RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-04798 

COUNSEL: NO 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty, be 
corrected to reflect his award of the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) 
and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM). 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He was awarded the requested medals; however, they are not 
reflected on his DD Form 214. He needs proof of his service in 
Vietnam for a Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) claim. 

 

The applicant does not provide any evidence in support of his 
appeal. 

 

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant is a former member of the Regular Air Force who 
served on active duty from 29 September 1971 to 26 March 1976. 
He was honorably discharged in the grade of sergeant (E-4) after 
serving 4 years, 5 months, and 28 days on active duty of which 
10 months and 5 days was Foreign Service. 

 

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
contained in the letters prepared by the appropriate offices of 
the Air Force at Exhibits C and D. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial. DPAPP states that after a thorough 
review of the applicant’s records, they could verify he was 
assigned to Korat, Thailand, from 15 August 1974 to 19 June 1975 
for a total of ten months and five days. His Foreign Service 
reflected on his DD Form 214 is correct. There is no mention of 
any time served in Vietnam in his records; therefore, they cannot 
confirm “boots on the ground” in Vietnam. 


 

The complete DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial. DPSIDR states the VSM is awarded 
to all members of the United States Armed Forces who served in 
Vietnam or contiguous waters or airspace after 3 July 1965, and 
before 28 March 1973. In addition, personnel serving in 
Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia (Southeast Asia) in direct support of 
operations in Vietnam during the same time period were eligible 
for the VSM, provided they were: 1) permanently assigned, 
attached, or detailed for one or more days with an organization 
participating in or directly supporting ground (military) 
operations; 2) permanently assigned, attached, or detailed for 
one or more days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting 
military operations; 3) actually participated as a crewmember in 
one or more aerial flights directly supporting military 
operations; or, 4) served on temporary duty (TDY) for 
30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in the Republic of 
Vietnam or Southeast Asia. Time limitations may be waived for 
personnel participating in combat operations. 

 

The RVCM is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United 
States who: 1) served for six months in South Vietnam during the 
period 1 March 1961 and 28 March 1973; or, served outside the 
geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct 
combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces for an 
aggregate of six months. Only members of the Armed Forces of the 
United States who meet the criteria established for the VSM 
during the period of service required are considered to have 
contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam 
Armed Forces. 

 

DPSIDR indicates that the Directorate of Personnel Assignments 
(DPA) verified the applicant served at Korat Royal Thai Air Force 
Base (AFB), Thailand, from 15 August 1974 to 10 June 1975 for a 
total of ten months and five days. Based on the dates in which 
the applicant served in Thailand, and the inclusive dates for 
award of the VSM and RVCM, the applicant is ineligible for both 
of the requested awards. 

 

The complete DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit D. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The advisory opinions indicate that he could not be awarded the 
VSM because they indicate his records only reflect he served at 
Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from 15 August 1974 to 10 June 
1975. However, the referenced dates are the second time he 
served in Thailand. He was sent on TDY with the 474th MMS 
Tactical Fighter Wing in 1972 to Takhli Royal Thai AFB, Thailand. 
He was deployed from Nellis AFB, NV, and served just less than 
six months. While there, he served as a Weapons Maintenance 


Technician on a weapons load crew. This time period in Thailand 
entitles him to the award of the VSM. 

 

The applicant’s complete rebuttal, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit F. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

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. 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. We note the 
applicant asserts he was TDY to Takhli Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, 
in 1972; however, we find no evidence to support this contention. 
If the applicant is able to provide source documents, (i.e., 
travel vouchers, evaluation reports, letters of evaluation, 
decorations, witness statements, sworn affidavit, etc.) to verify 
his service in Vietnam, the Board would be willing to reconsider 
his request. However, in the absence of such evidence, 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-2011-04798 in Executive Session on 24 July 2012, under 
the provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 


The following documentary evidence was considered in connection 
with AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2011-04798: 

 

Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 4 Nov 11. 

Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 27 Jan 12. 

Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 25 Mar 12. 

Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 20 Mar 12. 

Exhibit F. Letter, Applicant, dated 30 Jun 12, w/atchs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair