RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBERS: BC-2009-00921 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of 
Transfer of Discharge, be corrected to reflect 2 years and 
7 months foreign service in Block 22c rather than 2 years, 
4 months, and 25 days; and, award of the Republic of Vietnam 
Campaign Medal (RVNCM) or unit citation. 

 

In his rebuttal to the Air Force advisory opinion, the applicant 
requests his records be corrected to reflect the RVNCM, Republic 
of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P), and the Air 
Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and two Bronze Oak Leaf 
Clusters (AFOUA w/V and 2OLC). 

 

In addition, his DD Form 256 AF, Honorable Discharge Certificate, 
be corrected to reflect September 1971 rather than September 
1967. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He spent an 18 month tour of duty in the Philippines and a 
13 month tour of duty in Korea; therefore, his foreign service 
should reflect two years and seven months. He served in Vietnam 
from May 1968 to October 1969 so he is entitled to be awarded the 
RVNCM or unit citation. 

 

In support of his appeal, the applicant provides copies of his DD 
Form 214; permanent change of station (PCS) orders, assignment 
orders, Combat Missions/SEA Service Certificate, temporary duty 
(TDY) orders, a Request and Authorization for Separation Special 
Order, and an honorable discharge certificate. 

 

The applicant’s complete submission (three – DD Forms 149), with 
attachments, is at Exhibits A-1, A-2, and A-3. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

On 29 September 1967, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air 
Force at the age of 18 in the grade of airman basic (E-1). He 
was progressively promoted to the rank of sergeant (E-4) with a 
date of rank of 1 June 1970. 

 

According to the applicant’s Air Force Form 7, Airman Military 
Record, he served in the Philippines from 2 July 1968 to 26 


October 1969 and in Korea from 27 October 1969 to 27 November 
1970. 

 

The applicant was honorably discharged from active duty, in the 
grade of sergeant, effective 28 September 1971 for completion of 
required active service after serving four years on active duty. 

 

Subsequent to the applicant’s appeal, on 4 June 2009, AFPC/DPAPP, 
wrote the applicant requesting documents that verified he served 
time in Vietnam, Korea, and the Philippines. In response, he 
submitted three copies of blanket TDY orders with variations 
authorized to Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, the Republic of Korea, and 
Republic of Vietnam; his AF Form 7, and an Aeronautical Order 
designating the applicant as a non-crew member required to 
participate frequently and regularly in aerial flights. 

 

On 7 October 2009, AFPC/DPSIDR notified the applicant that they 
were able to verify his entitlement to the Korean Defense Service 
Medal (KDSM) while assigned to Camron Air Base, Korea from 
27 October 1969 to 27 November 1970; and, that his record will be 
corrected by the Retirements and Separations Section. DPSIDR 
indicated they were unable to verify his entitlement to the 
RVNCM. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denying the applicant’s request for 
Vietnam service awards. Without official documentation to verify 
his assigned units being awarded any unit citations, they must 
also recommend disapproval. DPSIDR states that the RVNCM is 
awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who 
served for six months in South Vietnam during the period 1 March 
1961 and 28 March 1973. DPAPP was able to verify the applicant 
having boots on the ground in Vietnam from 2 April 1969 to 
5 April 1969 (4 days); therefore, making him ineligible for award 
of the RVNCM. According to the Department of Defense Instruction 
Manual 1348.33 (DoD 1348-33-M) in order to verify entitlement to 
the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) the member has to have served on 
temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days 
in the area of responsibility. 

 

In regard to his request to change the date on his DD Form 256 to 
reflect September 1971 rather than September 1967, the applicant 
is referring to his discharge certificate, dated 28 September 
1967, which was issued for his discharge from the Air Force 
Reserve. His records reveal he was issued a DD Form 256, dated 
28 September 1971 when he was discharged from the Regular Air 
force; therefore, no correction is required. 

 

The complete AFPC/DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 


APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The applicant responds that thus far all things have been 
corrected on his DD Form 214 except for his time served in 
Vietnam and Thailand. In support of his appeal, he submits 
copies of a fellow veteran’s notarized documentation asserting 
they served in the Philippines together for an 18 month tour 
maintaining and flying on C-118 aircraft; and, again serving 
together for 13 months in Korea working on C-47 aircraft. His 
fellow veteran was able to get his DD Form 214 corrected to 
reflect the time he spent in Southeast Asia; therefore, getting 
his records corrected to reflect award of the RVNCM, RVNGC w/P, 
and the AFOUA w/V and 2OLC. He requests his records be corrected 
to reflect the same awards. 

 

The applicant’s rebuttal, with attachments, 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 injustice. The Board majority is 
persuaded by the applicant’s assertions and the evidence he 
provided concerning a fellow veteran, who was assigned with him 
during the period in question. We note the fellow veteran’s 
record was administratively corrected by the Air Force Personnel 
Center to reflect the awards the applicant is asking for using 
the same blanket orders provided by the applicant. Therefore, a 
majority of the Board is persuaded that it is possible he was 
entitled to the same awards for the same timeframe. Accordingly, 
it is the majority of the Board’s opinion that any doubt should 
be resolved in the applicant’s favor. Therefore, the majority of 
the Board recommends his record be corrected as 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: 

 

1. His DD Form 214, Block 22c, Foreign and/or Sea Service, 
be corrected to show 2 years, 7 months, and 0 days rather than 
2 years, 4 months, and 25 days 

 

 2. He was awarded the RVNCM, RVNGC w/P, and the AFOUA w/V 
and 2OLC. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered this application in 
Executive Session on 21 January 2010, under the provisions of AFI 
36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

By a majority vote, the Board voted to correct the record as 
recommended. Mr. Parker voted to deny the applicant’s appeal, but 
elected not to submit a minority report. The following 
documentary evidence for AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2009-00921 was 
considered: 

 

 Exhibit A-1. DD Form 149, dated 28 Feb 09, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit A-2. DD Form 149, dated 28 Feb 09, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit A-3. DD Form 149, dated 28 Feb 09, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 27 Aug 08. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 13 Nov 09. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 22 Nov 09. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair