RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2013-04400
		COUNSEL:  NONE
		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

________________________________________________________________
_

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

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

2.  He be awarded the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

________________________________________________________________
_

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He served with the 441st Supply Squadron at Yokota AFB.  He 
traveled on temporary duties (TDYs) for short periods to DaNang, 
Vietnam, and Takhli AB, Thailand.  The TDYs ranged from three to 
nine days.

In support of the applicant’s appeal, he provides a copy of a 
memorandum from SAF/XCPP and documents extracted from his 
military personnel records.

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

________________________________________________________________
_

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 19 July 1963.

On 9 August 1967, the applicant was honorably released from 
active duty and transferred to the Air Force Reserve.  He served 
4 years and 21 days on active duty and was credited with 2 years 
and 1 day of foreign and/or sea service.

The VSM was awarded to all members of the United States Armed 
Forces who served in Vietnam or contiguous waters or airspace 
after 3 July 1965, and before 28 March 1973.  In addition, 
personnel serving in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia in direct 
support of operations in Vietnam during the same time period 
also were eligible for the VSM.  To be eligible, a service 
member must be: permanently assigned, attached, or detailed for 
one, or more, days with an organization participating in or 
directly supporting ground (military) operations; permanently 
assigned, attached, or detailed for one, or more, days aboard a 
naval vessel directly supporting military operations; have 
actually participated as a crew member in one or more aerial 
flights directly supporting military operations; have served on 
temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive 
days.  Those time limitations may be waived for personnel 
participating in actual combat operations.

The Vietnam Campaign Medal is awarded to members of the United 
States Armed Forces who, between 1 March 1961 and 28 March 
1973 served for six months in South Vietnam, 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.  Only members of the United States 
Armed Forces who meet the criteria established for the Armed 
Forces Expeditionary Medal or the Vietnam Service Medal during 
the period of service required are considered to have 
contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam 
Armed Forces; or, did not complete the length of service 
required, but who, during wartime, were: wounded by the enemy 
(in a military action), captured by the enemy during action or 
in the line of duty, but later rescued or released, killed in 
action or in the line of duty; or were assigned in Vietnam on 28 
January 1973, and served in Vietnam for the entire period 
between 29 January 1973 to 28 March 1973.

________________________________________________________________
_

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial.  DPSID states there is no official 
documentation verifying the applicant served in the area of 
eligibility, nor that he entered the area of eligibility as a 
member of an air crew for award of the VSM.  Also, they were 
unable to locate any official documentation verifying the 
applicant fulfilled the criteria for the award of the Vietnam 
Campaign Medal.

The applicant provided a memorandum dated 15 October 2007 from 
SAF/XCPP (Air Force Records Officer and Program Manager) for the 
Veteran's Service Center with a subject of “veteran eligibility” 
for the applicant to support or negate the applicant's claim of 
service in Vietnam.  According to this memorandum, SAF/XCPP 
states the evidence their office reviewed supports the 
applicant's claim of service in Vietnam between 1965 and 1967.  
Based on the letter it appears SAF/XCPP is basing their opinion 
on the fact the applicant was assigned to the 441st Combat 
Support Group, 441st Support Squadron, Yakota Air Base, Japan 
between 1965 and 1967.  Part of the unit’s mission was to 
acquire parts to sustain aircraft damaged during missions over 
Vietnam.  The memorandum further states the applicant frequently 
went on temporary duty from Japan to Southeast Asia to retrieve 
parts necessary to repair aircraft and “the history of the 441st 
validates the wartime mission of the organization [the 
applicant] was assigned to for more than two years.”  Taking the 
memorandum from SAF/XCPP into consideration, they are unable to 
locate official documentation, validated through the applicant’s 
official military personnel record, of service in Vietnam.

The DPSID complete evaluation is at Exhibit C.

________________________________________________________________
_

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 28 February 2014, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was 
forwarded to the applicant for review and response within 
30 days (Exhibit D).  As of this date, no response has been 
received by this office. 

________________________________________________________________
_

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.  After a 
thorough review of the evidence of record and noting the 
criteria for the Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign 
Medal, the applicant does not meet the eligibility requirements 
for either of these medals.  Therefore, in the absence of 
evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting 
the relief sought in this application.

________________________________________________________________
_

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not 
demonstrate the existence of an 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-2013-04400 in Executive Session on 22 May 2014, under 
the provisions of AFI 36-2603:


The following documentary evidence was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 13 September 2013, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  DD Form 214, AF Form 7, and Performance Reports.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 2 January 2014.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 28 February 2014.





2


3