RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2009-00617 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

1. He be awarded: 

 

 a. The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) for his assignment to 
354th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW). 

 

 b. The PUC for his assignment to the 354th Tactical Fighter 
Wing (TFW) - administratively corrected. 

 

 c. The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA) for his 
assignment to the 353rd TFS - administratively corrected 

 

 d. The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, First Oak Leaf 
Cluster (AFOUA, w/1 OLC) for his assignment to the 353rd TFS. 

 

 e. The Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P). 

 

 f. The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) - administratively 
corrected. 

 

2. His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active 
Duty, be corrected to reflect 9 months and 29 days of Foreign 
Service. - administratively corrected. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He was assigned to the 354th Hospital and TFW at Myrtle Beach, SC; 
however, he was attached to the 353rd TFS, which was deployed to 
Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand from 12 October 1972 to 21 
January 1973. During the same period, the 354th TFW were awarded the 
PUC during the period of 10 October 1972 to 30 April 1973 and the 
AFOUA from 15 June 1970 to 15 May 1972. The 353th TFS received the 
PUC, RVNGC w/p, and the AFOUA. The 353rd TFS was deployed to Korat 
Thailand from 31 March 1973 to 18 October 1973. In addition, his DD 
Form 214 showed he was in Thailand for seven months; however, the 
353rd TFS was deployed for 302 days or ten months. 

 

In support of his application, applicant provides a copy of the 
history for the 353th Squadron and 354th Tactical Fighter Wing. 

 

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

 


_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 5 August 1970. He 
was progressively promoted to the grade of sergeant (E-4), having 
assumed that grade effective and with a date of rank of 1 
September 1972. He was honorably discharged on 4 April 1974. He 
completed 3 years and 8 months of total active service. 

 

The applicant’s military records reflect he was assigned to the 354th 
Tactical Hospital from 6 January 1971 to 30 June 1971; USAF 
Hospital, Myrtle Beach, from 1 July 1971 to 31 July 1971; 353rd TFS 
from 1 August 1971 to 18 June 1972; and USAF Hospital, Myrtle Beach, 
from 19 June 1971 to 4 August 1974, during which time he served 97 
days in Thailand in 1972 and 202 days in 1973. 

 

The Republic of Vietnam awards the RVNGC w/P to certain units of the 
US Armed Forces for valorous combat achievement during the Vietnam 
War, 1 Mar 61 to 28 Mar 73. 

 

The applicant’s DD Form 214 was administratively corrected to 
reflect 9 months and 29 days of Foreign Service. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the applicant's request for the 
AFOUA w/1 OLC, PUC, and the RVGC w/palm and states they were unable 
to locate any official documentation that indicated he was assigned 
to the 354th TFW during the inclusive periods for these awards. 

 

The complete AFPC/DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The applicant states the 353th TFS was awarded the RVGC w/palm 
during the time he was deployed to Thailand from 12 October 1972 to 
21 January 1973. The first 97 days while deployed to Thailand 
entitled him to the VSM. He only wants what he is entitled and to 
have his records reflect those entitlements. 

 

 

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. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate 
the existence of an error or injustice. 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. In this regard, we note the applicant's 
records have been administratively corrected to reflect 9 months and 
29 days of Foreign Service and the award of the AFOUA, PUC, and VSM, 
with one Bronze Star. However, in regard to the RVNGC w/P, and the 
additional AFOUA and PUC, the applicant provided insufficient 
evidence to verify his assignment to the referenced organizations 
during the periods they were entitled to these awards. Should he 
secure supporting documentation, the Board would be willing to 
reconsider his application. Therefore, 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 Docket Number 
BC-2009-00617 in Executive Session on 12 January 2010, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered for Docket Number 
BC-2009-00617: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 26 Feb 09, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 26 Jun 09. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 Jul 09. 

 Exhibit E. Applicant’s Response, dated 20 Jul 09.