RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-04235 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His official records be corrected to reflect he was awarded the 
following decorations: 

 

1. Meritorious Service Medal (MSM). (Administratively 
corrected) 

 

2. Bronze Star Medal (BSM). 

 

3. Joint Service Commendation Medal (JSCM). 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

Bronze Star Medal. On 13 Apr 66, while on Temporary Duty (TDY) 
to Tan Son Nhut Air Field, Saigon, South Vietnam, he was wounded 
during a mortar attack and received the Purple Heart (PH) Medal 
and Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM), First Oak Leaf Cluster 
(1OLC). He was aware that he was recommended for the BSM, 
rather than an AFCM. The commander later apologized to him for 
the award being downgraded due to a policy that did not allow 
award of the BSM to transients who were not stationed “in 
country.” Months later, he participated in Operation JUNCTION 
CITY, the largest combat multi-divisional deployment in the 
Vietnam War. However, the colonel he worked for tore up his BSM 
recommendation when he discovered the applicant was leaving 
Vietnam on emergency leave and would not return. He does not 
know if it would have been approved, but the colonel felt the 
award recommendation was worth writing. 

 

Joint Service Commendation Medal. On 24 Apr 66, while serving 
as the C-130 Mission Commander at Tay Ninh III for Operation 
BIRMINGHAM, the largest combat airlift operation of the Vietnam 
War, he was told he was being recommended for the JSCM; however, 
he never received the award. In truth, he does not know if 
anything was ever done about the JSCM, but he has frequently 
wondered what happened. 

In support of his request, the applicant provides an expanded 
statement, copies of his DD Form 214, Citation for the AFCM 
(1OLC), two Officer Performance Reports, and extracts of two 
blogs he has written about his experiences in Vietnam. 


 

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

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

According to the applicant’s military personnel records, he 
entered active duty on 14 Mar 55 and served on active duty until 
he was retired for length of service on 30 Apr 75. He was 
credited with 20 years, 1 month, and 17 days of total active 
service; of which, 2 years, 8 months, and 24 days was foreign 
service. 

 

On 15 Dec 11, AFPC/DPSIDR notified the applicant of the 
applicant of their determination of his entitlement to the MSM 
and corrected his records administratively. 

 

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
described in the letter prepared by the Air Force office of 
primary responsibility which is included at Exhibit C. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

HQ AFPC/DPSIDRA recommends denial, indicating there is no 
evidence of an error or injustice. The applicant has not 
provided any documentation to support his claim. Under Fiscal 
Year 1996 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the 
original or reconstructed written award recommendation is 
required for the recommended individual. The recommendation 
must be made by someone, other than the member himself, 
preferably the commander or supervisor at the time of the act of 
achievement, with firsthand knowledge of the member’s 
accomplishments. According to the applicant he was told he was 
being recommended for the BSM but that it was downgraded to the 
AFCM (1OLC). No official documentation has been located or 
provided which verifies the applicant was initially submitted 
for the BSM for his actions on 13 Apr 66 and that it was 
downgraded to the AFCM. Similarly, no official documentation 
verifying the applicant was recommended for or awarded the JSCM 
for his actions in Vietnam during Operation BIRMINGHAM. 
Therefore, the applicant is ineligible for entitlement to the 
BSM and JSCM. 

 

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSIDRA 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 22 Dec 11 for review and comment within 30 days. 


As of this date, no response has been received by this office 
(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. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. We took 
notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the 
merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinion and 
recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility 
(OPR) and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion 
the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. 
We note the Air Force OPR has determined the applicant’s 
entitlement to the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) and corrected 
his records administratively. Therefore, in the absence of 
evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting 
any relief beyond that rendered administratively. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 

 

The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not 
demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the 
application was denied without a personal appearance; and 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-2011-04235 in Executive Session on 3 May 12, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 


 

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2011-04235 was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 26 Oct 11, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSIDRA, dated 15 Dec 11. 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair