RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-02704 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States – Report of 
Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to show entitlement to the 
Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) and any other awards or decorations 
he may be entitled. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

His temporary duty (TDY) missions were classified so they were 
not discussed openly. His eligibility may have also been 
overlooked by administrative personnel during out processing. 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his 
DD Form 214, TDY orders, performance reports, and various other 
documents in support of his appeal. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant served on active duty in the Regular Air Force from 
12 Jul 66 to 10 Jul 70. 

 

In accordance with Department of Defense Manual (DoDM) 1348.33, 
the VSM is awarded to all members of the United States Armed 
Forces serving at anytime between 4 Jul 65 and 28 Mar 73, in the 
area of eligibility (AOE). The AOE is defined as: Vietnam, it’s 
contiguous waters or the airspaces there-over; in Thailand, Laos, 
or Cambodia, their contiguous waters, or the airspaces there-
over, and in direct support of military operations in Vietnam. A 
service member must have served on temporary duty for 
30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days to be eligible for award 
of the VSM. These time limitations may be waived for personnel 
participating in actual combat operations. A bronze star denotes 
campaign participation and is awarded for at least 1 day in each 
campaign phase. 

 

The applicant’s performance reports covering 12 Jul 67 to 13 May 
68, and 14 May 68 to 25 Jan 69, states that he participated in 


the Joint Chiefs of Staff project “College Eye” as well as 
participated in 36 combat missions in Southeast Asia which were 
of a classified nature; therefore, an exact location was not 
provided. 

 

DPSID verified the applicant’s entitlement to the Air Force 
Longevity Service Award, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, and the 
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVGP w/P), and his DD Form 
214 will be corrected to reflect these medals. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

DPSID recommends denial. DPSID states that there is insufficient 
evidence in the applicant’s official military personnel record to 
support he served in the AOE for award of the VSM. 

 

According to DPSID, the applicant served with the 964th Airborne 
Early Warning and Control Squadron (AEWCS) and therefore is 
qualified for award of the RVGC w/P for the period of 1 Apr 66 to 
28 Jan 73. This implies the applicant’s unit provided combat 
support to military operations in the AOE for award of the VSM. 
However, no documentation could be found to show that he served 
in the AOE or met the time requirements for award of the VSM. 

 

DPSID further states that the applicant’s DD Form 214 reflects 
award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM); however, 
without the locations of the TDYs performed, they are unable to 
determine why the applicant was awarded the AFEM. 

 

The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The applicant states the VSM is awarded to all members of the 
United States Armed Forces serving at any time between 4 Jul 
65 and 28 Mar 73, in the AOE. The TDY orders dated 13 Nov 67 and 
23 Oct 68 establish his participation with the 964th AEWCS, 
Project College Eye, during the dates of eligibility. 

 

Also, to be eligible for the VSM, a service member must have 
served on TDY for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days. 
These time limitations may be waived for personnel who 
participated in actual combat operations. His performance 
reports and Special Orders awarding the Air Medals, clearly 
establishes that he participated in “actual combat operations.” 

 

It has been established that he flew numerous combat missions in 
the AOE, and the nature of the missions at the time was 
classified TOP SECRET, the exact location of these missions is 
not delineated. He provided a copy of the declassified COLLEGE 


EYE EXTRACT from the CHECO REPORT; compiled by Headquarters 
Pacific Command, dated 1 Nov 68, that details the areas of 
operations. The dates of these operations coincide with the 
dates of his TDY orders, APRs, and the Air Medals. 

 

His APR dated 12 Jul 67 thru 13 May 68 clearly states that he 
“participated in all crew activities and materially contributed 
to the effectiveness of an outstanding crew; both in mission and 
morale.” This same report also indicates the participation in 
36 combat missions during this time period. As a member of the 
964th Squadron during this time period of eligibility, and the 
award of the RVGC w/P, it is clearly established that as a crew 
member he participated in “providing combat support to military 
operations in the AOE.” 

 

Although the locations for TDYs performed are not provided due to 
the classified nature of the task forces’ mission, the TDY orders 
stating “Southeast Asia” and their corresponding dates clearly 
indicate the AOE and the award of the AFEM. 

 

His APR dated 5 Feb 69, states that he was observed on a day to 
day basis flying combat missions under the threat of possible 
hostile ground fire. He respectfully submits that his 
contribution to the war effort deserves to be acknowledged, and 
he has a right to be awarded the VSM, for his honorable service 
during the Vietnam War. 

 

The applicant's complete response is at Exhibit D. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

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. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice warranting 
relief. We note the office of primary responsibility (OPR) 
recommends denial, and states, although the applicant’s official 
military record contains evidence that he performed temporary 
duties (TDYs) to Southeast Asia, they were unable to locate any 
official documentation verifying the specific locations. Based 
on the classified nature of his TDYs, the fact they were to 
Southeast Asia, and that the corresponding dates on his Airman 
Performance Reports (APRs) and Air Medals appear to corroborate 
his claim, we find the evidence sufficient to recommend award of 
the VSM. In the interest of justice, we recommend his records be 
corrected as indicated below. 

 


_________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: 

 

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force 
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that the DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or 
Discharge, issued in conjunction with his 10 July 1970 discharge, 
be amended in Block 24, Decorations, Medals, Badges, 
Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or 
Authorized, to reflect the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2012-02704 in Executive Session on 26 Feb 13, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

, Panel Chair 

, Member 

, Member 

 

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The 
following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 11 Jun 12, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 24 Aug 12, w/atch. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 30 Aug 12. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, Applicant, dated 7 Sep 12, w/atchs. 

 

 

 

 

 Acting Panel Chair