RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2008-01650
INDEX CODE: 107.00
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His DD Form 214 be corrected to reflect the Purple Heart and Republic of
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC/wP).
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He was wounded (left shoulder) by SFWs when he left Vietnam while assigned
to the 632 SPS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, in March 1968 just prior to his return
to CONUS. He assumed the Purple Heart was listed on his DD Form 214.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant enlisted into the Regular Air Force on 24 August 1964 for the
period of four years. He was honorably discharged on 23 August 1968 in the
rank of Senior Airman.
IAW DoD 1348.33-M (Manual of Military Decorations and Awards) and AFI 36-
2803 (The Air Force Awards and Decorations Program), the Purple Heart is
awarded for wounds received as a direct result of enemy actions (e.g.
gunshot or shrapnel wounds, hand-to-hand combat wounds, forced aircraft
bail-out injuries etc.). It is necessary that the wound required or
received treatment by medical personnel.
DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge
from Active Duty) has been accomplished to add the RVNGC/wP and is at
Exhibit B.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial. DPSIDR states the applicant’s medical
records do not reflect he was injured due to direct enemy action. A
medical document does confirm applicant being wounded due to shrapnel;
however, he did not provide a personal detailed account or certified
eyewitness statements that verify he was injured due to direct enemy
action.
DPSIDR’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit C.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 27
June 2008 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, this
office has received no response.
_________________________________________________________________
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. In this respect, persuasive evidence has
not been presented that would corroborate his contention the injuries he
received were the direct result of enemy action as required for award of
the Purple Heart. Absent such evidence, 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. Therefore, in the absence of
other persuasive 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-2008-
01650 in Executive Session on 6 August 2008, under the provisions of AFI 36-
2603:
Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Chair
Mr. Kurt R. LaFrance, Member
Ms. Josephine L. Davis, Member
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 6 March 2008.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 18 June 2008, w/atch.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 27 June 2008.
THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
Chair
AF | BCMR | CY2010 | BC-2010-04396
_________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: While serving in Nha Trang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, he was injured while seeking cover during a mortar attack. After thoroughly reviewing the evidence of record and noting the applicants contentions, we are not persuaded that his injuries were the direct result of enemy action or friendly fire as required for award of the PH. ...
AF | BCMR | CY2008 | BC-2007-02625
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2007-02625 INDEX CODE: 107.00 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His records be corrected to reflect award of the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM), Purple Heart (PH), Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA), Air Force Good Conduct Medal (AFGCM), Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVNCM) and...
AF | BCMR | CY2011 | BC-2011-02891
DPSIDR states the applicant provided as evidence a personal statement dated 17 May 11, which contains a detailed description of the incident, as well as his visit to the doctor after being evacuated. Also, he provided an eyewitness account dated 17 Jun 11. The eyewitness statement supports the applicants description of the incident; however, neither the applicant nor the eyewitness mention the dates or rank of the applicant at the time of the incident.
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | BC-2003-02904
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2003-02904 COUNSEL: None HEARING DESIRED: No _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Purple Heart (PH) for wounds received at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. Applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. He medical records showed he had broke his foot in 1969 at Dyess AFB, TX, when he slipped and fell...
AF | BCMR | CY2010 | BC-2010-02307
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-02307 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His record be corrected to show that he was awarded: a. The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor (AFOUA w/V). After a thorough review of the available evidence and the applicants complete submission, we find no evidence which would lead us...
AF | BCMR | CY2010 | BC-2010-03250
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-03250 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Purple Heart (PH) Medal for injuries received while on duty at Phu Cat Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. The PH is awarded for wounds received as a direct result of enemy actions (i.e., gunshot or shrapnel wounds, hand-to-hand...
________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: As a tail gunner in a B-24 Bomber during World War II, his plane was gunned down by the Germans. ___________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The Recognition Programs Branch, AFPC/DPPPR, indicates that the Purple Heart is awarded for wounds received as a direct result of enemy action. THOMAS C. MARKIEWICZ Panel Chair AFBCMR 00-03104 MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF...
AF | BCMR | CY2009 | BC-2008-01936
In support of his request, applicant provided a document extracted from his medical record. The complete DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 1 August 2008 for review and comment within 30 days. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case, including the Department of...
AF | BCMR | CY2006 | BC-2005-01465
The Purple Heart Review Board (PHRB) considered and denied applicant’s request for the PH on 1 November 2005. Applicant’s personal statement is noted; however, after thoroughly reviewing the evidence of record, to include his service medical records, we find no corroborative evidence to establish that he was treated for wounds received as a direct result of enemy action during a rocket attack on 28 February 1968. ________________________________________________________________ The...
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | BC-2004-00921
Applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. The PH is awarded for wounds received as a direct result of enemy actions (i.e., gunshot or shrapnel wounds, hand-to-hand combat wounds, forced aircraft bail out injuries, etc.). In this respect, we note the PH is awarded for wounds received as a direct result of enemy actions and it is necessary the wound required or received treatment by medical personnel.