RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-04386
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His official records be corrected to show his service in
Vietnam.
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
He overflew Vietnam during the period 29 Mar 75 through 4 Apr 75
while shuttling from Clark Air Force Base (AFB), Philippines to
Thailand. Then, on 3 and 4 April 75 he was in Vietnam in
support of Operation BABYLIFT.
The applicants complete submission, with attachments, is at
Exhibit A.
_________________ ______________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant initially entered the Air Force Reserve on
11 Dec 73.
On 20 Mar 80, the applicant separated, and was credited with six
years, three months, and nine days of active service, including
one year and three days of foreign service.
The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are
described in the letters prepared by the Air Force offices of
primary responsibility, which are attached at Exhibits C and D.
________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of
an error or an injustice. A review of the applicants Master
Personnel Records and the documentation submitted failed to
substantiate any service time in Vietnam.
A complete copy of the AFPC/DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C.
AFPC/DPSID recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of
an error or an injustice. The applicant contends he should have
been awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) for his flights
over Vietnam in 1975 and for his participation in Operation
BABYLIFT. The VSM is awarded to all members of the Armed
Services who between 4 Jul 65 and 28 Mar 73, served in the
following areas of Southeast Asia: Vietnam and its contiguous
waters and airspace; in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the
airspace thereof and in the direct support of military
operations in Vietnam as a crew member in one or more aerial
flights directly supporting military operations, or, for
30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days. Those time
limitations may be waived for personnel participating in actual
combat operations. The applicant provided a copy of his
Individual Flight Record with entries from 10 Feb 75 to
9 Apr 75. The entries do not indicate destinations or flight
plans. The Air Force Personnel Center Directorate of
Assignments has determined the applicants records do not
reflect foreign service in Vietnam. After a thorough review of
the applicants military personnel record, and documentation
provided, we were unable to locate official documentation
verifying the applicants service in Vietnam. In addition, the
last day of eligibility for award of the VSM was 28 Mar 73. The
applicant did not enter onto active duty until 11 Dec 73.
A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit D.
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
His request was that his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or
Discharge from Active Duty, be updated to reflect Vietnam
Service. He is not asking for any decorations, just to have his
record corrected. He was in Vietnam. On 4 Apr 75, his aircraft
extracted the survivors of a C-5 crash that crashed short of the
runway in Saigon. His flight records have a V indicator on
his flights on 3 and 4 April, indicating his aircraft entered
Vietnam airspace on both occasions. He submitted a picture of
himself on a C-141 holding a baby. His pay should reflect the
tax deductions for a two month period in the combat zone
(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. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to
demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. The
applicant contends he served in Vietnam while participating in
Operation BABYLIFT. Operation BABYLIFT missions were flown into
Saigon, Vietnam beginning 3 April 1975. After a thorough review
of the evidence of record and the applicants complete
submission, to include a picture of the applicant on board an
Air Force aircraft holding a baby, a nomination for an award for
his participation in Operation BABYLIFT, and the applicants
flight records for 3 and 4 April 1975 with a V assigned to the
mission type, we believe a preponderance of the evidence
indicates the applicant was in Vietnam while participating in
Operation BABYLIFT. While the applicants service in Vietnam
does not meet the requirement for documentation on the
DD Form 214, the Board has found it in the interest of justice
to provide similarly situated applicants a boots-on-the-ground
letter, and therefore recommends the record be corrected as
indicated below.
________________________________________________________________
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:
The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air
Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that he had
boots-on-the-ground in the Republic of Vietnam from 3 through
4 April 1975.
________________________________________________________________
The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket
Number BC-2012-04386 in Executive Session on 4 Jun 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, 19 Sep 12, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records
Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 20 Nov 12.
Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 25 Jan 13.
Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 Feb 13.
Exhibit F. Letter, Applicant, dated 25 Feb 13.
Panel Chair
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