RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2013-02307
		        COUNSEL:  NONE
	 	        HEARING DESIRED:  NO

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to reflect the following awards and 
decorations:

1.  Air Medal (AM). 

2.  Presidential Unit Citation (PUC).  

3.  Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon.  

4.  Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM).  

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He flew over 100 combat missions in Vietnam.

From 1963 to 1969, he was assigned to Tachikawa, Japan, and 
continued to perform combat missions until Jun 1970.  

In support of his requests, the applicant provides a copy of his 
NA Form 13059, Transmittal of and/or Entitlement to Awards.  

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

________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 17 Jul 1959, the applicant entered active duty.

His records show he was assigned at Tachikawa, Japan, from     
14 Apr 1964 to 8 Jan 1966.

On 1 Jun 1969, he was released from active duty.

The applicant served a combined period of 9 years, 10 months and 
15 days on active duty.

The AM may be awarded to any person who while serving in any 
capacity with the United States Armed Forces, subsequent to     
8 Sep 1939, distinguishes himself or herself by meritorious 
achievement while participating in aerial flight.  Additionally, 
it may be conferred for sustained meritorious achievement 
(distinction) in the performance of duties involving aerial 
flight.    
 
The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) is awarded to units of the 
United States Armed Forces for outstanding performance in action 
against an armed enemy occurring on or after, 16 Oct 1941 for 
the US Navy, and on or after 7 Dec 1941 for the US Army and US 
Air Force units.

The Air Force Long Tour Ribbon was authorized by the Chief of 
Staff, U.S. Air Force, on 12 Oct 1980.  Before 6 Jan 1986, the 
ribbon was awarded to Air Force and Air Force Reserve members 
credited with completion of an overseas tour on or after 1 Sep 
1980.  Air Force and Air Force Reserve members serving as of     
6 Jan 1986 or later are entitled to reflect all Air Force 
overseas tours credited during their career.  A service member 
may wear both ribbons, if appropriate.  The short tour ribbon 
takes precedence over the long tour ribbon when both are worn.
 
The AFEM may be awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who 
after 1 Jul 1958:  Participate, or have participated, as members 
of the U.S. military in a U.S. military operation in which 
service members of any military department participate, in the 
opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in significant numbers, 
and encounter, incident to such participation, foreign armed 
opposition, or are otherwise placed, or have been placed, in 
such position that, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 
hostile action by foreign armed forces was imminent even though 
it did not materialize.  Service members must have been 
permanently assigned, attached, or detailed to a unit that 
participated in or engaged in direct support of the operation 
for 30 consecutive days in a designated area of eligibility in a 
foreign territory (or the full period when an operation is less 
than 30 days duration) or for 60 non-consecutive days provided 
the support involved entering the area of eligibility.  

________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the 
AM, PUC, Air Force Overseas Ribbon and the AFEM.  

They were unable to locate any official documentation in the 
applicant’s record to verify he was recommended for or awarded 
the AM.  The applicant did not provide a citation, 
recommendation or narrative for the AM or any documentation to 
substantiate an error or injustice occurred. 
   
DPSID was unable to verify the applicant served with a unit that 
received the PUC while the applicant was assigned to the unit; 
therefore, rendering him ineligible for the award.  

The applicant served overseas before the Air Force Overseas 
Ribbon was authorized rendering him ineligible for the award.  
Furthermore, the applicant was not on active duty as of 6 Jan 
1989; therefore, he does not qualify for retroactive award of 
the Air Force Overseas Ribbon.  

There was no documentation available in the applicant’s military 
personnel record verifying the applicant served in the area of 
eligibility and in direct support of an operation for which the 
AFEM is authorized rendering him ineligible for the award.

Based on a review of the applicant’s military personnel records, 
DPSID determined the applicant should have been awarded the Air 
Force Outstanding Unit Award with three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters 
(AFOUA w/3 BOLC) and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross 
with Palm (RVNGC w/P).  Upon final determination by the Board, 
DPSID will administratively correct his corrects to include 
these awards.   

The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C.  

SAF/MRBP recommends denial of the applicant’s requests.

For award of the AM, a copy of the applicant’s records and 
flight logs with annotation, “AM (20 Jul 67)/DAF,” are required 
to corroborate the applicant was awarded the AM.  Absent this 
documentation, MRBP recommends denial of the AM.  

There is no documentation to support the applicant’s unit of 
assignment, with inclusive dates, was awarded the PUC.  
Therefore, MRBP recommends denial of award of the PUC.  

For award of the AFEM, a copy of certified orders or 
documentation showing assignment to a unit that participated in 
or engaged in direct support of an operation for 30 consecutive 
days in a designated area of eligibility, or for the full period 
when an operation was less than 30 days duration, or for 60 non-
consecutive days provided the support involved entering the area 
of eligibility.   Absent this documentation, MRBP recommends 
denial of award of the AFEM.    

As stated in the DPSID advisory, the applicant is not eligible 
for the Air Force Overseas Ribbon since it was established for 
those members credited with completion of an overseas tour on or 
after 1 Sep 1980.  Since the applicant served before this time 
period, he is not eligible for award of the Air Force Overseas 
Ribbon. 


The complete MRBP evaluation is at Exhibit D.  
 
________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 19 Mar 2014, the copies of the Air Force evaluations were 
forwarded to the applicant for review and comment within       
30 days.  As of this date, no response has been received by this 
office (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 in judging the 
merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinions and 
recommendations of the Air Force offices of primary 
responsibility and adopt the rationale expressed as the basis 
for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of 
an error or injustice.  Therefore, other than the administrative 
corrections awarding the AFOUA w/3 BOLC and the RVNGC w/P, we 
find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this 
application.  

________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not 
demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; that 
the application was denied without a personal appearance; and 
that 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-2013-02307 in Executive Session on 24 Apr 2014, under 
the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
     
 	  , Chair
	  , Member
	  , Member

The following documentary evidence in AFBCMR Docket Number BC-
2013-02307 was considered:

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 6 May 2013, w/atch.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant’s Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 16 Sep 2013.  
     Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBP, undated.  
     Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 Mar 2014. 




								 
     					 Chair