AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

 
DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2012-01960 
COUNSEL:  NONE 
HEARING DESIRED: NO 

IN THE MATTER OF: 
   
   
 
    
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 
 
1. His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of 
Transfer  or  Discharge,  be  corrected  to  reflect  the  Vietnam 
Service Medal (VSM) – administratively correct to reflect the VSM 
w/1 BSS. 
 
2.  His  DD  Form  214  be  corrected  to  reflect  the  Republic  of 
Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM). 
 
3.  Any  other  awards  and  medals  that  he  may  have  earned  while 
serving  in  Takhli,  Thailand  during  Vietnam  –  administratively 
corrected to reflect award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry 
Cross with Palm (RVGC w/P). 
. 
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 
 
He believes he should be eligible for the Vietnam Service Medal 
and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.  He is not sure of 
all the medals that he is entitled to, but would like whatever he 
is entitled to be awarded to him for his service. 
 
The applicant does not provide any supporting documentation. 
 
His complete submission is at Exhibit A.  
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
STATEMENT OF FACTS: 
 
The applicant served in the Regular Air Force and was honorably 
discharged  on  8  Jun  73  after  serving  3  years,  11  months,  and 
29 days on active duty. 
 
AFPC/DPSID will administratively correct the applicant’s records 
to reflect awards of the VSM w/1 BSS and the RVGC w/P. 
 
 
The  RVCM  Criterion:    This  medal  is  awarded  to  members  of  the 
armed forces of the United States who: 1) Served for six months 

 

 

in  South  Vietnam  during  the  period  March  1,  1961 to  March 28, 
1973; 2) Served outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam 
and contributed direct combat support to the 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 AFEM 
(Vietnam) or Vietnam Service Medal during the period of service 
required are considered to have contributed direct combat support 
to  the  RVN  armed  forces;  3)  Did  not  complete  the  length  of 
service  required  in  item  (1)  or  (2)  above,  but  who,  during 
wartime, were: a) wounded by the enemy (in a military action); b) 
captured by the enemy during action or in the line of duty, but 
later rescued or released; c) killed in action or in the line of 
duty;  4)  Were  assigned  in  Vietnam  on  Jan.  28,  1973,  and  who 
served a minimum of 60 calendar days in Vietnam during the period 
Jan. 29 to March 28, 1973. 
 
The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the 
Air Force, which is at Exhibit C. 
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 
 
AFPC/DPSID recommends denial for awarding the RVCM, stating they 
were  unable  to  verify  the  applicant’s  service  in  the  area  of 
eligibility  for  an  aggregate  of  6  months  or  that  he  served 
outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed 
in direct support of combat to the Republic of Vietnam. 
 
The complete DPSID evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit C. 
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 
 
The  applicant  responds  by  stating  he  should  have  asked  what 
medals and ribbons he may qualify for.  He is sure he qualifies 
for the overseas ribbon and maybe the marksmanship.  In addition, 
he  was  assigned  to  the  429th  Tactical  Fighter  Squadron,  Black 
Falcons.    He  submits  a  photo  that  shows  the  plaque  that  each 
person in his squadron received from the squadron commander. 
 
The  applicant’s  complete  submission,  with  attachment,  is  at 
Exhibit E. 
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
 
 
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.    After 
thoroughly  reviewing  the  evidence  of  record  and  noting  the 
applicant’s contention, we are not persuaded that he is eligible 
for the RVNCM since he did not complete a minimum of 6 months in 
a qualifying location.  In this respect, we note that in order 
for  a  member,  such  as  the  applicant,  who  served  outside  the 
geographical  limits  of  South  Vietnam,  i.e.,  Thailand,  to  be 
eligible for the RVNCM, there must be evidence the member served 
an aggregate of 6 months in direct combat support of RVN forces.  
Although it appears the applicant provided direct combat support 
to  RVN  forces,  as  evidenced  by  his  receipt  of  the  VSM,  the 
evidence of record indicates that he completed only 3 months and 
11  days  of  foreign  service  in  Thailand.    While  the  applicant 
asserts  that  he  is  entitled  to  the  Air  Force  Overseas  Service 
Ribbon  (AFOSR)  and  possibly  the  Small  Arms  Expert  Marksmanship 
Ribbon  (SMAER),  the  AFOSR  was  not  established  until  after  his 
separation and he has provided no evidence that he ever qualified 
as an expert marksman.  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  AFBCMR  Docket 
Number BC-2012-01960 in Executive Session on 14 Nov 12, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 
 
 
 
The  following  documentary  evidence  for  Docket  Number  BC-2012-
01960 was considered: 
 
    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 1 Apr 12. 
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 11 Aug 12, w/atch. 
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 28 Aug 12. 

 

 

    Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 10 Sep 12, w/atch. 
 
 
   

  Paniel Chair