RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-00372 

 COUNSEL: 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

1. His DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty be 
corrected to reflect his Foreign Service. (Will be 
administratively corrected) 

 

2. His records be corrected to reflect entitlement to the 
Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

During an overseas flight, he landed in Vietnam and was exposed 
to Agent Orange. 

 

He did not realize his Foreign Service was not listed on his DD 
Form 214 until he applied for employment with the Department of 
Veterans Affairs (DVA). 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his 
DD Form 214, a DVA rating decision, and a letter from the James 
H. Quillen VA Medical Center. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant served on active duty in the Air Force from 27 Jan 
70 to 25 Jan 74. His DD Form 214 reflects a total 4 years, 
1 month, and 10 days of total active service; however, does not 
reflect any Foreign Service. 

 

The VSM 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 the contiguous waters and 
airspace; in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia or the airspace thereof 
for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days and in direct 
support of military operations in Vietnam. 

 

AFPC/DPAPP was able to verify the following overseas service and 
his DD Form 214 will be administratively corrected to reflect 
25 days of Foreign Service. 

 


25 Dec 71 – 1 Jan 72; Hawaii, Johnson Atoll, Wake Island, 
Philippines, Vietnam, and Japan 

 

10 Jan – 17 Jan 72; Hawaii, Wake Island, Philippines, Japan, 
Korea 

 

13 Oct – 19 Oct 71; Hawaii, Wake Island, Guam, Philippines, 
Thailand, and Guam 

 

14 -15 Nov 71; Germany 

 

Based on the above information, DPAPP confirmed the applicant’s 
presence in Vietnam, and provided the applicant with a letter he 
could use as proof of “boots on the ground” in Vietnam for any 
organization that requires it. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial for award of the VSM. DPSIDR 
states that DPAPP was unable to verify the applicant served 30 
consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days in the AOE, rendering him 
ineligible for award of the VSM. 

 

The complete DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit B. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

On 8 Apr 11, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to 
the applicant for review and comment within 30 days. To date, a 
response has not been received (Exhibit C). 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

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 regarding the 
applicant’s request for the VSM. While it has been verified the 
applicant served in Vietnam, it could not be verified that he 
served the amount of time that would entitle him to the VSM. As 
such, 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 regarding this issue. Therefore, 
aside from the administrative correction noted above, we find no 
basis to recommend further relief in this case. 


 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

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-2011-00373 in Executive Session on 9 Jun 11, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 24 Jan 11, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 31 Mar 11. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 8 Apr 11. 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair