RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03955 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

He be awarded and/or authorized to wear the following 
medals/decorations: 

 

 1. Cold War Medal. 

 

 2. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one Bronze Oak Leaf 
Cluster. 

 

 3. Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short and Long Tour. 

 

 4. 823 Campaign Badge of Honor. 

 

 5. Kinmen/Matsu Ribbon. 

 

 6. China Service Medal. 

 

 7. Armed Forces Service Medal. 

 

 8. Air Force Training Ribbon. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He should be awarded the contested awards and decorations for 
time served. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

On 30 September 1972, the applicant was released from active duty 
and on 1 October 1972, he retired in the grade of master sergeant 
under the provisions of AFM 35-7 (Voluntary Retirement). He 
served 20 years and 28 days of total active service with 
11 months and 22 days of foreign and/or sea service. 

 

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application, 
extracted from the applicant’s military records, are contained in 


the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force at 
Exhibit B. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSID recommends approval of the Republic of Vietnam 
Gallantry Cross with Palm and denial of the remaining request. 
DPSID states they were able to verify award of the Republic of 
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm for his service with the 1964th 
Communications Group, Vietnam. 

 

The applicant states that he taught personnel in the 1973rd 
Communications Squadron while stationed at Udorn Air Base in 
Thailand for award of the Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster to his Air 
Force Outstanding Unit Award. 

 

The applicant was awarded the 823rd Campaign Badge of Honor from 
the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office; unfortunately, this is a 
foreign award and not authorized by the Department of Defense. 
The Quemoy/Matsu refers to a United States Operation in the 
Quemoy and Matsu Islands from 23 August 1958 to 1 June 1962 and 
was one of the first operations to be eligible for award of the 
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. 

 

The China Service Medal is awarded to United States Navy and 
Marine Corps Service Members who served on shore in China or who 
were attached to any of the vessels that operated in support of 
the operations in China or who were attached to any of the 
vessels that operated in support of the operations in China 
between 7 July 1937 and 7 September 1939, then again between 
2 September 1945 and 1 April 1957. 

 

The Armed Forces Service Medal may be awarded to members of the 
Armed Forces of the United States who, after 1 June 1992, 
participate, or have participated, as members of United States 
military units, in a United States military operation that is 
deemed to be a significant activity and encounter no foreign 
armed opposition or imminent threat of hostile action. Service 
members must be members of a unit participating for one or more 
days in the operation within the designated area of eligibility, 
or be engaged in direct support for 30 consecutive days or for 
60 nonconsecutive days provided this support involves entering 
the area of eligibility. 

 

The Air Force Training Ribbon was awarded to Air Force members 
who completed initial Air Force accession training after 
14 August 1974. In December 1986, the criteria expanded and 
authorized the ribbon to anyone who was on active duty regardless 
of when they completed initial accession training. 

 


The Air Force Overseas Ribbons for short and long tours are 
awarded to Air Force members credited with completion of an 
overseas tour on or after 1 September 1980. 

 

After a thorough review of the applicant’s record they were 
unable to verify that the applicant was assigned or attached to 
the 1973rd Communications Squadron for award of the Air Force 
Outstanding Unit Award with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster. 

 

The 823 Badge of Honor is an award of a foreign government and is 
not stocked or issued by the United States Air Force. The award 
for participation in the Quemoy/Matsu Operation is the Armed 
Forces Expeditionary Medal. The applicant has been awarded the 
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. 

 

The applicant’s AF Form 7 does show assignment with the United 
States Navy Reserves from 26 October 1949 to 10 April 1951. 

 

The applicant was not active duty during the inclusive dates for 
award of the Armed Forces Service Medal which was awarded to 
members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after 
1 June 1992, participate, or have participated, as members of the 
United States military units. 

 

The applicant was not active duty during the inclusive period for 
award of the Air Force Training Ribbon awarded to service members 
who completed accession training after 14 August 1974. In 
December 1986, the criteria expanded and authorized the ribbon to 
anyone who was on active duty regardless of when they completed 
initial accession training. 

 

The applicant’s release date of 30 September 1972 is after the 
inclusive period for award of the Air Force Overseas Ribbons 
awarded to Air Force members credited with completion of an 
overseas tour on or after 1 September 1980. 

 

The DPSID complete evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

AFPC/DPSIM recommends denial of the request to wear the Cold War 
Medal, Kinmen/Matsu Republic of China Ribbon, Air Force Reserve 
Medal, Navy Reserve Medal, China Service Medal, and Air Force 
Training Ribbon on his uniform as a retiree. However, he is 
authorized to wear the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal based on 
the source document provided and the eligibility requirements for 
the medal. 

 

IAW Section 1084 of the Fiscal Year 1998 National Defense 
Authorization Act, the Secretary of Defense approved awarding 
Cold War Recognition Certificates to all members of the armed 
forces and qualified federal government civilian personnel who 
faithfully served in the United States during the Cold War era, 
from 2 September 1945 to 26 December 1991. However, the DoD will 
not be creating a Cold War Service Medal. Any commemorative 


medals made by private vendors are unauthorized on the military 
uniform. 

 

IAW DoD 1348.33-M, Manual of Military Decorations & Awards, the 
Quemoy and Matsu Islands is an approved operation for award of 
the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. 

 

The Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal is awarded for a 
period of three continuous years of service computed from the 
date of assignment to a training category A, B or D for 
individuals with a beginning date before 1 July 1972. 

 

The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is awarded pursuant to Section 
6246 of Title 10, U.S.C., to any person who, while serving in any 
capacity with the U.S. Navy or the U.S. Marine Corps, 
distinguishes himself or herself by heroism not involving actual 
conflict with the enemy. 

 

The China Service Medal is awarded to U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine 
Corps Service member who served on shore in China or who were 
attached to any of the vessels that operated in support of the 
operations in China between 7 July 1937 and 7 September 1939. 
The period of eligibility was subsequently extended on 6 March 
1947. During the second period, the medal was awarded to service 
members of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard 
during operations in China between 2 September 1945 and 1 April 
1957. 

 

Before 19 December 1986, the Air Force Training Ribbon was 
awarded to Air Force members who completed initial Air Force 
accession training after 14 August 1974. Subsequent to 
19 December 1986, all Air Force members who completed Air Force 
accession training regardless of when the training was completed 
are authorized the ribbon. Devices are now authorized to be 
placed on the ribbon. 

 

AFI 36-2903, paragraph 11.5, lists the authorized medals and/or 
ribbons that should be worn and the order of precedence. 

 

The DPSIM complete evaluation is at Exhibit D. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The applicant states regarding award of the Air Force Outstanding 
Unit Award with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster - he did serve with 
the 1973rd Communications Squadron in 1968 on TDY from the 3275th 
Technical School, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX where his team 
taught personnel from several Air Force units, the 1973rd 
Communications Squadron being one of them. Regarding the Air 
Force Training Ribbon – the ribbon was awarded after 14 August 
1974 after he retired on 1 October 1972; however the advisory 


states in December 1986 the criteria expanded and authorized the 
ribbon to anyone who was on active duty regardless of when they 
completed initial accession training. 

 

The applicant’s complete response, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit F. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

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 recommendations of the Air Force offices of 
primary responsibility and adopt their rationale as the basis for 
our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an 
error or injustice. While the applicant notes the AFTR criteria 
was expanded in December 1986 to anyone who was on active duty 
regardless of when they completed initial accession training, the 
applicant was not on active duty in December 1986 and is hence 
not eligible for the ribbon. 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 an 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-2012-03955 in Executive Session on 8 May 2013, under 
the provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2012-03955 was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 10 August 2012, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 23 November 2012. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSIM, dated 10 January 2013. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 21 January 2013. 

 Exhibit F. Letter, Applicant, dated 29 January 2013, w/atchs.