RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03274 

 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 entitlement to the 
Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He requested copies of all his flight orders and temporary duty 
(TDY) orders to show proof of service in Vietnam; however, he has 
yet to receive any of these documents. 

 

He searched the internet for names of crewmembers he may have 
served with and found a navigator from the 44th Air Transport 
Squadron (44th ATS) who had a copy of an aeronautical order dated 
4 Jan 64, showing the names of the crewmembers on a flight from 
Travis AFB to Saigon, Vietnam. 

 

He flew approximately three years with the 44th ATS and entered 
Saigon frequently. He also entered Da Nang on Christmas day in 
1965 and was aboard the first C-141 to do so. 

 

In support of his appeal, the applicant provided a flight order, 
itinerary, and per diem voucher that documents a flight that 
departed Travis AFB, CA on 4 Jan 64 and flew via Hickam AFB, HI 
and Clark AB, PI to Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam, and reflects a 4-
hour, 30 minute stop-over at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam, on 
8 Jan 64. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant served on active duty in the Regular Air Force from 
21 Aug 62 to 20 Jun 66. His DD Form 214 reflects a total of 
3 years and 11 months of total active service, with 3 months and 
1 day of Foreign Service. 

 

AFPC/DPSIDR has verified the applicant’s entitlement to the Air 
Force Outstanding Unit Award with One Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, 
the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, and the National Defense 


Service Medal. His DD Form 214 will be administratively 
corrected to include these awards. 

 

The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), created on 8 Jul 65, 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 thereover and 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, or 
aboard a naval vessel, directly supporting military operations; 
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, although these time limitations may be waived for personnel 
participating in actual combat operations. However, no member may 
be issued both the AFEM and the VSM for service in Vietnam. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for 
entitlement to VSM. The 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 thereof and in the direct support of military 
operations in Vietnam for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive 
days. 

 

DPSID states they were unable to locate documentation verifying 
the applicant served in the area of eligibility for 
30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days as required for award 
of the VSM. The 4-hour, 30 minute stop-over at Tan Son Nhut AB, 
Vietnam, on 8 Aug 64, does not meet the time requirements for 
award of the VSM. 

 

The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The applicant reiterates his earlier contentions, and disagrees 
with the terminology of his time in Vietnam being labeled as a 
stop-over. It was either a completion of their mission or the 
beginning of a new one. The 44th ATS was formed to assist in the 
war in Vietnam. They delivered troops, supplies, cargo and 
equipment, and also removed the remains of fallen heroes out of 
Vietnam. They flew air evacuation missions bringing wounded 
troops back to the states, these were not simply stop-over’s. 
Some missions into Vietnam were not printed orders but were 
diverted missions. Fellow Airmen of the 44th ATS, as well as the 
other flying squadrons at Travis AFB, also wore the VSM. 


 

The applicant’s complete response is at Exhibit D. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

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. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. After carefully 
reviewing the evidence of record, and taking into consideration 
the comments of the Air Force office of primary responsibility 
(OPR), we believe that relief is warranted. We note the OPR 
recommends denial, and states that they were unable to locate any 
official documentation verifying the applicant served in the area 
of eligibility for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in 
direct support of military operations in Vietnam. However, 
according to Department of Defense Manual (DoDM) 1348.33-V2, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, an additional 
criterion for award of the VSM, is if a service member actually 
participated as a crew member in one or more aerial flights 
supporting military operations in Vietnam. We note the applicant 
has provided a flight order reflecting he was scheduled to depart 
Travis AFB, to Saigon, Vietnam on or about 4 Jan 1964 to perform 
an aerial flight mission. He also provides a statement from the 
senior navigator on this same mission certifying that he was part 
of the crew that arrived in Vietnam on 8 Jan 1964. While the 
travel voucher provided is not legible, we find the voucher 
coupled with the flight orders and the statement from the senior 
navigator sufficient to recommend award of the VSM. In view of 
the above, we recommend his records be corrected as indicated 
below. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: 

 

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force 
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that the DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or 
Discharge, issued in conjunction with his 20 Jun 66 discharge, be 
amended in Block 26, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, 
Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized, to reflect 
award of the Vietnam Service Medal. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered Docket Number 
BC-2012-03274 in Executive Session on 9 Apr 13, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 


 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The 
following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

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

 Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 17 Sep 12. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 Sep 12. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, Applicant, 5 Oct 12. 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair