RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-02870 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

 

1. His DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty, block 
19, Indochina or Korea Service since August 5 1964, be amended 
to reflect 30 days versus 29 days. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

His DD Form 214 reflects the incorrect number of days he 
deployed to Thailand. His flight back to the Philippines was 
delayed by one day and he should have been credited with 30 days 
of TDY versus 29 days. In this respect, he contends the 
following: 

 

1. He submitted a Department of Veteran’s Administration (DVA) 
claim for metastatic prostate cancer potentially caused by his 
Agent Orange exposure while deployed to Thailand in support of 
Operation LINEBACKER II. 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. 

 

2. His amended orders will allow him to wear the VSM on his 
uniform. 

 

3. He initially contacted the National Personnel Records Center 
(NPRC) but they were unable to locate his TDY orders to 
Thailand. 

 

4. When he out-processed he noted his DD Form 214 reflected the 
incorrect number of days he was TDY to Thailand; however, he was 
informed that any corrections would delay his discharge from the 
Air Force. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 


STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

On 22 Oct 70, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force. 
His DD Form 214 reflects a total of three years, six months, and 
five days of total active service; with one year and four months 
of Foreign Service. 

 

On 8 Aug 12, AFPC/DPSIRP notified the applicant that after a 
thorough search of his military personnel file, they were unable 
to find any TDY orders deploying him to Thailand. 

 

The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), is awarded to all service 
members of the Armed Forces who, between 4 Jul 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 there over in the direct support of 
military operations in Vietnam. The specific eligibility 
criteria requires a member to be attached to or directly serving 
for one or more days with an organization, directly supporting 
military operations; or actually participate as a crew member on 
one or more aerial flights directly supporting military 
operations; or serve on temporary duty (TDY) for 30 consecutive 
or 60 nonconsecutive days. However, these time limitations may 
be waived for personnel participating in actual combat 
operations. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial of the applicant’s request to 
correct his DD Form 214, block 19 to reflect 30 days versus 
29 days TDY. DPAPP was able to verify the applicant was 
assigned at Clark Air Base, Philippines from 28 Aug 71 to 
27 Nov 72; however, they could not find any mention of time 
served in Thailand other than the 29 days currently reflected on 
his DD Form 214. 

 

The complete DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for 
award of the VSM. DPSID states the applicant does not meet the 
criteria of 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in 
Thailand. To award him the VSM would be contrary to the intent 
which the award was established and would state the applicant 
served in Thailand which cannot be verified. 

 

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. 

 

In further support of his appeal, the applicant provides a copy 
of his original application with attachments. 

 

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 error or injustice. After 
thoroughly reviewing the evidence of record and noting the 
applicant’s contentions, we are not persuaded that his Indochina 
or Korea Service since August 5 1964 should be changed or that 
he meets the criteria for award of the VSM. In this respect, we 
note that AFPC/DPAPP has verified the applicant was TDY to 
Thailand for 29 days; however, he has not provided substantial 
evidence to reflect this period should be reflected as 30 days. 
In view of this and noting the VSM criteria, we find no basis to 
warrant correcting his records to show his entitlement to this 
medal. Should the applicant provide official documentation to 
substantiate he was TDY to Thailand for 30 consecutive days, 
rather than 29, and that he meets the criteria for award of the 
VSM, we would be willing to reconsider his request. In view of 
the above and 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 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 Docket Number 
BC-2012-02870 in Executive Session on 19 Mar 13, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 Panel Chair 

 Member 

 Member 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 26 Jun 12, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSIRP, dated 8 Aug 12. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 4 Sep 12. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 9 Oct 12. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 16 Oct 12. 

 Exhibit F. Letter, Applicant, dated 29 Oct 12, w/atchs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair