RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-00709 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His records be corrected to reflect service in Vietnam. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

The time he spent in Vietnam is not recorded accurately. His 
records reflect 115 days temporary duty (TDY), but the date is 
incorrect and should be 1964. The timeframe for his TDY to 
Vietnam should be September 1964 to December 1964. 

 

He had Special Orders at one time, but over the years they were 
destroyed. He has two illnesses listed on the Agent Orange 
Register, prostate cancer and multiple myeloma, which he 
believes are from time spent in Vietnam and he should be 
compensated. 

 

His tour of duty in the Philippines was adjusted from 24 months 
to 18 months because of his time in Vietnam. 

 

He needs his records corrected in order to receive disability 
compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides an extract 
from his military personnel records and personal statements. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

On 1 Jan 74, the applicant was retired in the grade of technical 
sergeant. He is credited with 20 years and 13 days of active 
service. 

 

Records reveal the applicant served in the Republic of Korea 
from 3 Nov 54 to 29 Oct 55; Japan from 12 Jan 59 to 11 Jan 62; 
Philippines from 16 Feb 64 to 2 Aug 65; Thailand from 21 Dec 
66 to 1 Aug 67, and Turkey from 27 Jun 69 to 16 Dec 70. 

 


The Vietnam Service Medal 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: Vietnam and the 
contiguous waters and airspace, Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or 
the airspace there-over and in direct support of operations in 
Vietnam. A service member must have served on temporary duty 
for over 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days to be 
eligible for award of the VSM. 

 

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVNCM) is awarded to 
members who: (1) served for six months in South Vietnam during 
the period 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73; (2) served outside the 
geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct 
combat support to the RVN Armed Forces for an aggregate of six 
months--only members who meet the criteria established for the 
AFEM (Vietnam) or the VSM during the period required are 
considered to have contributed direct combat support to the RVN 
Armed Forces; (3) did not complete the six-month length of 
service required in (1) and (2) but who, during wartime, were 
(a) wounded by the enemy (in a military action), (b) captured by 
the enemy during action or in the line of duty but later were 
rescued or released, killed in action or in the line of duty; 
(4) were assigned in Vietnam on 28 Jan 73, and who served a 
minimum of 60 calendar days in Vietnam during the period 29 Jan 
73 to 28 Mar 73. 

 

The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P) is 
awarded by the Republic of Vietnam to certain units of the U.S. 
Armed Forces for valorous combat achievement during the Vietnam 
War for the 1 Mar 61 to 28 Mar 73. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

HQ AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial. DPAPP states a review of the 
applicant’s master personnel records and the documentation 
submitted failed to substantiate Foreign Service time in 
Vietnam. 

 

Further, although his DD Form 214 indicates 115 days temporary 
duty to Southeast Asia, the exact location is not listed. DPAPP 
states they were unable to determine whether this duty was 
performed in the Republic of Vietnam or some other Southeast 
Asia country. 

 

The complete DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the 
applicant on 13 May 11 for review and comment within 30 days 


(Exhibit D). As of this date, this office has not received a 
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. After a 
thorough review of the available evidence and the applicant’s 
complete submission, we find no evidence which would persuade us 
that his records should be corrected to show Foreign Service in 
Vietnam. We acknowledge the applicant spent 115 days TDY in 
Southeast Asia; however, the exact location is not listed. 
Therefore, we cannot determine whether this duty was performed 
in the Republic of Vietnam or some other Southeast Asia country. 
As such, 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 failed to 
sustain his burden of showing he suffered either an error or an 
injustice. Should the applicant provide sufficient evidence in 
the form of travel vouchers, evaluation reports, letters of 
evaluations, decorations or other military documentation to 
substantiate his service in Vietnam, we would be willing to 
reconsider his request. 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-2011-00709 in Executive Session on 21 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 February 2011, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. AFPC/DPAPP, Letter, dated 19 April 2011. 

 Exhibit D. SAF/MRBR, Letter, dated 13 May 2011, w/atch. 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair