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AF | BCMR | CY2013 | BC 2012 05844
Original file (BC 2012 05844.txt) Auto-classification: Approved
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2012-05844

			COUNSEL:  NONE

			HEARING DESIRED:  NO

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

Block 24 of his DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States 
Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to reflect:

1.	He was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. 

2.	He was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

3.	He was awarded the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

4.	He be awarded any medal that he is entitled.

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His record does not accurately reflect his service and the 
medals he was awarded.

In support of his appeal, the applicant provides a personal 
statement and documentation from his master personnel records.

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

________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant served in the Regular Air Force from 7 April 1966 
through 21 October 1969.  He was honorably discharged and 
credited with serving 3 years, 6 months and 18 days of active 
duty service.  

Upon a review of his records his entitlement to the Air Force 
Outstanding Unit Award with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the 
Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars and the 
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm was verified.  It 
was also noted that his Air Medal should read Air Medal with 
four Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters vice Air Medal.  His records will 
be updated accordingly. 

_______________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the Armed Forces Expeditionary 
Medal, Presidential Unit Citation and the Vietnam Campaign 
Medal.  

The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to units of the United 
States Armed Forces for outstanding performance in action 
against an armed enemy occurring on, or after, 7 December 1941 
for Air Force units. 

The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is awarded to members of 
the United States Armed Forces, who, after 1 July 1958 
participated in United States military operations, United States 
operation in direct support of the United Nations, or United 
States operations of assistance for friendly foreign nations.  
Service members must have been permanently assigned, attached or 
detailed to a unit that participated in or engaged in direct 
support of the operations for 30 consecutive days in a 
designated area of eligibility in a foreign territory (or for 
the full period when an operation is less than 30 days duration) 
or 60 non-consecutive days provided the support involved 
entering the area of eligibility.

The Vietnam Campaign Medal is awarded to members of the Armed 
Forces of the United States who between 1 March 1961 and 
28 March 1973, served for 6 months in South Vietnam during this 
period; served outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam 
and contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam 
Armed Forces for an aggregate of 6 months.  Only members of the 
Armed Forces of the United States who meet the criteria 
established for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam) 
or the Vietnam Service Medal during the period of service 
required are considered to have contributed direct support to 
the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces.

After a thorough review of the applicant’s records there was no 
documentation to verify he served in direct support of an 
operation in which the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was 
awarded.  There is also no documentation verifying the applicant 
served for an aggregate 6 months in the area of eligibility for 
the Vietnam Campaign Medal.  Finally, his entitlement to the 
Presidential Unit Citation could not be verified as there is no 
evidence the unit to which he was assigned was awarded the PUC.

The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C.  

________________________________________________________________




APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the 
applicant on 1 March 2013 for review and comment within 30 days 
(Exhibit D).  As of this date, this office has received no 
response. 

________________________________________________________________

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 regard 
to the applicant’s request to correct his record to reflect he 
was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and the Armed Forces 
Expeditionary Medal.  We took notice of the applicant's complete 
submission and the available evidence of record 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 as the basis for our conclusion that 
there is no evidence submitted to substantiated the applicant’s 
entitlement to the requested awards.  Therefore, in the absence 
of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to grant this 
request.  

4.  Notwithstanding the above determination, we believe some 
relief is warranted with regard to the applicant’s request for 
the Vietnam Campaign Medal.  We took note of the Air Force 
office of primary responsibility recommendation to deny this 
request; however, we find the record reflects the applicant 
served an aggregate of 6 months in South Vietnam, or outside 
Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the Republic of 
Vietnam.  Therefore, we recommend the applicant’s record be 
corrected to the extent 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 on 
1 October 1969, he was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Campaign 
Medal.

________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2012-05844 in Executive Session on 15 October 2013, 
under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

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

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 12 Dec 12, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 19 Feb 13.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 1 Mar 13.



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