RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-00601
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His record be changed to reflect his Prisoner of War (POW)
status during World War II (WWII).
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
His current discharge does not reflect his POW status. The
Department of Veterans Affairs acknowledges his POW status;
however, he feels he should have official documentation in his
military records.
The applicants complete submission, with attachment, is at
Exhibit A.
________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant entered active duty, on 8 Feb 44, as a member of
the Army Air Corps. He served in the European Theater from
17 Sep 28 Dec 44. He was credited with 1 year, 5 months, and
22 days of continental service and 3 months and 21 days of
foreign service.
The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are
contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of
the Air Force. Accordingly, there is no need to recite these
facts in this Record of Proceedings.
________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPWC reviewed this application and recommends denial. They
note, the applicants plane was shot down, on 7 Oct 44, and was
detained as an internee by the Swedish government until his
return to military control, on 1 Nov 44.
Soldiers who endured a similar experience as a detainee or an
internee at various camps in Sweden by itself do not qualify for
POW status. Additionally, the Department of Veterans Affairs
(DVA) decision to treat for the purposes of benefits and
compensation certain WWII veterans who were forcibly detained by
enemy governments does not by itself qualify the member for POW
status. In this context, mistreatment may qualify for VA
compensation, but it does not qualify them for official POW
status on their military record.
DPWC concludes that awarding POW status, and in turn the POW
medal, to internees in Sweden requires the Secretary of the Air
Force (SAF) to determine that Swedish (sic) officials were
acting on behalf of a foreign armed force hostile to the US
during WWII, in accordance with the Department of Defense
1348.33m, para C6.2 and 10 USC Section 1128(a) (4).
The complete AFPC/DPWC evaluation, 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 2 Apr 10 for review and response. As of this date,
no response has been received by this office (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. 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. Therefore, in the
absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to
recommend granting the relief sought in this application.
________________________________________________________________
THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:
The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not
demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the
application was denied without a personal appearance; and 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-2010-00601 in Executive Session on 13 October 2010,
under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 10 Feb 10, w/atch.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPWC, dated 22 Mar 10, w/atchs.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 2 Apr 10.
Panel Chair
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