RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-03420 

COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NOT INDICATED 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of 
Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to reflect: 

 

1. His award of the Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster (PH 
w/1OLC). (Already reflected on DD Form 214 – AFPC provided copy 
to applicant) 

 

2. His award of the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters (AM 
w/4OLC). 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He was awarded these medals as indicated in the submitted special 
orders. 

 

In support of his appeal, the applicant provides copies of 
special orders for award of two PHs and the AM w/1OLC. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant is a former member of the Regular Air Force who 
retired effective 1 November 1978 in the grade of senior master 
sergeant (E-8). He served 23 years, 2 months, and 18 days on 
active duty. 

 

The applicant’s initial request was for PH w/1OLC and the AM 
w/3OLC; however, he subsequently amended his request for the AM 
w/4OLC (See applicant’ rebuttal). 

 

The following relevant information has been extracted from the 
Air Force History Office Fact Sheet - DFC and Air Medal Criteria 
in the Vietnam War: 

 

On 18 March 1966, Pacific Air Force (PACAF) announced the 
Chief of Staff of the Air Force changed the Air Medal criteria 


for sustained operational activities in Southeast Asia (SEA). 
Specifically, requiring 10 combat operational missions be flown 
over North Vietnam or 25 combat operational missions be flown 
over South Vietnam and other SEA areas or 35 combat support 
missions. 

 

As of 1 September 1969, Seventh Air Force continued the 
practice of awarding an end-of-tour DFC but wanted such 
recommendations to include total combat sorties, missions and 
hours, the dates and places of the “one best mission,” and the 
circumstances surrounding the mission. The most important factor 
to be included was the presence of hostile fire and danger to the 
crew and airplane. 

 

The remaining relevant facts, extracted from the applicant’s 
military service records, are contained in the evaluation by the 
Air Force office of primary responsibility at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the 
AM w/3OLCs and states, in part, the applicant provided copies of 
Headquarters Seventh Air Force Special Order G-2071, dated 
31 August 1972, indicating his award of the AM w/1OLC. Although 
the applicant highlighted the “3RD OLC” above his name, the 
appropriate award is listed below his name as “1st OLC.” They 
were unable to locate official documentation in the applicant’s 
military personnel file indicating additional awards of the AM. 

 

The AM is awarded to United States military and civilian 
personnel for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievement 
while participating in aerial flight. Required achievement is 
less than that required for the Distinguished Flying Cross, but 
must be accomplished with distinction above and beyond that 
expected of professional airmen. 

 

The applicant’s DD Form 214, dated 31 August 1969, reflects his 
award of the PH w/1OLC; therefore, their office has provided him 
a copy of the appropriate DD Form 214. 

 

The complete DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

He would like to be awarded three additional AMs (AM w/4OLC) that 
he earned during his two tours in Vietnam. He served a total of 
26 months - 12 months on a C-7A aircraft at Phu Cat Air Base, 
Vietnam, and 14 months on a C-130E aircraft at Ching Chuan Kang 


Air Base, Taiwan. It took 35 missions to qualify for one AM. 
They only got credit for one mission per day, regardless of take-
offs and landings. He logged 207 missions during his two tours, 
but he only received two AMs. He has provided a copy of his 
Flight Record to support his request. 

 

The applicant’s complete rebuttal, with attachment, 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. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of error or injustice warranting the 
award of the AM second through fourth oak leaf cluster. In this 
respect, we note the applicant’s chain of command recommended him 
for award of the AM and AM w/1OLC for his meritorious 
achievements while participating in aerial flight as a Flight 
Engineer Technician in Southeast Asia. We further note the 
applicant’s assertion that he earned and is entitled to three 
additional awards of the AM for the 207 missions that he flew 
during his two tours in Vietnam. Historical documentation 
indicates that during the Vietnam War, Seventh Air Force awarded 
the AM for every 35 combat support missions. Since the applicant 
has provided copies of his flight records as evidence of the 
number of missions he flew, we have no reason to doubt his 
assertion. Therefore, the Board believes that in view of the 
evidence provided and the applicant’s accomplishments in the 
service of the Nation, and to preclude a possibility of an 
injustice, any doubt in this matter should be resolved in the 
applicant’s favor. Accordingly, we recommend that his records be 
corrected as 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 issues involved. 
Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably considered. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: 

 

The pertinent military records relating to APPLICANT, be 
corrected to reflect that his DD Form 214, Report of Separation 
from Active Duty, Section 26, Decorations, Medals Badges, 


Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or 
Authorized, issued in conjunction with his retirement with an 
effective date of 31 October 1978, be amended to reflect the Air 
Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters (AM w/4OLC). 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC-
2011-03420 in Executive Session on 5 April 2012, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The 
following documentary evidence for AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2011-
03420 was considered: 

 

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

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 21 Nov 11. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 9 Dec 11. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 22 Dec 11, w/atchs. 

 

 

 

 

Chair