RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
 

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2013-00946

		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her records be corrected to reflect award of the Republic of 
Korea Presidential Unit Citation (RKPUC), the Vietnam Campaign 
Medal (VCM), and the Presidential Unit Citation with Valor (PUC 
w/Valor).


________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Several incidents relating to his outprocessing from active duty 
and beyond precluded him from reviewing and pursuing correction 
of his records, to include losing a daughter to cancer and 
almost losing his own life due to a heart attack.

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

_________________ ______________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant’s military personnel records indicate that he 
enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 3 Sep 69 and served on 
active duty until 30 Apr 76, when he was honorably discharged 
upon the expiration of his term of active obligated service.  He 
was credited with 6 years, 10 months, and 15 days of total 
active service, which included 1 year, 10 months, and 26 days of 
foreign service.

According to the applicant’s military personnel records, he 
served at Korat AB, Thialand from 26 Feb 73 to 28 Feb 74 and 
later served at Kunsan AB, Korea from 1 May 75 to 5 Oct 75.

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

________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the 
RKPUC, indicating they were unable to verify the applicant 
served with a unit in Korea that received the RKPUC during the 
award period of 27 Jun 50 and 27 Jul 53.  The applicant did not 
enter active duty until 3 Sep 69 and did not serve in Korea 
until 1975, rendering him ineligible for this award. 
Additionally, they recommend denial of the applicant’s request 
for the VCM, indicating the applicant’s dates of service in 
Thailand from 1 Feb 73 to 1 Jan 74, render him ineligible for 
the VCM.  

The VCM is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United 
States who between 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73, served for six months 
in South Vietnam during this period or served outside the 
geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct 
combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces for an 
aggregate of six months.

Lastly, they recommend denial of the applicant’s request for the 
Valor device to the PUC, indicating the Valor device is not an 
authorized device for this award.

A review of the applicant’s records revealed that he should have 
been awarded the PUC, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two 
Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (AFOUA w/2 BOLC), Korean Defense 
Service Medal (KDSM), Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze 
Service Star (VSM w/1 BSS), and the Republic of Vietnam 
Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P) and his official military 
personnel records will be administratively corrected by 
AFPC/DPSOY.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C.

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant provided a copy of his permanent change of station 
(PCS) orders from Andrews AFB, MD to Kunsan Air Base, Korea and 
a copy of his separation orders from Kunsan Air Base, Korea to 
Travis Air Force Base, California.  He also provided excerpts 
from his squadron year book in Korea that contained pictures of 
him in the squadron.  These documents were provided in an effort 
to support his request for award of the RKPUC.

A complete copy of the Applicant’s response 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 an error or injustice.  We took 
notice of the applicant’s complete submission, including his 
response to the advisory opinion, in judging the merits of the 
case; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of 
the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR) and adopt 
its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has 
not been the victim of an error or injustice.  We note the Air 
Force OPR has determined the applicant’s eligibility for the 
award of the PUC; however, the Valor device is not an authorized 
device for this award.  Additionally, they have also determined 
the applicant’s eligibility for the award of the Air Force 
Outstanding Unit Award with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (AFOUA 
w/2 BOLC), Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM), Vietnam Service 
Medal with one Bronze Service Star (VSM w/1 BSS), and the 
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P) and 
will correct his records administratively.  Therefore, in the 
absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis for us to 
recommend granting relief beyond that rendered administratively.

________________________________________________________________

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-2013-00946 in Executive Session on 21 Nov 13, under 
the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

		                  , Panel Chair
		                  , Member
		                  , Member







The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2013-00946 was considered:

	 Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 20 Feb 13, w/atchs.
	 Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	 Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 13 May 13,w/atch.
	 Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 28 May 13.
	 Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 6 Jun 13, w/atchs.




                                   
                                   Panel Chair

4