RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

 AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-01516 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

He be awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM). 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He served in Taiwan from 1957 – 1959. This included a period 
called the Second Taiwan Crisis where mainland China was 
aggressively shelling Taiwan’s offshore islands in a prelude to 
invade the main island of Taiwan. He was not aware that he was 
eligible for the award during the period he served. 

 

In support of his appeal, the applicant provides a copy of his 
DD Form 214, Report of Transfer or Discharge, issued in 
conjunction with his 21 Jan 59 separation. 

 

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

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant entered active duty on 14 Jun 55 for a period of 
four years. He honorably served until his discharge, effective 
21 Jan 59. He was credited with 3 years, 7 months and 8 days of 
active duty service, including 1 year, 2 months, and 29 days of 
foreign service. 

 

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THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial, stating, in part, with no 
official documentation located or provided to verify the 
applicant’s direct support in the Taiwan Straits operation or 
the Quemoy and Matsu Islands operations, they could not validate 
the applicant’s entitlement to the AFEM. 

 


 1. In accordance with the DoD 1348.33-M, C6.5.1.1., Personnel Eligible, states the AFEM may be awarded to members of 
the Armed Forces of the United States who after 1 July 1958: 

 

 a. Participate, or have participated, as members of 
U.S. military units in a U.S. military operation in which 
Service members of any Military Department participate, in the 
opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in significant numbers. 

 

 b. Encounter during such participation foreign armed 
opposition, or are otherwise placed, or have been placed, in 
such position that, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 
hostile action by foreign armed forces was imminent even though 
it did not materialize. 

 

 2. DoD 1348.33-M, C6.5.1.3.1.1, also states, the foreign 
territory on which troops have actually landed or are present 
and specifically deployed for the direct support of the 
designated military operation. 

 

 3. No temporary duty orders were located to confirm the 
applicant participation in the Quemoy and Matsu operations. 

 

The complete AFPC/DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The applicant notes some of the statements in the advisory 
opinion are partially correct. He was originally assigned to a 
mobile radio unit at Clark Air Base. Later the unit’s 
designation was changed, while still serving under the United 
States Air Force Security Service (USAFSS), with the mission of 
providing intelligence information to the National Security 
Agency (NSA). Due to the nature of the mission, they felt that 
they were a prime target for the Chinese communist in the event 
of an attack on Taiwan. 

 

The applicant’s complete response is 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. 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 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 basis to 
recommend granting the relief sought in this application. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

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-2010-01516 in Executive Session on 10 November 2010, 
under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 23 Apr 10, w/atch. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 14 Sep 10. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 26 Apr 10. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 7 Oct 10. 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair