RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: 2010-03206
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
1. His records be corrected to reflect his service in Vietnam
and Thailand.
2. He records be corrected to reflect award of the Vietnam
Service Medal (VSM), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM)
and the Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM).
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He was on a temporary duty (TDY) assignment to Vietnam and
Thailand for 114 days between Aug 1964 and Nov 1964.
His awards for Foreign Service are not reflected on his DD Form
214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or
Discharge.
The applicants complete submission, with attachments, is at
Exhibit A.
________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant served on active duty in the Regular Air Force
from 18 Aug 1961 to 17 Aug 1965. His DD Form 214 reflects eight
months of Foreign Service.
In response to the applicants request to reflect his service in
Vietnam and Thailand, AFPC/DPAPP sent the applicant a memorandum
dated 16 Jul 2012, stating the DD Form 214 does not reflect
specific locations. However, DPAPP verified he was TDY in
Thailand from 5 Aug 1964 to 27 Nov 1964, and TDY in Vietnam from
21 Sep 1964 to 27 Oct 1964. He was also advised that he could
use the memorandum as proof of boots on the ground in Vietnam
and Thailand.
The VCM is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United
States who between 1 Mar 1961 and 28 Mar 1973 served for six
months in South Vietnam, or served outside the geographical
limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to
the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces for an aggregate of six
months. Only members of the Armed Forces of the United States
who meet the criteria established for the AFEM (Vietnam) or the
VSM during the period of service required are considered to have
contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam
Armed Forces.
The VSM is awarded to all members of the United States Armed
Forces serving at any time between 4 Jul 1965 and 28 Mar 1973,
in the area of eligibility. The area of eligibility is defined
as: Vietnam, its contiguous waters, or the airspaces there-over;
in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia, their contiguous waters, or the
airspaces there-over, and in direct support of operations in
Vietnam. To be eligible, a Service member must have served TDY
for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days. These time
limitations may be waived for personnel who participated in
actual combat operations. A bronze star denotes campaign
participation and is awarded for at least 1 day in each campaign
phase. Personnel previously awarded the AFEM for service in
Vietnam between Jul 1958 and Jul 1965, may, upon request,
exchange that medal for the VSM; however, no one service member
is authorized to wear both medals solely for services in
Vietnam.
________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicants request for
award of the VCM and VSM. DPSID states there is no official
documentation in his official military personnel record
verifying he met the criteria for award of the VCM. While the
applicant did meet the award criteria for award of the VSM, his
previous award of the AFEM makes him ineligible to also be
awarded the VSM. Their attempts to contact the member to
ascertain if he desires to exchange the AFEM for the VSM have
been unsuccessful.
The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C.
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
On 11 Sep 2012, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded
to the applicant for review and comment within 30 days.
To date, a response has not been received (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 to warrant
approval of the VSM and the VCM. 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 the applicant has not
been the victim of an error or injustice. Regarding his request
to add the AFEM to his records, this award is already reflected
on his DD Form 214. Should the applicant provide documentation
that establishes he met the criteria established for award of
the VCM or makes a request to exchange the AFEM for the VSM, we
would be willing to reconsider his request. In the absence of
evidence to the contrary, we find no 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 BC-2010-
03206 in Executive Session on 14 Feb 2013, under the provisions
of AFI 36-2603:
, Panel Chair
, Member
, Member
The following documentary evidence was considered in AFBCMR
BC-2010-03206:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 1 Jun 2012, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSID, dated 24 Jun 2012.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 11 Sep 2012.
Panel Chair
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