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AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-03847
Original file (BC-2012-03847.txt) Auto-classification: Denied
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03847 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty, be 
corrected to reflect award of the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) and 
the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM). 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He served at Ubon Airfield, Thailand during the Vietnam Conflict 
from May 1973 to May 1974. He flew combat missions over Cambodia. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant’s records reflect he commenced his active duty 
service on 20 Jan 71. 

 

The applicant's performance reports reflect he was stationed at 
Ubon Airfield, Thailand from 14 Apr 73 through 28 Apr 74. 

 

On 30 Apr 76, the applicant was released from active duty and 
credited with 5 years, 3 months, and 11 days of total active 
service, which included 1 year of foreign service. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence of 
an error or injustice. After reviewing the applicant’s official 
military personnel record, DPSID was unable to verify his 
entitlement to the VSM or the RVCM. There was no evidence to 
verify the applicant served in the area of responsibility (AOR) 
during the inclusive period for either award. However, DPSID 
was able to verify the applicant was entitled to Air Force Good 
Conduct Medal (AFGCM). DPSOY will administratively correct his 
records to reflect the AFGCM. 


The VSM is awarded to all members of the U. S. Armed Forces 
serving at any time between 4 Jul 65 and 28 Mar 73 in the area of 
eligibility (AOE). The AOE is defined as: Vietnam, its 
contiguous waters, or airspace there-over; in Thailand, Laos, or 
Cambodia, their contiguous waters, or the airspaces there-over, 
and in direct support of operations in Vietnam. To be eligible, 
a service member must have served on TDY for 30 consecutive or 60 
non-consecutive days. These time limitations may be waived for 
personnel who participated in actual combat operations. A bronze 
service star denotes campaign participation and is awarded for at 
least 1 day served in each campaign phase. 

 

The RVCM is awarded to members of the US armed forces who, during 
the period 1 Mar 61 through 28 Mar 73, served for six months in 
South Vietnam, 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 
those who meet the criteria established for the Armed Forces 
Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) (Vietnam) or the VSM during the period 
of service are considered to have contributed direct combat 
support the RVN Armed Forces. 

 

The complete AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

A copy of the Air Force evaluations was forwarded to the 
applicant on 10 Dec 12, for review and comment within 30 days. 
As of this date, no response has been received by this office. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

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 with respect 
to the applicant’s request for the Vietnam Service Medal and the 
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. We took notice of the 
applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the 
case; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of 
the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt its 
rationale that relief beyond that already granted 
administratively is not warranted. 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 the evidence presented did not 
demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the 
application was denied without a personal appearance; and 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-2012-03847 in Executive Session on 23 Apr 13, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Forms 149, dated 15 Aug 12, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 19 Nov 12. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 Dec 12. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair 



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