RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  01-00175
		
		COUNSEL:  NONE
 		
		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His late father’s records be corrected to show that he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) and the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM).

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His father served on active duty for 20 years and should have at least received an AFCM upon his retirement.

The applicant states that his father was a pilot and flight instructor during World War II and a radar officer during the Korean War.  His last five years were served in enlisted grades, as a result of a 1957 Reduction-in-Force (RIF) while he was serving as a major in the Reserves.  It is incomprehensible to think that an Air Force career enlisted and officer would not be entitled to at least one AFCM.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The member served in the Reserve Army from 15 March 1941 through 31 October 1941.

On 31 October 1941, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Officer Reserve Corps, United States Army, and entered active duty on 1 November 1941.

On 13 February 1943, he was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Army Air Corps and progressively promoted to the grade of major. 

On 10 January 1947, he was released from active duty in the grade of major due to demobilization at the conclusion of World War II.

He served in the Air Force Reserve from 13 June 1948 through 30 November 1957.

On 30 November 1957, he was released from active military service in the grade of major and transferred to the inactive reserve.

While still holding his reserve commission, he enlisted in the Regular Air Force in the grade of airman first class (E-3) on 3 January 1958, for a period of six years, and entered active duty.

On 6 August 1958, he was promoted to the grade of lieutenant colonel, Air Force Reserve.

On 30 September 1962, he was relieved from active duty in the grade of technical sergeant (E-6) and on 1 October 1962, retired in the grade of lieutenant colonel.  He completed 20 years and 12 days of active service.  During this period, he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Air Force Longevity Service Award with Four Oak Leaf Clusters, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal-Air Force, the Army of Occupational Medal-Japan, the Korean Service Medal, the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the American Defense Service Medal.

The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) is awarded for noncombat meritorious achievement or service to the United States.  Although required achievement or service to warrant awarding the MSM is less than that required for awarding the Legion of Merit, it must nevertheless be accomplished with distinction above and beyond that required for awarding the AFCM.

The Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) is awarded for outstanding achievement or meritorious service rendered specifically on behalf of the Air Force, acts of courage that do not meet the requirements for award of the Airman’s Medal or Bronze Star Medal, and sustained meritorious performance by crewmembers.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Chief, Recognition Programs Branch, AFPC/DPPPR, reviewed the application and states that there is no indication in the member’s records that he was ever recommended for a decoration or awarded one, such as the AFCM.  Only a service member’s supervisor, commander or individual with first-hand knowledge of an action, service or accomplishment may recommend a service member for a decoration.  In addition, the written recommendation must be placed into official channels and then forwarded to the final approval/disapproval authority for a determination.  A decoration is not automatically awarded for a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) or upon a service member’s retirement.  The member must have performed his duties in an exceptional manner or accomplished a specific project, plan or program that is beneficial to the Air Force.  There is no indication in the member’s records that he performed any special project, plan or program in an exceptional manner, or performed his duties in an above-the-average manner.  Therefore, they recommend the application be denied.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant reviewed the Air Force evaluation and states that he wrote the Military Records Center and asked that all of his father’s medals and awards be sent to his mother.  He had always been told that his father received the AFCM when he retired in 1962.  However, the AFCM was not among those listed.  It is incomprehensible to think that in his father’s entire military career covering World War II, Korea and service up to 1962, that he did not accomplish a specific project, plan or program that was beneficial to the Air Force, or that he did not perform any of these in an exceptional manner.  During World War II, his father was a flight instructor for combat pilots and one of the first instructors of the Chinese flight students.  During the Korean War, his father was a radar officer on the coast of Japan helping direct Air Force aircraft to and from the combat theatre and providing early warning protection for our forces against possible enemy attack.  In addition, he was also a pilot and flew missions into South Korea to airlift wounded soldiers and marines back to Japan.  After being separated based on two nonselections for promotion, his father enlisted and served as an Operations Specialist in the Nuclear Test Program at Kirkland AFB.  He also spent six months in Einewetok working with the B-57s as they monitored the affects of atomic explosions.  His father’s last assignment was as an operations scheduler at Dover AFB and certainly must have been involved in some project, plan or program that benefited the Air Force.

The applicant’s complete responses are at Exhibit E.

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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 probable error or injustice to warrant awarding the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM).  We believe that sufficient evidence has been presented to warrant recognizing the member’s meritorious service rendered specifically on behalf of the Air Force.  In this respect, we note that during the period 3 January 1958 through 30 September 1962, the applicant served as an enlisted member of the Regular Air Force.  While AFPC/DPPPR opines that there is no indication in the member’s records that he performed any special project, plan or program in an exceptional manner, or performed his duties in an above-the-average manner, we note that the performance reports rendered during this period all reflect that the member performed his duties in an outstanding manner.  In view of this, we believe the member’s service deserves recognition and recommend that he be awarded the AFCM.  However, we found no direct evidence that his performance met the criteria for award of the Meritorious Service Medal.

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THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service during the period 3 January 1958 through 30 September 1962.

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The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 18 April 2001, 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 10 Jan 01, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 12 Feb 01.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 23 Feb 01.
     Exhibit E.  Letters, Applicant, dated 18 & 23 Mar 01, w/atchs.

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                                  Panel Chair