RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-03321 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 1. He be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). 2. He be awarded the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVNCM). 3. He be awarded the Basic Aircrew Member Badge – administratively corrected. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Discharge Certificate, does not reflect the correct medals and badge that he earned while he was attached to Yokota Air Base, Japan. During his assignment he routinely flew medical evacuation missions in and out of Tan Son Nhut and Da Nang Air Bases, Vietnam. He never noticed the omissions until he applied for VA medical benefits. In support of his request, the applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214, a copy of his Notification of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Reassignment, and copies of his special orders. His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant served in the Regular Air Force from 27 Jul 67 to 26 Jul 71. He received an honorable discharge after serving 4 years on active duty. The VSM criterion: The VSM was created by Executive Order 11213, 8 Jul 65. It is awarded to all service 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 contiguous waters and airspace; in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia or the airspace thereof and in the direct support of military operations in Vietnam. The RVNCM criteria: This medal is awarded to members of the armed forces of the United States who: 1) Served for six months in South Vietnam during the period 1 Mar 61 to 28 Mar 73; 2) Served outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the RVN armed forces for an aggregate of six months. Only members of the armed forces of the United States who meet the criteria established for the AFEM (Vietnam) or Vietnam Service Medal during the period of service required are considered to have contributed direct combat support to the RVN armed forces; 3) Did not complete the length of service required in item (1) or (2) above, but who, during wartime, were: a) wounded by the enemy (in a military action); b) captured by the enemy during action or in the line of duty, but later rescued or released; c) killed in action or in the line of duty; 4) Were assigned in Vietnam on 28 Jan 73, and who served a minimum of 60 calendar days in Vietnam during the period 29 Jan 73 to 28 Mar 73. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial of the VSM and RVNCM. DPAPP states they were able to verify the applicant served at Yokota AB, Japan, for 5 months and 28 days; and Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, for 1 year and 1 day. DPAPP confirmed the applicant had “boots on ground” in the Republic of Vietnam, Japan, and Alaska based on his three temporary duty assignments. However, DPAPP did not find errors concerning the applicant’s foreign service. The DPAPP complete evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the VSM and RVNCM. DPSIDR states they verified the applicant served in temporary duty status to Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam, on 14 Nov 69 and Da Nang AB, Vietnam, on 10 Nov 69 and again on 22 Nov 69. No other duty could be verified by DPAPP; therefore, the applicant is ineligible for award of the VSM and RVNCM. The DPSIDR complete evaluation is at Exhibit D. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 10 Dec 10 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, this office has received no response. _________________________________________________________________ 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 with regard to the applicant’s request for the VSM and RVNCM. 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 relief beyond that already granted administratively is not warranted. Therefore, we find no basis to favorably consider 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 AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010-03321 in Executive Session on 7 Apr 11, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 3 Sep 10, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 23 Nov 10. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 Dec 10.