RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-04226 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

1. He be awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal (DSSM). (Administratively corrected). 


 

2. He be awarded the Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM) 


 

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

His DSSM was processed at the time of his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, was being 
prepared prior to his retirement; therefore, it was not included. 
The KDSM was not available during his active duty military 
career. It was created in 2004 per Public Law 107-314 with an 
eligibility period of 28 July 1954 to a future date to be 
determined by the Secretary of Defense. He is requesting the 
award based on more than 60 nonconsecutive days of service in the 
Republic of Korea as an aircrew member. 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his 
DD Form 214, the DSSM citation with letter, a personal statement, 
his aircrew temporary duty (TDY) worksheet, special orders and 
his officer performance reports. 

 

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit A. 

 

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STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

On 12 August 1974, the applicant was commissioned as a second 
lieutenant in the Regular Air Force. He was progressively 
promoted to the grade of lieutenant colonel, having assumed that 
grade effective and with a date of rank of 1 January 1991. On 30 
January 1997, he retired after serving 22 years, 10 months and 19 
days of total active service. 

 

In February 2004, the Department of Defense approved the KDSM to 
be given as recognition for military service in the Republic of 
Korea and the surrounding waters after 28 July 1954 and ending on 
such a future date as determined by the Secretary of Defense. 


Individuals must have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to 
units operating or serving on all the land area of the Republic 
of Korea, and the contiguous waters out to 12 nautical miles, and 
all airspace above the stated land and water areas. To be 
eligible for the KDSM, personnel must have been physically 
present in the stated areas for 30 consecutive or 60 
nonconsecutive days, or must meet one of the following: 

• Be engaged in actual combat during an armed engagement, 
regardless of the time in the areas of eligibility 
• Be killed, wounded, or injured in the line of duty and 
required medical evacuation from the area of eligibility 
• While participating as a regularly assigned aircrew member 
flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the area of 
eligibility in support of military operations. Each day that 
one or more sorties are flown in accordance with these 
criteria shall count as one day toward the 30 or 60 day 
requirement. 


 

On 22 December 2010, DPSIDR corrected the applicant’s record to 
reflect the award of the DSSM. 

 

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial. DPSIDR states the applicant’s 
record reflects he served in the area of eligibility for 43 
nonconsecutive days, instead of the required 60 days. DPSIDR 
states the documents provided by the applicant reflects on two 
occasions he was temporarily assigned to Osan Air Base, Korea on 
22 March 1977, for 25 days and on 29 February 1984, for 18 days. 

 

The complete DPSIDR evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit B. 

 

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The applicant states his request was based on service he 
performed as a regularly assigned aircrew member and a 
participant in numerous operations and exercises in the Republic 
of Korea during the years of 1977-1984. He has provided detailed 
extracts from his aircrew flight log, two TDY orders and several 
officer performance reports indicating he served a total of 116 
days in Korea. Concrete proof of his service in Korea can be 
found in his official flight records. After 30 years, he no 
longer possesses or can locate copies of his paid travel 
vouchers. Based on the details he has provided and equally 
important, the professional integrity instilled as an Air Force 


officer and continued throughout his professional career, he 
again request the Board’s favorable ruling for the award of the 
KSDM. 

 

The applicant’s complete response, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit E. 

 

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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. After a thorough 
review of the evidence of record and applicant’s submission, we 
are not persuaded that he should be given the requested relief. 
Applicant’s contentions are duly noted; however, we do not find 
these assertions, in and by themselves, sufficiently persuasive 
to override the rationale provided by the Air Force. Therefore, 
we therefore agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air 
Force office of primary responsibility and adopt the rationale 
expressed as the basis for our decision that the applicant has 
failed to sustain his burden of establishing that he has suffered 
either an error or an injustice. While we note the applicant has 
provided data on spreadsheets from his personal flight records, 
we recommend the applicant contact the Air Force Flight Record 
Management Office at 301-981-4088 to obtain official copies of 
his flight records. Should the applicant provide official 
documentation that establishes he served in Korea for the 
required amount of time, we would be willing to reconsider his 
request. In view of the above and absent persuasive evidence to 
the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief 
sought. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

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-2010-04226 in Executive Session on 12 July 2011, under 
the provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 10 Nov 10. 

 Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 22 Dec 10, w/atch. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 7 Jan 11. 

 Exhibit D. Applicant’s Response, dated 2 Feb 11. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair