RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-01403 

 INDEX CODE: 107.00 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

It appears the applicant is requesting that her late husband’s 
records be corrected to reflect award of: 

 

1. The World War II Victory Medal (WIIVM), (Administratively 
corrected by AFPC), and 

 

2. The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

Her late husband told her that his records were destroyed by 
fire and he never received the WWIIVM. 

 

It is her desire to pass the medals on to her grandson. 

 

In support of her request, the applicant provides copies of 
extracts from her late husband’s personnel records, a death 
certificate, marriage license, death notice, and the book, “A 
WWII G.I. Remembers.” 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The decedent enlisted in the Army Air Corps on 6 Apr 43 and was 
honorably discharged on 8 Oct 45. 

The DFC is awarded to any officer or enlisted person of the 
Armed Forces of the United States who shall have distinguished 
her/himself in actual combat in support of operations by heroism 
or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial 
flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

 


AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

HQ AFPC/DPSIDRA recommends denial for award of the DFC. 
However, they state they were able to verify the decedent’s 
entitlement to the American Campaign Medal (ACM) and the WWIIVM 
and the decedent’s records will be administratively corrected to 
reflect these medals. 

 

Under the Fiscal Year 1996 National Defense Authorization Act 
(NDAA), Section 526, enacted into law on 10 Feb 96, the original 
or reconstructed written award recommendation is required for 
the recommended individual. The recommendation must be made by 
someone, other than the member himself, preferably the commander 
or supervisor at the time of the act of achievement, with 
firsthand knowledge of the member’s accomplishments. If someone 
has firsthand knowledge of the applicant’s achievements, he may 
act as the recommending official. The recommendation must 
include the name of the decoration (i.e., DFC), reason for 
recognition (heroism, achievement, or meritorious service), 
inclusive dates of the act, and a narrative description of the 
act. The recommending official must sign the recommendation. 
Also, a proposed citation is required and any chain of command 
endorsements are encouraged. Any statements from fellow 
comrades, eyewitness statements attesting to the act, sworn 
affidavits, and other documentation substantiating the 
recommendation should be included with the package. In 
accordance with the 1996 NDAA rules, a recommendation made by 
someone with firsthand knowledge, eyewitness statements, and a 
proposed citation have not been provided by the applicant or 
located within the applicant’s late husband’s official military 
records. 

 

The complete HQ AFPC/DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

She believes her late husband qualifies for the DFC under the 
revised requirements and states she is unaware of any living 
members from his crew. 

 

The applicant's complete response, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit E. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

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 applicant's 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 and adopt its 
rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not 
been the victim of an error or injustice. Therefore, in the 
absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to 
recommend granting the relief sought in this application. 

 

_______________________________________________________________ 

 

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 Docket Number 
BC-2010-01403 in Executive Session on 5 October 2010, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 8 Apr 10, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSIDRA, dated 18 Jun 10. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 9 Jul 10. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 3 Aug 10, w/atchs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair