 AUGUST 2008

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to show  he  was  awarded  the  Bronze  Star  Medal
(BSM), the  Presidential  Unit  Citation  (PUC),  the  Republic  of  Vietnam
Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVGC w/P), the Air Force Outstanding  Unit  Award
with Valor and 3 Oak Leaf Clusters (AFOUA w/V  &  3  OLC),  and  the  Korean
Defense Service Medal (KDSM).

Examiner’s Note:  Except for the Bronze Star  Medal  (BSM),  the  Air  Force
office  of  primary  responsibility  was  able  to  verify  the  applicant’s
entitlement to the above listed awards and the Vietnam Service Medal with  2
Bronze Stars (VSM w/2 BSS).  Therefore, the  BSM  will  be  the  only  award
considered in this application.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His change of assignments and the military’s policy to use  social  security
numbers instead of serial numbers may have  been  one  factor  for  his  not
receiving the awards.  He recently found out  that  many  veterans  did  not
receive all of their awards and home computers  made  it  easy  to  research
these types of errors.

He was stationed at Tan Son Nhut AFB during an attack in  1966  and  several
people were killed, many were wounded, multiple aircraft  were  damaged  and
two were destroyed.  He was assigned to Crash  and  Recovery  and  performed
some noteworthy acts.  His supervisor told him immediately after the  attack
that he was recommending him for the BSM and  mentioned  it  again  when  he
signed his performance report.  His supervisor told him  that  no  reference
to the attack was included on his report because of  the  pending  BSM.   He
did  not  check  previously  because  he  believed  the   medal   had   been
disapproved.

In support of his application, the applicant submits a copy of his  DD  214,
multiple articles from the Air Force Historical Research, and copies of  his
performance reports.

The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant was honorable discharged and retired in the  grade  of  master
sergeant (E-7) on 30 Sep 83.  He served 20 years and 27 days of active  duty
service to include 9 years, 1 month and 15 days of Foreign Service.
_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPPR recommends denial of the  applicant’s  request  for  the  BSM.
DPPPR states to be awarded the BSM, a member while serving in  any  capacity
with the Armed Forces of the United States on or after 7 Dec 41, shall  have
distinguished himself by  heroic  or  meritorious  achievement  or  service.
DPPPR affirms they were unable to locate a Special  Order  or  any  official
documentation from Higher Headquarters  awarding  the  applicant  the  basic
BSM; however, they were able to locate the Special Order  awarding  him  the
AFCM during his assignment in Vietnam.

DPPPR states that without conclusive evidence  the  applicant  was  approved
for the BSM, they cannot determine his  entitlement  to  the  award.   DPPPR
notes the applicant was unable  to  furnish  documentation  to  support  his
request for the BSM.

DPPPR explains the written  recommendation  for  the  award  must  meet  two
criteria:  1) be made by someone in the member’s chain  of  command  at  the
time of the incident, and, who  has  firsthand  knowledge  of  the  acts  or
achievements; and 2) be submitted through a  congressional  member  who  can
ask a military service to review a proposal for a decoration  based  on  the
merits of the proposal and the award criteria in existence  when  the  event
occurred.

The complete DPPPR evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit C.
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

In his response dated 14 May 07, the applicant states he was  never  awarded
or aware that he had received the AFCM for his services in  Vietnam.   Also,
the award was never used as a part  of  any  promotion  package  or  in  any
subsequent awards.  He now suspects the BSM his supervisor told him  he  was
putting him in for in 1966 was downgraded to an AFCM.

The applicant’s complete submission 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.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been  presented  to  demonstrate  the
existence of error or injustice.  After a thorough review of  the  available
evidence and the applicant’s complete submission, we are not persuaded  that
he should receive the Bronze Star Medal.  Other  than  his  own  assertions,
the applicant has provided no documentary evidence that would establish  his
entitlement  to  the  above-cited  request.   We  are   not   unmindful   or
unappreciative of his service to his Nation;  however,  in  the  absence  of
documentary evidence to corroborate his claim, we have no basis on which  to
favorably consider this application.  We, therefore, 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.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented  did  not  demonstrate
the existence of probable 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 this application in Executive
Session on 19 July 2007, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

      Mr. Michael K. Gallogly, Panel Chair
            Ms. Teri G. Spoutz, Member
      Ms. Patricia R. Collins, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered in AFBCMR BC-2007-00845:

      Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 15 Mar 07, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B.  Applicant’s Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPR, undated, w/atchs.
      Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 4 May 07.
      Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 14 May 07.




      MICHAEL K. GALLOGLY
      Panel Chair