RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-01922 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: YES 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His records be corrected to reflect award of the Air Medal (AM), 
Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), and Republic of Vietnam Campaign 
Medal (RVCM). 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

At the time of his discharge it was not known that he was 
entitled to these medals. He believes he earned these medals and 
his DD Form 214 should be corrected to reflect them. 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of 
documents extracted from his military personnel records, as well 
as summaries of the criteria for award of the AM and 
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant’s records reflect he served on active duty from 
8 Feb 63 to 1 May 67. 

 

According to information provided by the applicant, he was on 
temporary duty (TDY) to Vietnam on or about 24 Dec 66 and 
28 Dec 66. 

 

By letter dated 9 Feb 67 from the Chief, Flight Scheduling Branch 
reflects the applicant was a flight mechanic for a B47 aircraft, 
his theater of operation was Vietnam and he had 18 aerial 
missions. 

 

On 21 Sep 10, AFPC/DPSIDRA informed the applicant that his 
entitlement to the AM, VSM and RVCM could not be verified. He 
was further informed his completion of missions in Southeast Asia 


were verified but the exact dates and locations could not be 
verified. 

 

The Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) informed the 
applicant that the official histories of the 3rd Air Division 
reflect that the 3960th Strategic Wing operated two RB-47H 
reconnaissance aircraft from Andersen AFB, Guam and that these 
aircraft flew reconnaissance missions over Vietnam. 

 

The AM is awarded to any person who, while serving in any 
capacity with the United States Armed Forces, subsequent to 
8 Sep 39, distinguished themselves by heroic or meritorious 
achievement while participating in aerial flight. According to 
historical research information, the AM was awarded during the 
Vietnam conflict for the completion of 10 or 25 combat missions 
performed over North or South Vietnam, respectively. 

 

The VSM is awarded to service members of the Armed Forces who 
served at any time between 4 Jul 65 and 28 Mar 73, in Vietnam, 
Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia, or the airspaces thereof, and in 
direct support of operations in Vietnam and if on temporary duty 
(TDY) in the area of responsibility (AOR) for 30 consecutive or 
60 nonconsecutive days. The service member must actually 
participate as a crew member in one or more aerial flights 
directly supporting military operations, be attached to or 
regularly serving one, or more, days with an organization 
participating in or directly supporting ground (military) 
operations or be attached or regularly serving for one, or more, 
days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military 
operations. 

 

The RVCM is awarded to service members of the armed forces who, 
during the period 1 Mar 61 through 28 Mar 73, served for at least 
six months in South Vietnam; or served outside the geographical 
limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to 
the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Armed Forces for an aggregate of 
six months. Only members who meet criteria established for the 
Air Force Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) (Vietnam) or the VSM during 
the period of service are considered to have contributed direct 
combat support to the RVN Armed Forces. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

HQ AFPC/DPSIDRA recommends denial noting there was no Special 
Order or official documentation provided or located verifying the 
applicant was recommended for or awarded the AM. 

 

As for his requests related to the VSM and RVCM, although he 
provided copies of his TDY orders and follow-ups indicating he 


was TDY to Vietnam; he did not provide copies of the vouchers 
authenticating the TDY orders. Neither the applicant’s 
submission or his military personnel records contain enough 
official documentation to substantiate that he had “boots on the 
ground” in Vietnam for the required length of time in order to be 
entitled to the either the VSM or the RVCM. 

 

The complete AFPC/DPSIDRA evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EALUATION: 

 

He believes due to an error of administrative omission his 
personnel records do not reflect any information regarding his 
flight activity records, which would show his accrued combat 
hours and the number of his combat missions over Vietnam. He 
received flight and hazardous duty/imminent danger pay for his 
participation. His 0-1 missions he participated in required 
take-off from Anderson AFB, Guam and landing in Vietnam. The 
aircraft that was flown required a crew chief. He meets the 
criteria for the AM dated 18 Mar 66, which was 10 missions over 
North Vietnam and 20 missions over South Vietnam or 35 support 
missions. He also believes he meets the criteria for the VSM and 
RVCM based on his flight records. In support of his response, 
the applicant provides copies of his flight records, TDY orders, 
and other correspondence from his military personnel records. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

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 an error or injustice to warrant 
award of the AM. Although the applicant has provided 
documentation reflecting he participated in several aerial 
flights which included 18 combat missions, these records do not 
specify whether these combat missions were flown over North or 
South Vietnam and therefore preclude us from determining if the 
applicant participated in the requisite ten or twenty missions 
over North or South Vietnam, respectively, to qualify for the AM 
under the criteria in effect at the time. Additionally, neither 


the evidence of record or the applicant’s submission contains any 
documentation indicating that he was recommended for award of the 
AM. Notwithstanding the above, sufficient relevant evidence has 
been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or an 
injustice with respect to the VSM and RVCM. We note the comments 
of the Air Force office of primary responsibility indicating 
there was insufficient official documentation in the applicant’s 
submission and military personnel records to indicate he had 
served the requisite number of days “boots on the ground” for 
award of the VSM or RVCM. Nonetheless, we believe that a 
preponderance of the evidence indicates the applicant met the 
criteria for the awards based on his service as an aircrew 
member. We note the flight records provided by the applicant 
indicate that he participated in 18 qualifying combat missions 
for award of the VSM, and while said missions originated from 
outside the Republic of Vietnam, these missions were flown in 
direct support of the RVN armed forces over the course of more 
than the six months required for the applicant to qualify for the 
RVCM. Therefore, we recommend his records be corrected to the 
extent indicated below. 

 

4. 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 issue(s) 
involved. Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably 
considered. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: 

 

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force 
relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that he was 
awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) and Republic of Vietnam 
Campaign Medal for his service as a crew chief with the 3960th 
Strategic Wing. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2011-01922 in Executive Session on 2 Feb 12, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 


The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2011-01922 was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 17 May 11, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Military Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSIDRA, dated 28 Jun 11. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 22 Jul 11. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 5 Aug 11, w/atchs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair