RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 
DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-00212 
COUNSEL: NONE 
HEARING DESIRED:  YES 

IN THE MATTER OF: 
   
   
 
______________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 
 
1.  He be entitled to the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). 
 
2.  He  be  entitled  to  the  Republic  of  Vietnam  Campaign  Medal 
(RVCM). 
 
________________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 
 
He served in Vietnam from 1 Mar through 15 Sep 1968. 
 
In support of his request the applicant provides a copy of his 
DD  Form  214,  Armed  Forces  of  the  United  States  Report  of 
Transfer or Discharge. 
 
The  applicant's  complete  submission,  with  attachment,  is  at 
Exhibit A. 
 
________________________________________________________________ 
 
STATEMENT OF FACTS: 
 
The  applicant  served  on  active  duty  in  the  Regular  Air  Force 
from 23 Aug 1965 to 23 Jan 1969. 
 
The  Vietnam  Service  Medal  (VSM),  created  on  8 Jul  1965,  is 
awarded to all service members of the Armed Forces who, between 
4 Jul  1965  and  28 Mar  1973,  served  in  the  following  areas  of 
Southeast  Asia:  in  Vietnam  and  the  contiguous  waters  and 
airspace;  in  Thailand,  Laos  or  Cambodia  or  the  airspace  there 
over  in  the  direct  support  of  military  operations  in  Vietnam.  
The  specific  eligibility  criteria  requires  a  member  to  be 
either: 
 
Attached  to  or  regularly  serving  for  one,  or  more,  days 
with  an  organization  participating  in  or  directly  supporting 
ground (military) operations, 

aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations, 

 
Attached  to  or  regularly  serving  for  one,  or  more,  days 
 
Actually participate as a crew member in one or more aerial 
 

flights directly supporting military operations, or 

Serve  on  temporary  duty  for  30  consecutive  days  or 
60 nonconsecutive  days,  which  may  be  waived  for  personnel 
participating in actual combat operations. 
 
The RVCM is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United 
States  who:  served  for  six  months  in  South  Vietnam  during  the 
period  1  Mar  1961  and  28  Mar  1973;  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 of the Armed Forces of 
the  United  States  who  meet  the  criteria  established  for  the 
Armed  Forces  Expeditionary  Medal  or  VSM  during  the  period  of 
service  required  are  considered  to  have  contributed  direct 
combat support to the RVN Armed Forces. 
 
________________________________________________________________ 
 
AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 
 
HQ  AFPC/DPAPP  recommends  denial.    DPAPP  states  a  review  of  the 
applicant’s master personnel records and documentation submitted 
failed  to  provide  any  documents  that  substantiated  he  was 
assigned in Vietnam. 
 
The complete DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C. 
 
HQ  AFPC/DPSIDR  recommends  denial.    DPSIDR  states  there  is  no 
evidence  the  applicant  served  in  the  Area  of  Eligibility  for 
30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days. 
 
The complete DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit D. 
 
________________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 
 
He  cannot  be  100  percent  sure  of  the  exact  dates  he  was  in 
Vietnam because it has been 44 years since he served there.  He 
may  not  be  eligible  for  the  RVCM,  but  he  is  positive  he  is 
eligible  for  the  VSM.    The  DPSIDR  letter  incorrectly  reflects 
the year he served in Vietnam.  They would have to research the 
year “1968” to find his name. 
 
He  provides  a  list  of  personnel  who  served  with  the  355th 
Tactical  Fighter  Squadron  at  Phu  Cat,  Vietnam  in  1968.    He 
brings attention to the fact his name is on the list.  While he 
is  aware  this  list  is  incomplete  and  is  not  an  official 
document, it was compiled by someone who worked in the personnel 
office at Phu Cat, Vietnam. 
 
He  believes  the  Air  Force  should  have  copies  of  his  orders 
somewhere  in  their  database.    He  probably  had  copies  of  his 
orders but he gave them to his parents who are now deceased. 
 
He provides a copy of his AF Form 7, Airman Military Record, and 
notes there are five unaccounted months.  His best recollection 

 

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of that period is that he left Greece for Myrtle Beach.  When he 
arrived in Myrtle Beach and his unit already left for temporary 
duty (TDY) to Vietnam.  He received orders to join them and flew 
to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. 
 
They were replaced by a Air National Guard unit. It was supposed 
to  be  a  three  month  TDY.    However,  he  stayed  longer  to  train 
them. 
 
He reiterates that he cannot remember the exact dates he served 
in  Vietnam,  but  assures  the  reader  that  he  did  serve.    He  has 
some pictures and is sure others have some too.  He regrets not 
having carefully checked his DD Form 214 when he was discharged. 
 
His complete submission, 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  opinions  and 
recommendations  of  the  Air  Force  offices  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.    The  applicant’s  response  to  the  Air  Force 
evaluations  are  noted,  however,  we  do  not  find  his 
uncorroborated  assertions  sufficiently  persuasive  to  override 
the rationale provide by the OPR.   Should  the  applicant  provide 
official documentation to substantiate his eligibility for award 
of  the  VSM,  we  would  be  willing  to  reconsider  his  request.   In 
the  absence  of  evidence  to  the  contrary,  we  find  no  basis  to 
recommend granting the relief sought in this application. 
 
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 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 

 

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Panel Chair 
Member 
Member 

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  this  application 
in Executive Session on 25 Jul 2012, under the provisions of AFI 
36-2603: 
 
 
 
 
The following documentary evidence was considered in AFBCMR BC-
2012-00212: 
 
    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 19 Jan 2012. 
    Exhibit B.  Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. 
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 23 Mar 2012. 
    Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 3 Apr 2012. 
    Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 Apr 2012. 
    Exhibit F.  Letter, Applicant, dated 17 Apr 2012, w/atchs. 
 
 
 
 
                                    
                                   Panel Chair 

 

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