RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03128 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active 
Duty, be updated to reflect the following awards: 

 

 1. The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). 

 

 2. The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM). 

 

 3. The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVGC 
w/P). 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He served in Vietnam from Dec 71 thru May 72. He submits orders 
that assigned him to the 35 Combat Support Group, 35 Security 
Police Squadron, Phan Rang Air Base (AB), Republic of Vietnam. 
The RVGC w/P was awarded to his unit by the South Vietnam 
government. 

 

His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant retired from the Regular Air Force on 31 Jan 86. 

 

On 6 Sep 12, AFPC/DPSIDR administratively corrected the 
applicant’s records to reflect award of the Philippine Republic 
Presidential Unit Citation (PRPUC). 

 

The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), created on 8 Jul 65, is awarded to 
all service members of the Armed Forces who, between 4 Jul 65 and 
28 Mar 73, served in the following areas of Southeast Asia: in 
Vietnam and the contiguous waters and airspace; in Thailand, Laos 
or Cambodia or the airspace thereover and in the direct support of 
military operations in Vietnam. The specific eligibility criteria 
requires a member to be attached to or directly serving for one or 
more days with an organization, or aboard a naval vessel, directly 
supporting military operations; actually participate as a crew 


member on one or more aerial flights directly supporting military 
operations; or serve on temporary duty (TDY) for 30 consecutive or 
60 nonconsecutive days, although these time limitations may be 
waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations. 
However, no member may be issued both the AFEM and the VSM for 
service in Vietnam. 

 

The Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM) is the Republic of Vietnam’s own 
version of the VSM and is a separate foreign award that was 
authorized by the Department of Defense for acceptance and wear 
by Service members. There is no prohibition from Service members 
being awarded both the VSM and VCM. The VCM 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 Mar 61 to 
28 Mar 73; 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 VSM 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 28 Jan73, and who served a minimum of 60 
calendar days in Vietnam during the period 29 Jan to 28 Mar 73. 

 

The RVNGC w/P is awarded by the Republic of Vietnam to units for 

valorous combat achievements. 

 

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the 
Air Force, which are at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial and states that there is no evidence 
that supports the applicant’s contention that he served in 
Vietnam during the inclusive dates for these awards. Further, to 
grant these awards would be an injustice to all airmen who met 
the eligibility criteria and may lead to additional requests from 
other veterans who do not meet the established criteria. 

 

The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

 

 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 


 

He was assigned to the 405th Security Police Squadron, Clark Air 
Base, Philippine Republic. After he arrived at the base, he was 
sent TDY to Korat AB, Thailand for 60 days and then returned to 
Clark AB. He does not have a performance report for this time 
because he was at these different bases and was only rendered a 
report annually. 

 

In further support of his request, the applicant submitted 
several photographs. 

 

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, 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 a 
thorough review of the evidence of record and applicant's 
submission, we are not persuaded that his uncorroborated 
assertions, in and by themselves, sufficiently persuasive to 
override the rationale provided by the Air Force. Therefore, we 
agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office 
of primary responsibility and adopt the rationale expressed as 
the basis for our decision that the applicant has not suffered 
either an error or injustice. We took note of the photographs 
the applicant submitted in support of his request; however, we do 
not find this information sufficient to substantiate his claim 
that he meets the criteria for the VSM, RVNCM and the RVGC w/P. 
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-2012-03128 in Executive Session on 12 Feb 13, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

, Panel Chair 

, Member 

, Member 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 16 Jul 12, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 6 Sep 12. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 Sep 12. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 8 Oct 12, w/atchs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair