RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-00828
XXXXXXXXXX COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
The Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM) be added to his DD Form 214,
Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge.
The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) be added to his DD Form 214.
His service time in the Republic of Vietnam be added to his DD
Form 214.
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He served in Tan Son Nhut, Vietnam from June 1968 through December
1968 and was awarded the aforementioned medals. However, neither
of these medals nor his Vietnam service is reflected on his DD
Form 214.
The applicant provides no rationale as to why his failure to
timely file should be waived in the interest of justice.
His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant served in the Regular Air Force from 19 October
1965 through 7 February 1969. His DD Form 214 does not reflect
Foreign and/or Sea service.
THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicants requests for the
VSM and VCM. The VSM is 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 were also 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 or 60 non-consecutive days.
Those time limitations may be waived for personnel participating
in actual combat operations.
The VCM is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces
who, between 1 March 1961 and 28 March 1973 served for 6 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 6 months. Only members
of the United States Armed Forces who meet the criteria
established for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or the VSM
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. The applicant does not meet the eligibility
requirements for the aforementioned awards. Moreover, the Air
Force Personnel Center, Directorate of Assignments was unable to
verify the applicant served in Vietnam. To grant relief would be
contrary to the eligibility criteria established by DoD Manual
1348.33, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, the Secretary
of the Air Force, Chief of Staff, and/or the War Department.
The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C.
AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial of the applicants request to add
Vietnam service to his DD Form 214. The applicants master
personnel records and documentation submitted failed to
substantiate Foreign Service in Vietnam.
The complete DPAPP advisory is at Exhibit D.
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
On 25 March 2015, copies of the Air Force evaluations were
forwarded to the applicant for review and comment within 30 days.
As of this date, no response has been received by this office
(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. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to
demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. We took notice
of the applicants complete submission in judging the merits of
the case; however, we agree with the opinions and recommendations
of the Air Force offices of primary responsibility and adopt their
rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not
been the victim of an error of injustice. Therefore, in the
absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend
granting the requested relief.
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 12 May 2015, under the provisions of AFI 36-
2603:
, Panel Chair
, Member
, Member
The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number
BC-2014-00828 in Executive Session on Tuesday, 12 May 2015 under
the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 25 April 2014, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicants Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 16 February 2015, w/atch.
Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 10 March 2015.
Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 March 2015.
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DPSID is unable to determine the dates and locations for the applicant's TDY to Vietnam; therefore, the applicant is ineligible for award of the AFEM, VSM, or the VCM during the award inclusive periods. THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that he was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal. The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR BC-2013- 04259 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form...
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There is no official documentation in the applicants records to verify he was in the area of eligibility for an aggregate of 6 months for award of the VCM. In additional, the Air Force Personnel Center, Directorate of Assignments verified the applicant as having served at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, but they were unable to confirm any foreign-service in Vietnam; therefore, rendering him ineligible for award of the VCM. To be eligible, a service member must be: permanently assigned,...
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After reviewing his official military record and documentation he provided, DPAPP was able to verify and confirm boots on ground foreign service time in the Republic of Vietnam and Thailand for a total of 127 days between November 1966 and Mar 1968. In addition, the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC), Directorate of Assignments could only verify the applicant as having served in Vietnam and Thailand for a total of 127 days; therefore, rendering him ineligible for award of the VCM. Upon...
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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, only shows the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). The VCM is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who, between 1 March 1961 and 28 March 1973 served for 6 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 6 months. Exhibit D. Letter,...
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His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicants request for the AFEM. Upon the final Board decision, administrative correction of the applicant's official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DPSOR.
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DPAPP states that after a review of his master personnel records and submitteddocumentation, they were unable to find any documentation to substantiate his Foreign Service time was in Vietnam. THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Forcerelating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that he served bootson-the-ground in the Republic of Vietnam in 1968. The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-04655 in Executive...
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