RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-00163 

 INDEX CODE: 107.00 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

___________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

1. He be awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) redesignated 
as the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). 

 

2. He be awarded the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVNCM). 

 

3. He be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Service 
Stars (VSM w/2 BSS) – administratively corrected. 

 

4. He be awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm 
(RVGC w/P) – administratively corrected. 

 

5. He be awarded the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 
Service Medal also known as the United Nations Service Medal 
(UNSM). 

 

6. He be awarded the Air Force Good Conduct Medal (AFGCM) – 
administratively corrected. 

 

7. He be awarded the Small Arms Expert marksmanship Ribbon with one 
Bronze Service Star (SAEMR w/1 BSS) – administratively corrected. 

 

8. He be credited with an additional 5 months and 5 days of foreign 
service time in Vietnam – administratively corrected to 1 year, 
5 months, and 6 days. 

 

___________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of 
Transfer or Discharge, does not reflect the appropriate awards and 
foreign service time. He heard his unit received the PUC during 
his assignment in Vietnam. 

 

In support of his request, applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 
214, a copy of AF Form 626, Temporary Duty Order – Military, a copy 
of a special order, a copy of a certificates of training, a copy of 
PACAF Form 100, Hostile Fire Pay Certification, a copy of AF Form 
522, Qualification Score Card, and a copy of AF Form 1098, Personnel Action Request. 

 


His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. 

 

___________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 3 Mar 67. He 
was progressively promoted to the grade of sergeant (E-4), having 
assumed that grade and with a date of rank of 1 Feb 70. 

 

The applicant’s 3 Mar 68 thru 1 Aug 68 performance report reflects 
he was assigned to the 6167 Air Base Squadron, Kimpo AB, Korea. 

 

The applicant’s 1 Mar 69 thru 15 Feb 70 evaluation reflects a 
statement that he “assisted in the building of the Fire Direction 
Center and mortar positions at Phan Rang AB, RVN” that confirms he 
served in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN). 

 

He received an honorable discharge on 25 Jan 71 after serving 
3 years, 10 months, and 22 days on active duty. 

 

AFPC/DPAPP advised the applicant on 23 Mar 10 that they were able 
to verify and confirm his “boots on ground” foreign service time at 
Kimpo Air Base, Korea, from 15 Aug 67 to 13 Aug 68, and his foreign 
service time in Phu Cat Base, RVN, and Phan Rang Air Base, RVN, 
from 15 Sep 69 to 20 Feb 70. His combined total foreign service 
should be corrected to reflect 1 year, 5 months, and 6 days (see 
Exhibit C). 

 

The PUC criteria: Executive Order 9075 on 26 Feb 42, created this 
award and was superseded by Executive Order 9396 on 2 Dec 43, which 
authorized the Distinguished Unit Citation, and this executive 
order was superseded by Executive Order 10694, on 10 Jan 57 which 
redesignated the Distinguished Unit Citation as the Presidential 
Unit Citation. It is conferred on units of the armed forces of the 
United States and of cobelligerent nations, for extraordinary 
heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 Dec 41. The 
unit must display such gallantry, determination, and esprit de 
corps in accomplishing its mission as to set it apart from and 
above other units participating in the same campaign. The degree 
of heroism required is the same that which would warrant award of 
the Distinguished Service Cross to an individual. 

 

The UNSM criteria: The medal is awarded to members of the Armed 
Forces of the United States who participated in the United Nations 
action in Korea between 27 Jun 50 and 27 Jul 54 within the 
territorial limits of Korea, the waters immedicately adjacent, or 
the airspace above Korea or the adjacent waters. 

 

The RVNCM criteria: This medal is awarded to members of the armed 
forces of the United States who: 1) Served for six months in South 
Vietnam during the period 1 Mar 61 to 28 Mar 73; 2) Served outside 
the geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct 


combat support to the RVN 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 Vietnam 
Service Medal during the period of service required are considered 
to have contributed direct combat support to the RVN armed forces; 
3) Did not complete the length of service required in item (1) or 
(2) above, but who, during wartime, were: a) wounded by the enemy 
(in a military action); b) captured by the enemy during action or 
in the line of duty, but later rescued or released; c) killed in 
action or in the line of duty; 4) Were assigned in Vietnam on 
28 Jan 73, and who served a minimum of 60 calendar days in Vietnam 
during the period 29 Jan to 28 March 73. 

 

___________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denying the applicant’s request for the PUC 
and the United Nations Service Medal (UNSM) (also referred to by 
the applicant as the NATO Service Medal). The applicant did not 
participate in United Nations action in Korea during the required 
period to be entitled to the medal. DPSIDR was able to verify his 
entitlement to the AFGCM, the VSM w/2 BSS, the KDSM, the SAEMR w/1 
BSS, and the RVGC w/P. 

 

The DPSIDR complete evaluation is at Exhibit D. 

 

___________________________________________________________________ 

 

ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the RVNCM. The applicant served 
in Vietnam from 15 Sep 69 to 20 Feb 70 for a total of 5 months and 
6 days which does not meet the criteria for award of the medal. 

 

The DPSIDR complete evaluation is at Exhibit F. 

 

___________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the 
applicant on 23 Apr 10 and 20 May 10 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 with regard to the 
applicant’s request for the PUC, RVNCM, and UNSM. 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 that relief beyond that 
already granted administratively is not warranted. Therefore, we 
find no basis to favorably consider 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-2010-00163 in Executive Session on 15 Jun 10, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 

 

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The 
following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 12 Jan 10, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 23 Mar 10. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 5 Apr 10. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 23 Apr 10. 

 Exhibit F. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 13 May 10. 

 Exhibit G. Letter, AFBCMR, dated 20 May 10. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair