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AF | BCMR | CY2007 | BC-2007-01571
Original file (BC-2007-01571.doc) Auto-classification: Denied

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2007-01571
            INDEX CODE:  107.00
            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to show that he was awarded  the  following  awards
and decorations:

      1).  Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) for the period of Jan 74 – Jan 75.

      2)  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor (AFOUA  w/V)  for  the
period of 1 May 1982 to 30 Apr 84.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Per the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC), he was supposed  to  receive  the
VSM for his time in Southeast Asia (Jan 74 – Jan 75).   This  was  a  hectic
period of time and his supervisor did not inform him  he  was  eligible  for
this award.  He served during  this  era  and  would  like  his  awards  and
decorations completed.

His  unit  was  awarded  the  AFOUA  w/V  during  his  assignment   to   the
20th Special Operations Squadron.  However, the award order is dated 22  Jan
85 (after his discharge in Nov 84).  He was not aware he  was  eligible  for
the award.

In support of the application, the  applicant  submits  a  copy  of  special
order number AC-15048, a copy of DD 214, and AFPC Fact  Sheet  on  the  20th
Special Operations Squadron.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 6 Nov 84,  the  applicant  was  honorably  discharged  from  active  duty
service and placed on the Temporary  Disability  Retired  List  (TDRL).   He
served 12 years and 23 days on active duty service.
In a letter dated 5 Jul 07, the Air Force office of  primary  responsibility
notified the applicant that they were able to verify his entitlement to  the
award of the Republic of Vietnam  Gallantry  Cross  with  Palm  (RVNGC  w/P)
while assigned to the 432nd Munitions Maintenance Squadron (432 MSS).

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application, extracted  from
the applicant’s military records, are contained in the  letter  prepared  by
the appropriate office of the Air Force at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPPR recommends denial.  DPPPR notes the applicant served  from  16
Dec 73 to 13 Jan 75 with the 432  MSS,  Udorn  Air  Base,  Thailand.   DPPPR
states the VSM is awarded to all service members of  the  Armed  Forces  who
between 4 Jul 65 and 28 Mar 73, served in the following areas  of  Southeast
Asia:  Vietnam and the contiguous waters and airspace; in Thailand, Laos  or
Cambodia or the airspace thereof and  in  the  direct  support  of  military
operations in Vietnam.  The  timeframe  the  applicant  served  in  Thailand
makes him ineligible for the award of the VSM.

The applicant was assigned to the 20th Special Operations Squadron  Hurlburt
Field, FL, from 1982 to  1984.   DPPPR  states  according  to  AFI  36-2803,
Chapter 4.2, page 23:  Individual Entitlement –  All  assigned  or  attached
people who served with a unit during a period for which  a  unit  award  was
awarded are authorized the appropriate ribbon if they  directly  contributed
to the mission and accomplishments of the unit.   The  AFOUA  w/V  was  only
awarded to individuals from  the  20th  SOS  who  deployed  to  an  overseas
location in support of the mission.  The  applicant  never  deployed  during
this time and; therefore, is ineligible to receive this award.

The complete DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force  evaluation  was  forwarded  to  the  applicant  for
review and comment within 30 days on 27 Jul  07.   As  of  this  date,  this
office has received no response (Exhibit D).

_________________________________________________________________

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.   Other  than  his  own  assertions,  the
applicant has provided no documentary  evidence  that  would  establish  his
entitlement to the Vietnam Service Medal and the Air Force Outstanding  Unit
Award with Valor; therefore, 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.   Thus,  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 this application in  Executive
Session on 13 September 2007, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

            Ms. Patricia J. Zarodkiewicz, Vice Chair
            Ms. Patricia R. Collins, Member
            Mr. Mark J. Novitski Member

The following documentary evidence was considered for AFBCMR  Docket  Number
BC-2007-01571:

      Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 16 May 07, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPR, dated 5 Jul 07.
      Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 27 Jul 07



                                  PATRICIA J. ZARODKIEWICZ
                                  Vice Chair

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