Search Decisions

Decision Text

AF | BCMR | CY2013 | BC 2013 02369
Original file (BC 2013 02369.txt) Auto-classification: Denied
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2013-02369
		
  			COUNSEL:  NONE
		
			HEARING DESIRED:  NO

___________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

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

1.	He was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM).

2.	He served in Vietnam from 1964 to 1965.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was in Vietnam from 1964 to 1965; however, this service is not 
reflected on his DD Form 214.  He was awarded the Armed Forces 
Expeditionary Medal which shows he was involved in war.

In support of his request, the applicant provides e-mail 
correspondence and envelopes from the mailed letters.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is a former member of the Air Force who served from 
11 January 1962 to 10 January 1966.  His AF Form 7, Airman 
Military Record, reflects he was TDY for 24 days; however, no 
location is listed.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial.  A review of the applicant’s master 
personnel record and the documentation he submitted failed to 
substantiate Foreign Service in Vietnam.  

The completed DPAPP recommendation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPISD recommends denial.  The VSM is awarded to all service 
members of the Armed Forces who between 4 July 1965 and 28 March 
1973 served in Vietnam and the contiguous waters and air space, 
Thailand, Laos or Cambodia or the airspace there-over and in 
direct support of military operations in Vietnam.  The member 
must have been TDY for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive 
days for the award of the VSM.  APFC/DPAPP was unable to verify 
the applicant’s Foreign Service time in Vietnam.  After a 
thorough review of the applicant’s records, the applicant’s 
entitlement to the VSM could not be verified.  

In accordance with Executive Order 11231, service members who 
earned the Armed Force Expeditionary Medal for service in Vietnam 
between 1 July 1958 and 3 July 1965, may elect to receive the 
Vietnam Service Medal instead of the Armed Forces Expeditionary 
Medal.  However, no service member may be issued both medals for 
service in Vietnam.

The applicant’s DD Form 214 reflects award of the Armed Forces 
Expeditionary Medal.  Unfortunately, for which operation the 
applicant received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, could 
not be verified.  Therefore, the applicant is not eligible to 
receive the Vietnam Service Medal, in lieu of, the Armed Forces 
Expeditionary Medal.

There is no documentation in the applicant’s record to verify he 
was in the area of eligibility for the award of the VSM.

The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit D.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant submitted letters he sent to his wife while 
stationed in Vietnam.  

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 an injustice.  We took 
notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the 
merits of the case; however, we find the evidence submitted in 
support of his appeal insufficient to determine he served in 
Vietnam.  Therefore, we agree with the opinions and 
recommendations of the Air Force offices of primary 
responsibility and adopt their rationale as the basis for our 
conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error or 
injustice.  In the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find 
no basis to recommend granting any additional relief sought in 
this application.

________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS 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-2013-02369 in Executive Session on 16 January 2014, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603:


The following documentary evidence was considered:

  Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 13 May 13, w/atchs.
  Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
  Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 17 Jun 13.
  Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 23 Aug 13.
  Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 Sep 13.
  Exhibit F.  Letter, Applicant’s Response, undated, w/atchs. 





Similar Decisions

  • AF | BCMR | CY2013 | BC 2013 02562

    Original file (BC 2013 02562.txt) Auto-classification: Approved

    RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-02562 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to reflect his service in Vietnam and award of the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit...

  • AF | BCMR | CY2010 | BC 2010 03206

    Original file (BC 2010 03206.txt) Auto-classification: Denied

    His records be corrected to reflect his service in Vietnam and Thailand. The VSM is awarded to all members of the United States Armed Forces serving at any time between 4 Jul 1965 and 28 Mar 1973, in the area of eligibility. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR BC-2010- 03206 in Executive Session on 14 Feb 2013, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary...

  • AF | BCMR | CY2013 | BC 2013 03553

    Original file (BC 2013 03553 .txt) Auto-classification: Approved

    DPSID states that the Air Force Personnel Center, Directorate of Assignments was unable to verify the applicant's Foreign Service time in Vietnam. Moreover, the applicant’s TDY orders and the Foreign and/or Service time reflected on his DD Form 214 match up perfectly. _______________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that he...

  • AF | BCMR | CY2013 | BC-2012-02870

    Original file (BC-2012-02870.txt) Auto-classification: Denied

    However, the DVA denied his claim because he could not provide a copy of his TDY orders or any official verification that he ever deployed to Thailand during the Vietnam War. The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit D. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: On 29 Oct 12, by letter, the applicant reiterates his original contentions. _________________________________________________________________ The following...

  • AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-01946

    Original file (BC-2012-01946.txt) Auto-classification: Approved

    A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit D. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant reiterates that he spent time in Vietnam with the 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron in 64 and 65, and identifies his commander. After a thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s complete submission, we believe a preponderance of the evidence indicates the applicant served in the Republic of...

  • AF | BCMR | CY2013 | BC-2013-01007

    Original file (BC-2013-01007.txt) Auto-classification: Denied

    _______________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: The VSM, VCM, and his service time in the Republic of Vietnam are not reflected in his records. The amount of Foreign Service time reflected on his DD Form 214 is correct, therefore, a correction is not needed. The Board notes the Air Force office of primary responsibility confirms the applicant was TDY to the Republic of Vietnam.

  • AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-04024

    Original file (BC-2012-04024.txt) Auto-classification: Denied

    RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-04024 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His records be corrected to reflect he went temporary duty (TDY) to Camron [sic] Bay, South Vietnam for 53 days and that he was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A. We took notice of the...

  • AF | BCMR | CY2014 | BC 2014 00408

    Original file (BC 2014 00408.txt) Auto-classification: Approved

    The complete DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit E. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: He served for a little less than four years because of hazardous missions flown in SEA. While the applicant has not provided conclusive evidence that he completed a TDY to Vietnam, it is our opinion the APR for the period ending 27 Sep 68 coupled with AFPS’s database appear to weigh more in favor of amending the applicant’s DD Form 214 to reflect award of the VSM with one Bronze Service Star...

  • AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-04137

    Original file (BC-2012-04137.txt) Auto-classification: Denied

    RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-04137 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) be exchanged for the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). However, no Service member may have both medals for service in Vietnam. While the applicant was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) and the...

  • AF | BCMR | CY2013 | BC 2013 01843

    Original file (BC 2013 01843.txt) Auto-classification: Denied

    RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-01843 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected as follows: a. A though review of the applicant’s official military personnel records indicated there is no official documentation verifying the applicant...