RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:			DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2014-01522

						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO


APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

1.  His record reflects his service in Republic of Korea and 
England.

2.  He be awarded the Air Medal (AM).  

3.  He be credited with completed training courses. 
(Administratively Corrected)


APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His records are in error and needs to be corrected.

The Board should find it in the interest of justice to consider 
his untimely application because he needs healthcare.

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


STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant’s master personnel records were destroyed by fire, 
in 1973, at the National Personnel Record Center (NPRC), in 
St. Louis.  

According to his DD Form 214, Report of Separation from the Armed 
Forces of the United States, issued in conjunction with his 3 Sep 
54 discharge, on 13 Nov 50, the applicant entered active duty in 
the Army Air Corps.

On 3 Sep 54, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, 
and was credited with 3 years, 9 months, and 21 days of active 
service, including 6 months of foreign service.

On 15 Jul 14, DPSID administratively corrected the applicant’s 
record to reflect that he completed the Airmen Electronic Fund 
Course 86750 and Rad Mech Airborne Equipment Course 86755.  



AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial of the applicant’s request for 
service credit in the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom, 
indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice.  

DPAPP notes that a review of the applicant’s master personnel 
records and documentation submitted failed to provide any 
documents that substantiate foreign service time in the Republic 
of Korea or the United Kingdom.

The complete DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of award of the AM.  DPSID states 
there is no official documentation, such as a recommendation or 
Special Order, in the applicant's official military personnel 
record to verify he was recommended for or awarded the AM.  In 
order to reasonably consider the applicant's request, he will need 
to submit a recommendation from someone with firsthand knowledge 
of the act/achievement preferably from someone within the 
applicant's chain of command at the time of the act/achievement, a 
proposed citation, and eyewitness statements from those who can 
attest to the act/achievement.  To grant relief would be contrary 
to the criteria established by DoDM 1348.33, Secretary of the Air 
Force, Chief of Staff, and/or the War Department.

After a thorough review of the applicant's limited official 
military personnel record, DPSID was unable to verify award of the 
AM.  Although the applicant provides a letter stating the 340th 
Bombardment Squadron forwarded the enclosed AM to the applicant, 
the letter is not on any letterhead much less any official United 
States Air Force letterhead nor is it signed.  DPSID was unable to 
locate a Special Order, signed certificate, or any other official 
documentation verifying the applicant was recommended for or 
awarded the AM.  The Special Order is the official source 
documentation for verification of an approved decoration.

The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit D.


APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

In response to the Air Force evaluations, the applicant provides 
additional copies of his training certificates; the award elements 
for the AM, including the citation, certificate, and letter from 
the Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command (CINCSAC), with 
letterhead; letters to his parents from England and Korea, 
pictures and other documents to substantiate his service in Korea 
and England.

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.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate 
the existence of an error or injustice warranting award of the Air 
Medal and boots on the ground in Korea and England.  After a 
thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s 
complete submission, we believe the applicant is the victim of an 
error or injustice.  We note the comments of the Air Force Offices 
of Primary Responsibility (OPRs) indicating that relief should be 
denied because the applicant’s records does not contain the 
special order that accompanies the award of the Air Medal or any 
evidence to substantiate foreign service time in Korea and 
England.  Nonetheless, we note the applicant provides copies of a 
letter from CINCSAC, with letterhead, congratulating him for 
receiving the Air Medal, the citation and signed certificate, with 
seal, along with letters and pictures to his parents during tours 
to substantiate his “boots on ground” status in England and Korea.  
This coupled with the specific achievements he accomplished for 
which he was awarded the Air Medal and his award of the United 
Nations Service Medal which requires members to have performed 
duty in Korea, even during combat, is consistent with his 
statements.  Therefore, we believe based on a preponderance of 
evidence the applicant has met his burden of an error or injustice 
and that his record should be corrected to entitle him to the 
requested relief.  Accordingly, we recommend the applicant’s 
records be corrected to the extent indicated below.  


THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force 
relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that:

      a.  His DD Form 214, Report of Separation from the Armed 
Forces of the United States, issued in conjunction with his 3 Sep 
54 separation, be amended to read in Item 27, Decorations, Medals, 
Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or 
Authorized, the Air Medal.  

	b.  He had boots on the ground in Korea and England within 
the time period of Jan 52 and Jun 54. 






The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number 
BC-2014-01522 in Executive Session on 14 Apr 15 and 21 Jul 15 
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 4 Apr 14, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 2 Dec 14.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 2 Feb 15.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 Feb 15.
	Exhibit F.  Letter, Applicant, undated.