RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-03559
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: YES
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
He be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM).
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He was a member of Strategic Air Command (SAC) supporting direct
B-52 bombing operations in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970.
He was also on a Temporary Duty (TDY) assignment to Okinawa.
He was told that veterans who served in Thailand doing the same
job were awarded the VSM.
The Board should consider it in the interest of justice to
consider his untimely application as veterans in direct support
of Vietnam operations in Guam and Okinawa performed the same
dangerous jobs as others elsewhere and should be awarded the
VSM.
The applicants complete submission is at Exhibit A.
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant entered the Regular Air Force on 30 Sep 66 and was
honorably released from active duty on 21 Sep 70.
The VSM was awarded to 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 days or 60 non-consecutive days.
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicants request for
award of the VSM. There was no official documentation in the
applicants record nor was any provided to verify he served for
30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days in the area of
eligibility for award of the VSM. The applicant served in Guam
from 30 Dec 68 to 1 Jul 70; however, Guam is not considered an
area of eligibility for award of the VSM. To grant relief would
be contrary to the criteria established by DODM 1348.33, Manual
of Military Decorations and Awards, Secretary of the Air Force
and the Chief of Staff.
A complete copy of the 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 23 Dec 14 for review and comment within 30 days
(Exhibit D). As of this date, no response has been received by
this office.
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 an error or injustice. We took
notice of the applicants complete submission in judging the
merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinion and
recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility
(OPR) and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion
the applicant has failed to sustain his burden of proof that he
has been the victim of an error or injustice. Should the
applicant provide evidence, such as TDY orders or a travel
voucher, to substantiate he served in an area of eligibility for
30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days, we would be
willing to reconsider his request. Therefore, in the absence of
evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting
the requested relief.
4. The applicants case is adequately documented and it has not
been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel
will materially add to our understanding of the issues involved.
Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably
considered.
THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:
The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not
demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the
application was denied without a personal appearance; and 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 AFBCMR Docket
Number BC-2014-03559 in Executive Session on 14 Apr 15 under the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:
, Panel Chair
, Member
, Member
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 27 Aug 14.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 5 Dec 14.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 23 Dec 14.
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 | CY2014 | BC 2014 00054
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. A thorough review of the applicants official military record did not locate any documentation verifying award of the VSM. The applicant provided TDY Order-Military, dated 24 Jan 67 assigning him to the 4133rd Bomb Wing (Provisional), Anderson Air Force Base (AFB), Guam; TDY Order-military, dated 22 Feb 68, assigning him to the...
AF | BCMR | CY2011 | BC-2011-05113
Only members who meet the criteria for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam) or VSM during the period of service are considered to have contributed direct combat support to the RVN armed forces. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force, which is attached at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial,...
AF | BCMR | CY2013 | BC 2013 04964
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-04964 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His records be corrected to reflect he was awarded the Vietnam Service medal (VSM) and any other awards that he may be eligible for. To be eligible, a service member must have served on TDY for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days. THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The application was not timely filed and it would...
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-02942
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-02942 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His records be corrected to reflect that he received the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) for his service in Vietnam and Thailand. He spent over 20 total months in Thailand, Vietnam, and Okinawa in 1967, 1968, and 1969. The remaining relevant facts...
AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-01978
The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letters prepared by the appropriate offices of the Air Force, which are at Exhibit C and D. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of his request for the RVCM and states that there is insufficient evidence in the applicant’s official military personnel record to support his claim that he served in the area of eligibility for the award....
AF | BCMR | CY2014 | BC 2014 01393
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,...
AF | BCMR | CY2013 | BC-2012-02464
In accordance with Department of Defense Manual (DoDM) 1348.33, the VSM is awarded to all members of the United States Armed Forces serving at any time between 4 July 1965 and 28 March 1973, in the AOE. After a thorough review of the applicant’s military service record, they found the applicant was not designated as an aircrew member and did not serve in the AOE for the required period of 60 non-consecutive days to be authorized for award of the VSM. We took notice of the applicant's...
AF | BCMR | CY2013 | BC 2012 05422
________________________________________________________________ THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial, stating, in part, that the applicant did not serve in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days. Unfortunately it cannot be determined whether the applicant meets the eligible criteria for award of the VSM. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, based on a review of the available...
AF | BCMR | CY2013 | BC-2012-02870
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. 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. _________________________________________________________________ The following...