AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-01500
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
IN THE MATTER OF:
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His DD Form 214 be amended to reflect the Vietnam Service Medal
(VSM).
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
On 2 April 2008, it was confirmed that he had boots-on-the-ground
in the Republic of Vietnam and was issued a corrected copy of his
DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active
Duty.
In support of the applicant’s appeal, he provides documents
extracted from his military personnel records.
The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at
Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 1 December
1960.
On 31 March 1981, the applicant retired in the grade of master
sergeant under the provisions of AFR 35-7, Voluntary – Retirement
for Years of Service Established By Law. He served 20 years and
4 months on active duty.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPSIDRA recommends denial. DPSIDRA states there is no
documentation to determine if the applicant served in Vietnam for
at least 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days.
The Air Force Personnel Center, Directorate of Assignments,
confirmed boots-on-the-ground in Vietnam based on an eyewitness
who recounted a brief encounter with the applicant on one
occasion at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam, sometime between
August 1970 and August 1971. The applicant’s evaluation report
closing 13 May 1971 reflects that he was serving on temporary
duty (TDY) as a Sky Marshall during Operation GRIDSQUARE during
this period.
Although the applicant may have flown in and out of the area of
Vietnam while serving as a Sky Marshall, he was not serving in
Vietnam, directly supporting the mission in Vietnam. Operation
GRIDSQUARE was a program conducted by the Department of Defense
to assist the Department of Transportation in screening,
training, deploying, and supervising military personnel from all
services (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps), who
voluntarily participated as Federal Air Security Specialists (Sky
Marshalls) to combat air piracy in response to a rash of
political hijackings of U.S. commercial aircraft.
The applicant provided an eyewitness statement confirming a brief
encounter which took place in Vietnam. This statement was used
by the Directorate of Assignments to confirm the applicant had
boots on ground in Vietnam; however, it does not indicate the
length of time served or to whom he was assigned.
The DPSIDRA complete evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit
C.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
The applicant states that he served as an Air Marshall during the
contested time frame. The FAA made it clear to all Air Marshalls
that in order to maintain the integrity of a mission; Air
Marshalls would travel throughout the globe without the benefit
of written orders. He flew to Vietnam while on a mission and
while there he visited with a friend, who has provided a
statement in support of his appeal in 2008. The criteria for the
VSM states that it may be awarded to all members of the U.S.
Armed Forces….Serving at any time between 4 July 1965 and
28 March 1973, in Vietnam, its contiguous waters, or airspace
there-over. He believes very strongly that he was indeed a bona
fide member of the Armed Forces, proudly serving his country,
like the many men and women serving their country in support of
combat operations in Vietnam. In addition, although there may
not have been an actual engagement with an enemy, the mere
presence of U.S. Sky Marshalls aboard a U.S. Commercial aircraft,
might have had a significant deterrent affect discouraging the
enemy from carrying out a catastrophic act against resources of
the United States of America, as was evident on September 11,
2001.
The applicant’s complete response is at Exhibit E.
_________________________________________________________________
2
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. The
applicant’s contentions are duly noted; 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 took note that a correction was made to the
applicant’s DD Form 214 to reflect boots-on–the-ground in
Vietnam; however, the amount of foreign service performed in
Vietnam could not be verified. Therefore, in the absence of
documentation to determine if the applicant served in Vietnam for
at least 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days, we find no
basis to recommend granting the relief sought.
_________________________________________________________________
The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket
Number BC-2012-01500 in Executive Session on 16 October 2012,
under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket
Number BC-2012-01500 was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 26 March 2012, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDRA, dated 14 May 2012.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBC, dated 24 May 2012.
Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 11 June 2012.
AF | BCMR | CY2011 | BC-2011-01922
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-01922 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: YES _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His records be corrected to reflect award of the Air Medal (AM), Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM). Neither the applicants submission or his military personnel records contain enough official documentation...
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-02514
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-02514 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO IN THE MATTER OF: _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: Award of the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) be added to his records and he be issued a DD Form 215, Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, and any other awards related to service in Vietnam. Based on the...
AF | BCMR | CY2011 | BC-2011-02637
The CRM is awarded to U.S. Air Force, U.S. Air Force Reserve Service members, and Service members of other Services after 1 Aug 1960, for sustained individual combat or mission readiness or preparedness for direct weapon-system employment. According to the applicant's official military record, he was awarded the VSM with two Bronze Service Stars (w/2 BSS) for his service in Vietnam from 26 Feb 1972 to 21 Apr 1972. The complete DPSIDRA evaluation is at Exhibit...
AF | BCMR | CY2013 | BC 2013 04259
DPSID is unable to determine the dates and locations for the applicant's TDY to Vietnam; therefore, the applicant is ineligible for award of the AFEM, VSM, or the VCM during the award inclusive periods. THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that he was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal. The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR BC-2013- 04259 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form...
AF | BCMR | CY2011 | BC-2011-04630
He be awarded the Purple Heart (PH) for a head injury received during a rocket attack while on temporary duty (TDY) to Da Nang Air Base (AB) Republic of Vietnam. The complete AFPC/DPSIDRA evaluation is at exhibit D. ______________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: Copies of the Air Force Evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 24 February 2012 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit E). We took notice of the...
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-01746
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-01746 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO IN THE MATTER OF: _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge be corrected to reflect entitlement to the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). The applicant served in units during their award periods for the RVNGC w/P, which would imply...
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-00589
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-00589 COUNSEL: HEARING DESIRED: NO IN THE MATTER OF: _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 1. f. Any unit awards for time served in Vietnam. The applicant’s contentions are duly noted; however, after reviewing the evidence of record, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt...
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2011-05048
DPSIDRA states the applicant’s dates of assignment in Thailand were well after the ending date of 28 March 1973 for award of either the VSM or the RVCM; therefore, the applicant is ineligible for award of the VSM or the RVCM based on the inclusive period of the award. The VSM is awarded to all service members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving at any time between 4 July 1965 and 28 March 1973, in Vietnam, its contiguous waters or airspace there-over and to all members of the U.S. Armed Forces...
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-00178
In support of his request, the applicant provides a personal statement, a copy of a document extracted from his military personnel records and a notarized letter from a former coworker attesting to his service in the Republic of Vietnam. No documentation was provided to verify the applicant served in Vietnam, or any area for which the VSM is authorized for the specified period of time. We believe a reasonable basis exists to conclude the applicant served in Vietnam based on the applicant’s...
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-01274
The complete AFPC/DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSIDR states based on the applicant’s duties and responsibilities as an aircraft mechanic, his duty location (Okinawa, Japan), and the fact his DD Form 214 reflects he was awarded the VSM and RVCM, the likelihood of his having served in direct support of military operations supporting Vietnam is highly likely. This document is not inherently part of Air Force members’ personnel records; therefore, this documentation is not always...