RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:                       DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2007-03021
                                             INDEX CODE:  107.00
      XXXXXXXXXXXXX                     COUNSEL:  NONE

                                             HEARING DESIRED:  NO

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to reflect award  of  the  Air  Force  Commendation
Medal (AFCM).

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was awarded the AFCM on 17 May 1968 by HQ 7th  Air  Force  Special  Order
Number 1474, but never received a copy of this order before leaving  Vietnam
in July, 1968.

He wrote an inquiry to  his  former  squadron  about  one  year  later,  and
received a reply signed by the commander of the unit at the time  specifying
the special order number and date of the award.  He noticed  that  his  name
was misspelled and that may have been part of the problem.

He thought his service record was correct until he recently  applied  for  a
copy of his awards and noticed the AFCM was missing.

In support of his appeal, he has provided a copy of a letter, dated  3  June
1969, signed by the commander of  his  unit  at  the  time,  specifying  the
special order number and date of the award, and advising him  to  write  7th
Air Force to obtain a copy of the order.

Applicant’s complete submission, with attachment, is at Exhibit A.

________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant was a member of the Regular Air Force from 3 June  1964  until
his release from active duty in the grade of sergeant  (E-4)  on  2  October
1968.  His records reflect that he was assigned to Cam  Ranh  Bay  AB,  RVN,
from 1 October 1967 until sometime in August 1968, and  he  is  entitled  to
wear the National  Defense  Service  Medal,  Republic  of  Vietnam  Campaign
Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star,  Air  Force  Good
Conduct Medal, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial without a copy of the special  order  awarding
the AFCM, or other documentation verifying his entitlement to the AFCM.

The AFPC/DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C.

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

In 1969, about eight months after being discharged, he noticed that  his  DD
Form 214 had never been updated to reflect award of the AFCM.  He  wrote  to
the commanding officer  of  his  unit  in  Vietnam,  requesting  information
concerning the award.  The commander confirmed the award,  and  stated  that
he could obtain a copy of the Special Order awarding the AFCM by  contacting
7th Air Force.  He did not do this because he assumed his  official  records
would be updated as soon  as  the  records  were  forwarded  through  normal
channels.  He  placed  the  confirmation  letter  with  his  other  military
records and the matter rested until now.

Since it has been nearly 40 years since receiving the  award,  he  does  not
see how he can provide any more proof than what he has  submitted.   If  the
Board desires, he can submit the original letter and it can be  checked  for
authenticity.  He would imagine that a confirmation  letter,  signed  by  an
officer of the military, would be sufficient to  substantiate  his  request.
If the Review Board cannot locate the original Special Order,  he  certainly
cannot, and this seems to be an unfair request  to  make  in  light  of  the
supporting evidence he has submitted.

Truth be told, whether or not his request for correction of his DD Form  214
is granted, it will not change his life  or  take  anything  away  from  his
service to his  country.   The  award  was  not  for  valor  or  for  wounds
suffered, it was simply for doing his job well.  He does not  need  for  his
records to be corrected to know this, but he is  nonetheless  proud  of  the
recognition of a job well done that the AFCM confers.  Unlike  many  others,
he came home alive and unscarred, and has lived  for  decades  in  the  best
country on earth.  He served his country honorably and with pride  during  a
time of war, and has been rewarded with a prosperous life in  a  country  he
loves.

The applicant’s complete response 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.  Sufficient relevant evidence  has  been  presented  to  demonstrate  the
existence of an error or  injustice  to  warrant  changing  the  applicant’s
records to reflect award of the AFCM.  Although the special order, dated  17
May 1968, that awarded the applicant the AFCM cannot  be  produced,  he  has
provided evidence from his former commander that he was awarded the AFCM  on
that date.  In view of the above, the Board recommends that 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  1  October  1967
through 17 May 1968.

________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered  Docket  Number  BC-2007-03021
in Executive Session on 13 December 2007, under the provisions  of  AFI  36-
2603:

                       Mr. Laurence M. Groner, Panel Chair
                       Ms. Janet I. Hassan, Member
                       Mr. James A. Wolffe, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 11 Sep 07, w/atch.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 24 Oct 07.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 2 Nov 07.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 8 Oct 08 {sic}, w/atch.




                                   LAURENCE M. GRONER
                                   Panel Chair




AFBCMR 2007-03021








MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF


                 Under the authority of Section 1552, Title 10, United
States Code and Air Force Instruction 36-2603, and having assured
compliance with the provisions of the above regulation, the decision of the
Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records is announced, and it is
directed that:


                 The pertinent military records of the Department of the
Air Force relating to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, be corrected to show that he
was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service for
the period 1 October 1967 through 17 May 1968.









  JOE G. LINEBERGER

  Director

  Air Force Review Boards Agency