RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-02396
COUNSEL: NO
HEARING DESIRED: NO
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
One of his two Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals (AFEM) be
exchanged for the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM).
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He served at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, from
April 1974 through June 1975, in participation of OPERATION
FREQUENT WIND (OFW), PROJECT NEW LIFE, and MAYAGUEZ INCIDENT.
In support of his appeal, the applicant provides a copy of his DD
Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty;
two performance reports; Air Force Form 104, Humanitarian Service
Medal/Unit Award Verification; and award criteria for the AFEM,
VSM, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
The applicants complete submission, with attachments, is at
Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The 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/DPSIDRA recommends denial. DPSIDRA states the AFEM is
awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who, after
1 July 1958, have participated in a United States military
operation and encountered foreign armed opposition, or were in
danger of hostile action by foreign Armed Forces. The VSM is
awarded to all service members of the Armed Forces who between
4 July 1965 and 28 March 1973, served in the following areas of
Southeast Asia in Vietnam and the contiguous waters and airspace;
in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia, or the airspace thereof and in
direct support of military operations in Vietnam. Personnel
previously awarded the AFEM for service in Vietnam between 1958
and July 1965, may, upon request, exchange that medal for the
VSM; however, no one is authorized to wear both medals solely for
services in Vietnam. As stated in Department of Defense 1348.33-
M, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, Appendix 5, Operations Approved for Award of the AFEM, and Appendix 7, Approved Operations for Award of the Humanitarian Service Medal,
members must have been assigned to Vietnam, and/or participated
in OPERATION FREQUENT WIND, between 29 April 1975 to 30 April
1975.
DPSIDRA states the applicants Air Force Form 104 indicates he
received one AFEM for his participation in the MAYAGUEZ OPERATION
while assigned to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, on
15 May 1975; however, their office was unable to verify
additional entitlements to the AFEM due to the applicant only
being assigned to Thailand. No documentation was located or
provided to verify the applicant was assigned to Vietnam or in
direct support of OFW.
The complete DPSIDRA evaluation is at Exhibit B.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant
on 10 September 2010 for review and response within 30 days
(Exhibit C). 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. 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 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 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-2010-02396 in Executive Session on 15 March 2010 under
the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
, Panel Chair
, Member
, Member
The following documentary evidence for AFBCMR Docket Number BC-
2010-02396 was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Forms 149, dated 23 Jun 10, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDRA, dated 16 Aug 10.
Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 Sep 10.
Panel Chair
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2011-05048
DPSIDRA states the applicant’s dates of assignment in Thailand were well after the ending date of 28 March 1973 for award of either the VSM or the RVCM; therefore, the applicant is ineligible for award of the VSM or the RVCM based on the inclusive period of the award. The VSM is awarded to all service members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving at any time between 4 July 1965 and 28 March 1973, in Vietnam, its contiguous waters or airspace there-over and to all members of the U.S. Armed Forces...
AF | BCMR | CY2014 | BC 2014 01878
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-01878 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVGC w/P). The applicant served on active duty from 21 Sep 73 through 7 Nov 80, which is after the eligibility dates for award of the VSM or the RVGC w/P. Further, after a thorough review of the applicants...
AF | BCMR | CY2007 | BC-2007-00947
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2007-00947 INDEX CODE: 107.00 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE: 29 SEPTEMBER 2008 _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: The applicant requests his records be corrected to reflect award of the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) and the Air Force Expeditionary Medal (AFEM). In support of his appeal, applicant...
AF | BCMR | CY2013 | BC 2013 04962
In addition, personnel serving in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia in direct support of operations in Vietnam during the same time period were also eligible for the VSM. In accordance with Public Law 107-314, § 542, the AFEM, for participation in Operation FREQUENT WIND, may be exchanged for the Vietnam Service Medal. 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...
AF | BCMR | CY2011 | BC-2011-04991
The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the letter prepared by the Air Force primary office of responsibility which is included at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIDRA recommends denial of award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) and/or the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), indicating there is no evidence of an error or injustice. The AFEM is awarded for deployed service to...
AF | BCMR | CY2011 | BC-2011-04798
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-04798 COUNSEL: NO HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect his award of the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM). DPSIDR indicates that the Directorate of Personnel Assignments (DPA)...
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC 2012 05624
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-05624 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His record be corrected to reflect he was awarded the following awards: a. Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). While we note that AFPC/DPAPP verified the applicants foreign service in Thailand, said service took place after the inclusive dates of the...
AF | BCMR | CY2013 | BC 2012 05624
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-05624 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His record be corrected to reflect he was awarded the following awards: a. Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). While we note that AFPC/DPAPP verified the applicants foreign service in Thailand, said service took place after the inclusive dates of the...
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-02467
Also, he knows other veterans who served in Thailand during the same time period and were not in-country; yet, they received both medals. Furthermore, his performance report for the inclusive period 1 Oct 74 to 30 Mar 75, reflects he was assigned to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand; however, this time-frame is outside of the closeout period for award of the VSM and RVCM. ________________________________________________________________ _ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR...
AF | BCMR | CY2014 | BC 2014 01298
Additionally, the Board notified the applicant that his request for award of the VSM was a new request and required a new DD Form 149, Application for Correction of Military Records. There is no official documentation in the applicant's record verifying he was recommended for or awarded the DFC. We have thoroughly reviewed the evidence of record and considered the weight and relevance of the additional documentation provided by the applicant, and whether or not it was discoverable at the...