RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-00256
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of
Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to reflect entitlement to the
Vietnam Service Medal (VSM).
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He served in Vietnam between the periods Nov 61 Feb 62; and did
not receive the VSM.
In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his
DD Form 214, a temporary duty (TDY) order, and photographs of the
base he was stationed at in Vietnam.
The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at
Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant served on active duty from 20 Apr 59 to 21 Nov 62.
The VSM was created on 8 Jul 65, and is awarded to all service
members of the Armed Forces who, between 4 Jul 65 and 28 Mar 73,
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 the direct support of military
operations in Vietnam. A service member must have served on TDY
for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days to be eligible for
award of the VSM. These time limitations may be waived for
personnel participating in actual combat operations.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial. DPSIDR states there is no
documentation in the applicants military personnel record (MPR),
or submission that verifies the applicants service in the area
of eligibility. The applicants records confirm service at Clark
Air Base, Philippines from 7 Nov 61 to 1 Mar 62.
The complete DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit B.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
DPSIDR recommended denial of his request because they were unable
to verify that he was in Vietnam. He provides a letter from his
detachment commander that certifies he was in South Vietnam
during the period of eligibility for the VSM. The applicant
states since it was a secret mission initially, and was later
declassified, their presence in Vietnam was not to be
acknowledged initially. He also provided a newspaper article
from The Pensacola News-Journal, dated 11 Nov 62, announcing
the first anniversary of his 4400th Combat Crew Training Squadron
being deployed to Bein Hoa, South Vietnam.
The applicants complete response, with attachments, is at
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. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to
demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. The applicant
is requesting that he be awarded the VSM for service in Vietnam
from Nov 61 through Feb 62. We note the applicant did not serve
in Vietnam during the time-frame for award of the VSM (4 Jul 65
and 28 Mar 73); however, it does appear he served in Vietnam in
Nov 61, for a period of 120 days, as affirmed by his former
detachment commander. According to AFM 900-3, Decorations,
Service Awards, Unit Awards, Special Badges, Favorable
Communications, Certificates, and Special Devices, prior to the
issuance of the VSM on 8 Jul 65, the Armed Forces Expeditionary
Medal (AFEM) was awarded for service in Vietnam between Jul 58
and Jul 65, and could, upon request, be exchanged for the VSM.
However, no member was to be issued both the AFEM and the VSM for
service in Vietnam. In view of the above, we believe he is
entitled to the VSM as a replacement to the AFEM. Therefore, we
recommend his records be corrected to the extent indicated below.
_________________________________________________________________
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:
The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that his DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or
Discharge, be, and hereby is, amended in Block 26, Decorations,
Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons
Awarded or Authorized, to reflect award of the Vietnam Service
Medal.
_________________________________________________________________
The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket
Number BC-2011-00256 in Executive Session on 9 Jun 11, under the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:
, Panel Chair
, Member
, Member
All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The
following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 6 Jan 11, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 10 Feb 11.
Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 Feb 11.
Exhibit D. Letter, Applicant, dated 21 Mar 11, w/atchs.
Panel Chair
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