RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-00846
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active
Duty, be corrected to reflect his entitlement to the Vietnam
Service Medal (VSM).
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He traveled to Thailand and Vietnam in October and November 1972
but was never awarded the VSM. He landed at NKP in Thailand and
Tan Son Nhut in Vietnam between October 31 and November 18 1972.
In support of his request the applicant submitted copies of his
DD Form 214, and DD Form 1351-2, Travel Voucher or Subvoucher.
The applicants complete submission, with attachments, is at
Exhibit A.
________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
According to documents extracted from his Military Personnel
record (MPR), the applicant is a former member of the Regular
Air Force who enlisted on 19 June 1961 and retired from active
duty on 30 June 1981.
Item 13, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign
Ribbons Awarded or Authorized of his DD Form 214, does not
reflect award of the VSM.
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 disapproval for award of the VSM. DPSID
states the applicant served on temporary duty at Tan Son Nhut
Air Base, Vietnam from 31 October 1972 to 18 November 1972, for
a total of 18 days. This renders the applicant ineligible for
award of the VSM.
The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) is awarded to all service
members of the Armed Forces who, between 4 July 65 and
28 March 1973, 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 for 30 consecutive or
60 nonconsecutive days.
After a thorough review of the applicants official military
personnel records and provided documentation, they determined
the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P)
should have been awarded during the applicants service from
19 June 1961 to 30 June 1981 and is not reflected in his
records.
The complete AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at exhibit C.
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the
applicant on 19 May 2013 for review and comment within 30 days
(Exhibit D). To date, a response has not been received.
________________________________________________________________
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
criteria for the VSM, we find the applicant does not meet the
eligibility criteria for award of this medal. The Air Force
office of primary responsibility has determined the applicant is
entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
(RVNGC w/P) and has taken action to administratively correct his
record to reflect this medal. Therefore, in view of the above
and in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find that
relief beyond that already granted administratively is not
warranted.
________________________________________________________________
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 this application
in Executive Session on 5 November 2013, under the provisions of
AFI 36-2603:
, Panel Chair
, Member
, Member
The following documentary evidence was considered in AFBCMR
Docket Number BC-2013-00846:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149 dated 14 Feb 2013, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicants Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 13 May 2013.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 May 2013.
AF | BCMR | CY2013 | BC-2012-03274
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). _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS...
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-04801
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-04801 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect his entitlement to the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) or a Badge reflecting his service during that era. In support of his request the applicant submitted copies of his DD...
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-05790
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-05790 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NOT INDICATED ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be amended to include the following: 1. DPAPP states a review of his master personnel records and documentation submitted failed to provide any documents...
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-05372
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-05372 COUNSEL: NONE ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the following awards: 1. After a thorough review of the applicants official military personnel record they were unable to verify award of the RVCM and the VSM. The applicants claimed dates of service in Thailand are after the award inclusive period for...
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-03773
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA) c. Air Force Good Conduct Medal (AFGCM) d. National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) e. Air Force Longevity Service Award (AFLSA) Upon final board decision, administrative correction of the applicant's official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DPSOY. The complete DPSID evaluation is at exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: In response the applicant...
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-05385
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-05385 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). The applicant's complete submission is at Exhibit A. There is no documentation in the applicants record to verify he served in the area of eligibility for award of the VSM.
AF | BCMR | CY2013 | BC 2013 02237
In this respect, the applicant provides a detailed account of his temporary duty at Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam, in 1972 with supporting documentation showing he was issued an M-16. With respect to a comment in the DPAPP advisory opinion that the information provided by the applicant did not contain information that reflects [the applicant] served in Vietnam, that documentation does contain evidence that the applicant served in Vietnam: his detailed statement attached to his application. We...
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-03890
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03890 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His record be corrected to reflect he was awarded the following: a. Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He served in Guam with the 3960th Strategic Wing for 176...
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-03452
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03452 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His records be corrected to reflect he was awarded and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM). After a thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicants complete submission, we do not find the evidence presented by the applicant is...
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-03128
The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force, which are at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial and states that there is no evidence that supports the applicants contention that he served in Vietnam during the inclusive dates for these awards. The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit...