RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2007-03994
		INDEX CODE:	107.00
		COUNSEL:  NONE
		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Korea Defense Service Medal (KDSM).

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His Standard Form 600, Chronological Record of Medical Care shows he was assigned in the Republic of Korea.  The Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) indicated the 6043rd USAF Dispensary did not exist. He states it had to exist because he was assigned there.  This is a gross error and injustice to him.

In support of his request, the applicant submitted a personal letter, email correspondence and documentation extracted from his military personnel and medical records.
  
His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant’s military personnel records reflect he enlisted on active duty on 23 September 1953. 

On 14 November 1963, he was honorably discharged in the grade of airman first class (E-4).  He served 10 years, 1 month and 22 days on active duty.

The Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM) is awarded to personnel physically present in the in the Republic of Korea and the surrounding waters for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or must meet one of the following: (1) Be engaged in actual combat during an armed engagement, regardless of the time in the areas of eligibility.  (2) Be killed, wounded, or injured in the line of duty and required medical evacuation from the area of eligibility.  (3) While participating as a regularly assigned aircrew member flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the area of eligibility in support of military operations.  Each day that one or more sorties are flown in accordance with these criteria shall count as one day toward the 30 or 60 day requirement. 

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial.  DPSIDR states a medical document located in the applicant's record indicates he was treated by a medical facility at the 6043rd USAF Dispensary in Korea; however it does not verify 60 nonconsecutive days of service in Korea.  He has been informed several times by DPSIDR of his ineligibility for the award of the KDSM between 2004 and 2005.  The Directorate of Assignments (DOA) was contacted on 31 August 2005, for verification and found no evidence of the 6043rd.  The DOA was unable to verify his temporary duty (TDY) assignment to Korea.  On September 2005, DPSIDR contacted the Air Force Historical Research Agency for information on the 6043rd and they were unable to verify this unit existed.  There was no official documentation provided or located in his records that verifies he completed the required 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days to be eligible for award of the KDSM.  

The complete DPSIDR evaluation is attached at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 25 January 2008 for review and comment within 30 days.  As of this date, this office has received no response (Exhibit D).

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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.	Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice.  After a thorough review of the available evidence and the applicant’s complete submission, we are not persuaded his records should be corrected to show he was awarded the KDSM.  We agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice.  Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application.

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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.

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The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2007-03994 in Executive Session on 27 February 2008, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2007-03994 was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 25 October 2007, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 16 January 2008.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 January 2008.