RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:                   DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-05271	
	   	   		    COUNSEL:  NONE
   	    			    HEARING DESIRED:  NO

________________________________________________________________ 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty, be 
amended to reflect the following:

1.  Vietnam service. (Administratively Corrected)

2.  Thailand service.      

3.  Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM).

4.  Completion of the Noncommissioned Officers Academy (NCOA) 
course. (Administratively Corrected).   

5.  In a letter dated 25 Jun 14, the applicant amended his 
requests to include award of the Meritorious Service Medal 
(MSM).  (Administratively Corrected) 

________________________________________________________________ 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was on Temporary Duty (TDY) assignment to Vietnam and 
Thailand.

He is unable to get Vietnam veteran car tags.  The only proof he 
has of his Vietnam service is a travel voucher.

In support of his requests, the applicant provides copies of his 
DD Form 214, AF Forms 626, Request and Authorization for 
Temporary Duty-Military; and DD Forms 1351-2, Travel Voucher or 
Subvoucher. 

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

________________________________________________________________ 

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 10 Jan 58, the applicant entered active duty.

On 31 Jul 78, he was retired.

He served 20 years, 6 months and 21 days on active duty. 

In a letter dated 22 May 14, AFPC/DPAPP informed the applicant 
they were able to verify his Vietnam service and instructed him 
to use the letter as proof of his Vietnam service since specific 
TDY locations are not included on the DD Form 214 (Exhibit E).
 
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 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. 

The Vietnam Service Medal  (VSM) is awarded to all service 
members of the Armed Forces who between 4 July 65 and 28 Mar 73, 
served in the following areas of Southeast Asia:  in Vietnam and 
the contiguous waters and airspace; in Thailand, Laos, or 
Cambodia or the airspace thereof and in the direct support of 
military operations in Vietnam.

_______________________________________________________________ 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPAPP recommends disapproval of the applicant’s request to 
correct his records to reflect service in Thailand. The 
information provided by the applicant and a review of his master 
personnel records did not contain information that reflects he 
served in Thailand.  DPAPP verified Vietnam service and provided 
the applicant with a boots on the ground letter as proof of his 
Vietnam service.   

The complete DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the VCM.  DPSID was unable to 
locate any official documentation verifying he served an 
aggregate of 6 months in support of the Armed Forces of the 
Republic of Vietnam nor were they able to locate official 
documentation indicating he was wounded or captured; therefore 
rendering him ineligible for the VCM.  According to the official 
documentation in his records he was in the area of eligibility 
for the VCM for a total of 105 days and not the 6 months 
required for eligibility of the VCM.  To grant relief would be 
contrary to the criteria established by DOD Manual 1348.33, 
Manual of Military Decorations and Awards; Secretary of the Air 
Force, and the Chief of Staff. 

DPSID was able to determine the applicant should have been 
awarded the VSM with three Bronze Service Stars (VSM w/3 BSSs), 
the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P) 
and the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Military Education 
Graduate Ribbon (NCOPMEGR).  Administrative corrections of his 
records to reflect these awards will be accomplished by 
AFPC/DPSOR.   

The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit D.

________________________________________________________________ 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

He served at Bien Hoa AB, Republic of Vietnam from 8 Feb to 
1 Aug 68 and 23 Oct 69 to 3 Feb 70.  He also served at U-TPOA 
Airfield, Thailand from 18 Jul to 27 Aug 72 and from 9 Apr to 
16 Apr 73.  These TDY assignments should qualify him for the 
VCM.

He completed four trips to Southeast Asia and DPSID verified 
award of the VSM w/3 BSS.  His overseas duty selection date was 
changed to 20 Oct 72 and he was awarded the VCM at a commander’s 
call.  

He was also awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) upon his 
retirement on 31 Jul 78.

In further support of his requests, the applicant provides 
copies of AF Form 1712, Uniform Military Personnel Record; MSM 
citation and various other documents.  

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

________________________________________________________________ 

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 to warrant 
correcting his record to reflect service in Thailand or to award 
him the VCM.  We note the applicant served in Southeast Asia; 
however, as pointed out by DPSID, his records reflects that he 
was only in the Area Of Eligibility (AOE) for a total of 
105 days and has not provided any evidence to show that he 
served in the AOE for at least 6 months to qualify for the VCM.  
Therefore, 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 failed to sustain his burden of proof that he has 
been the victim of an error or injustice.  Therefore, aside from 
the administrative correction noted above, we find no basis to 
recommend granting the additional 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 
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 Docket Number BC-
2013-05271 in Executive Session on 28 Aug 14, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

       , Panel Chair
       , Member
       , Member


The following documentary evidence pertaining to Docket Number 
BC-2013-05271 was considered: 

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, 5 Nov 13, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant’s Master Personnel Records.       
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 14 Jan 14.     
    Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 24 Mar 14. 
    Exhibit E.  Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 22 May 14.  
    Exhibit F.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 13 Jun 14.
    Exhibit G.  Letter, Applicant, dated 25 Jun 14, w/atchs.