RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-04413 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

He be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

According to a letter he received from a fellow crew member, 
their squadron, the 773rd Troop Carrier Sq, failed to put him in 
for the end of tour DFC for their Khe Sanh drops. 

 

The omission was caused by his sudden medical retirement. 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his 
AFPMC Form 134, Retirement Order, DD Form 214, Armed Forces of 
the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, AF Form 618, Medical Board Report, with attachments, and his individual flight 
records. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant is a former Regular Air Force Major who served on 
active duty during the period of 13 June 1956 to 4 November 1968 
as a Navigator/Pilot. Upon his retirement, for reason of 
physical disability, he was credited with serving 12 years, 4 
months and 22 days of active duty service of which, 1 year, 11 
months and 6 days were credited as Foreign and or Sea Service. 

 

Officials at the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) were able to 
determine the applicant had been awarded the Air Medal (AM). The 
applicant’s records will be updated, to reflect this award. 

 

The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not reflect award of the DFC. 

The “Comments” section of the applicant’s AF Form 707 Field Grade 
Officer Effectiveness Report dated 5 September 1967 through 
21 May 1968 states, as an example of Facts and Specific 
Achievements, “The applicant has performed his duties as a C-130 


navigator in a superior manner while operating primarily in the 
combat environment of Vietnam and throughout Southeast Asia. In 
the short time he has been assigned to this organization he has 
compiled an admirable combat record, having flown 248 combat 
sorties involving 218 combat flying hours. On a recent tour of 
temporary duty, he demonstrated a high degree of professionalism 
when his crew was selected to make emergency resupply airdrops to 
the beleaguered Khe Sanh combat base. Despite poor weather, 
limited visibility, and hostile ground fire in the target area, 
the applicant directed six highly successful airdrops during a 
three-day period.” The remaining comments expound on the 
applicant’s exceptional skills as a navigator and his ability to 
complete his missions in very adverse conditions. 

 

The DFC is awarded to any officer or enlisted person of the Armed 
Forces of the United States who shall have distinguished 
her/himself in actual combat in support of operations by heroism 
or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial 
flight, subsequent to 11 November 1918. 

 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

HQ AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial. DPSIDR states, after a 
thorough review of the applicant’s military personnel records, 
they were unable to locate special orders awarding the DFC or any 
documentation recommending the applicant for the DFC. 

 

All decorations, to include the DFC, require a signed written 
recommendation, submitted into official channels and processed 
through the approval authority. The recommendation must be 
submitted within two years and the decoration presented within 
three years of the act, accomplishment or service performed. 
However, under the 1996 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 
(Section 526), which was enacted into law on 10 February 1996, 
this timeline has been waived. Before they consider any request 
for consideration of an award, certain processing procedures must 
be followed. 

 

Under this Act, the original or reconstructed written award 
recommendation is required for the recommended individual. The 
recommendation must be made by someone, other than the applicant 
himself, preferably the commander or supervisor at the time of 
the act or achievement, with firsthand knowledge of applicant’s 
accomplishments. If someone has firsthand knowledge of the 
applicant’s accomplishments and achievements, he may act as the 
recommending official. The recommendation must include the name 
of the decoration (i.e. DFC), reason for the recognition 
(heroism, or extraordinary achievement), inclusive dates of the 
act, and a narrative description of the act. The recommending 
official must sign the recommendation. Also, a proposed citation 
is required and chain of command endorsements are encouraged. 


Statements from fellow comrades, eyewitness statements attesting 
to the act, sworn affidavits, and other documentation 
substantiating the recommendation should be included with the 
package. 

 

They realize with the number of years that have passed, the 
applicant may not have the required documentation immediately 
available. However, locating former commanders, supervisors, and 
supportive documentation to support entitlement to any award is 
the responsibility of the requesting individual. The agencies 
listed in the attachment, Potential Sources of Information for 
Veterans, may be of assistance. 

 

The complete DPSIDR evaluation, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

On 29 December 2011, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was 
forwarded to the applicant for review and comment within 30 days 
(Exhibit D). To date, a response has not been received. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

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 to warrant 
awarding the applicant a DFC. 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 and adopt its rationale as the basis for 
our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an 
error or injustice. The personal sacrifice the applicant endured 
for our country is noted; however, insufficient evidence has been 
presented to warrant award of the DFC. Therefore, 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 Docket Number BC-
2011-04413 in Executive Session on 7 June 2012, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

, Member 

 , Member 

 

The following documentary evidence pertaining to Docket Number 
BC-2011-04413 was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 28 October 2011, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 21 December 2011. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 29 December 2011. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair