RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-00108 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: YES 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

1. His grandfather’s WD AFO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and 
Report of Separation Honorable Discharge be corrected to reflect 
the following: 

 

a. Block 5, Component, add Italy and Africa. 

 

b. Block 6, Organization, to read 20th 30th 41st, and 43rd. 

 

c. Block 22, Date of Induction, should be blank. 

 

d. Block 22 Date of Enlistment, should reflect the date he 
enlisted. 

 

e. Block 24, Date of Entry into Active Service, 
no correction identified. 

 

f. Block 31, Military Qualification and Date, add the 
Gunner Badge. 

 

g. Block 32, Battles and Campaigns, add the Asiatic and 
American Campaigns. 

 

h. Block 33, Decorations and Medals, add the Asiatic-Pacific 
Campaign Medal (APCM) w/devices; American Campaign Medal (ACM) 
w/devices; Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) w/devices 
Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) w/devices; Air Force Outstanding 
Unit Award (AFOUA) w/devices; Gallantry Cross Ribbon; Army of 
Occupation Medal (AOM-G) (AOM-J) w/Germany and Japan Clasp; 
Presidential Unit Citation-Philippines (PRPUC); Presidential Unit 
Citation-Korea (ROKPUC); World War II Victory Medal (WWIIVM); 
Philippine Liberation Ribbon (PLR); and add five oak leaf 
clusters (OLCs) to his grandfather’s previously awarded Air Medal 
(AM). 

 

i. Block 36, Service Outside Continental U.S. and Return 
gaps. 

 

2. His honorable discharge certificate reflect his units of 
assignment. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

 


APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

1. His deceased grandfather’s records were damaged during the 
fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St Louis, 
Missouri. 

 

2. His WD AGO Form 53-55 has errors, is missing details and he 
has spent a lot of time trying to correct his grandfather’s 
records close to where they were before the fire. 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his 
grandfathers WG AGO Form 53-55; National Archives and Records 
Administration Form 13059, Transmittal of and/or Entitlement to 
Awards; photos, death certificate, and Wikipedia online 
Encyclopedia and book references. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

On 16 Feb 42, the former member was inducted under the selective 
service system in the Air Corp. 

 

On 6 Sep 45, he was honorably discharged. He served 3 years, 6 
months and 21 days of total active service. 

 

His WD AGO Form 53-55, reflects award of the European, African, 
Middle Eastern (EAME) Theater Ribbon with 12 bronze stars, the 
Good Conduct Ribbon, Purple Heart (PH) and Air Medal (AM). 

 

By letter dated 11 May 11, HQ AFPC/DPSIM states the Gunner badge 
was issued until 1953 but was subsequently declared obsolete and 
phased out in favor of the Aircrew badge. Those having received 
the Gunner badge were permitted to wear the original badge until 
1955 at which time the badge was no longer authorized for 
display on the Air Force uniform. 

 

By letter dated 25 May 11, HQ AFPC/DPSOAA states there is no 
evidence to support the applicant’s deceased grandfather 
enlisted rather than being inducted under the selective service 
system which was highly active during WWII. Therefore, block 
23 was left blank as it was not applicable as to the method by 
which his grandfather entered active service. His date of 
induction is recorded in block 22 as 16 Feb 42, matching his 
date of entry on active duty recorded in block 24. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 


 

HQ AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the applicant’s request for 
award entitlement on behalf of his late grandfather to the APCM 
w/devices, ACM w/devices, DUC w/devices, PUC, and AFOUA 
w/devices, Gallantry Cross Ribbon, AOM-G, AOM-J, PRPUC, ROKPUC, 
WWIIVM, PLR and addition of five OLCs to his previously awarded 
AM. 

 

DPSIDR states that based on the lack of evidence and supporting 
documentation they are unable to consider the applicant for the 
APCM, PUC, DUC, PLR, AFOUA, PRPUC, ROKPUC, AOM-J. In addition, 
the applicants date of separation of 6 Sep 45 renders him 
ineleigible for award of the RVNGC w/P since it does not fall 
within the window of 1 Mar 61 – 28 Mar 73. 

 

DPSIDR states they were able to verify entitlement to the AOM-G, 
ACM and the WWIIVM. The records will be administratively 
corrected by AFPC to reflect this entitlement. 

 

The complete DPSIDR evaluation, w/attachments, is at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The applicant states “the 4143rd Army Air Force Base Unit (AAF 
BU), Dayton, Ohio” does not exist and never did. He believes 
his records should reflect the 41st BS and 43rd BS, two 
different units. His uncle was also awarded medals from the 
33rd BS and 20th BS. 

 

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit E. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

HQ AFPC/DPSOY recommends denial of the applicant’s request to 
include all his deceased grandfather’s units of assignment on 
his WD AGO Form 53-55 and his honorable discharge certificate. 

 

DPSOY states there is substantial lack of personnel records and 
documentation provided to reflect his uncle was assigned to any 
other unit at the time of separation. Also, only the last unit 
of assignment is documented in block 6 of a separation document, 
rather than all units. This is a current practice with 
completion of the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or 
Discharge from Active Duty throughout the Department of Defense 
(DoD). 

 

The complete DPSOY evaluation is at Exhibit F. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 


APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The applicant reiterates his contention that there is no such 
unit as the 4143 AAFBU and it is in fact two separate units. He 
states he is very familiar with Air Force history, as he just 
got of the Air Force last year. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 

 

1. The application was not filed within three years after the 
alleged error or injustice was discovered, or reasonably could 
have been discovered, as required by Section 1552, Title 10, 
United States Code (10 USC 1552), and Air Force Instruction 36-
2603. Thus the application is untimely. 

 

2. Paragraph b of 10 USC 1552 permits us, in our discretion, to 
excuse untimely filing in the interest of justice. We have 
carefully reviewed applicant's submission and the entire record, 
and we do not find a sufficient basis to excuse the untimely 
filing of this application. The applicant has not shown a 
plausible reason for delay in filing, and we are not persuaded 
that the record raises issues of error or injustice which require 
resolution on the merits at this time. Accordingly, we conclude 
that it would not be in the interest of justice to excuse the 
untimely filing of the application. 

 

3. The applicant's case is adequately documented and it has not 
been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel 
will materially add to our understanding of the issues involved. 
Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably considered. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

DECISION OF THE BOARD: 

 

The application was not timely filed and it would not be in the 
interest of justice to waive the untimeliness. It is the 
decision of the Board, therefore, to reject the application as 
untimely. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered Docket Number 
BC-2011-00108 in Executive Session on 22 Sep 11, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 Panel Chair 

 Member 

 Member 


 

The following documentary evidence was considered pertaining to 
AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2011-00108: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 20 Jul 10, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. HQ AFPC/DPSIDR, Letter, dated 17 Mar 11, 

 w/atchs. 

 Exhibit D. SAF/MRBR, Letter, dated 17 Jun 11. 

 Exhibit E. Applicant’s Rebuttal, Letter, dated 20 Jun 11. 

 Exhibit F. HQ AFPC/DPSOY, Letter, dated 11 Jul 11. 

 Exhibit G. SAF/MRBC, Letter, dated 2 Aug 11. 

 Exhibit H. Applicant’s Rebuttal, Letter, dated 6 Aug 11, 

 w/atchs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair