RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-01922 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: YES _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His records be corrected to reflect award of the Air Medal (AM), Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM). _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: At the time of his discharge it was not known that he was entitled to these medals. He believes he earned these medals and his DD Form 214 should be corrected to reflect them. In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of documents extracted from his military personnel records, as well as summaries of the criteria for award of the AM and Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant’s records reflect he served on active duty from 8 Feb 63 to 1 May 67. According to information provided by the applicant, he was on temporary duty (TDY) to Vietnam on or about 24 Dec 66 and 28 Dec 66. By letter dated 9 Feb 67 from the Chief, Flight Scheduling Branch reflects the applicant was a flight mechanic for a B47 aircraft, his theater of operation was Vietnam and he had 18 aerial missions. On 21 Sep 10, AFPC/DPSIDRA informed the applicant that his entitlement to the AM, VSM and RVCM could not be verified. He was further informed his completion of missions in Southeast Asia were verified but the exact dates and locations could not be verified. The Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) informed the applicant that the official histories of the 3rd Air Division reflect that the 3960th Strategic Wing operated two RB-47H reconnaissance aircraft from Andersen AFB, Guam and that these aircraft flew reconnaissance missions over Vietnam. The AM is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States Armed Forces, subsequent to 8 Sep 39, distinguished themselves by heroic or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. According to historical research information, the AM was awarded during the Vietnam conflict for the completion of 10 or 25 combat missions performed over North or South Vietnam, respectively. The VSM is awarded to service members of the Armed Forces who served at any time between 4 Jul 65 and 28 Mar 73, in Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia, or the airspaces thereof, and in direct support of operations in Vietnam and if on temporary duty (TDY) in the area of responsibility (AOR) for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days. The service member must actually participate as a crew member in one or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations, be attached to or regularly serving one, or more, days with an organization participating in or directly supporting ground (military) operations or be attached or regularly serving for one, or more, days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations. The RVCM is awarded to service members of the armed forces who, during the period 1 Mar 61 through 28 Mar 73, served for at least six months in South Vietnam; or served outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Armed Forces for an aggregate of six months. Only members who meet criteria established for the Air Force Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) (Vietnam) or the VSM during the period of service are considered to have contributed direct combat support to the RVN Armed Forces. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: HQ AFPC/DPSIDRA recommends denial noting there was no Special Order or official documentation provided or located verifying the applicant was recommended for or awarded the AM. As for his requests related to the VSM and RVCM, although he provided copies of his TDY orders and follow-ups indicating he was TDY to Vietnam; he did not provide copies of the vouchers authenticating the TDY orders. Neither the applicant’s submission or his military personnel records contain enough official documentation to substantiate that he had “boots on the ground” in Vietnam for the required length of time in order to be entitled to the either the VSM or the RVCM. The complete AFPC/DPSIDRA evaluation is at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EALUATION: He believes due to an error of administrative omission his personnel records do not reflect any information regarding his flight activity records, which would show his accrued combat hours and the number of his combat missions over Vietnam. He received flight and hazardous duty/imminent danger pay for his participation. His 0-1 missions he participated in required take-off from Anderson AFB, Guam and landing in Vietnam. The aircraft that was flown required a crew chief. He meets the criteria for the AM dated 18 Mar 66, which was 10 missions over North Vietnam and 20 missions over South Vietnam or 35 support missions. He also believes he meets the criteria for the VSM and RVCM based on his flight records. In support of his response, the applicant provides copies of his flight records, TDY orders, and other correspondence from his military personnel records. 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 an error or injustice to warrant award of the AM. Although the applicant has provided documentation reflecting he participated in several aerial flights which included 18 combat missions, these records do not specify whether these combat missions were flown over North or South Vietnam and therefore preclude us from determining if the applicant participated in the requisite ten or twenty missions over North or South Vietnam, respectively, to qualify for the AM under the criteria in effect at the time. Additionally, neither the evidence of record or the applicant’s submission contains any documentation indicating that he was recommended for award of the AM. Notwithstanding the above, sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or an injustice with respect to the VSM and RVCM. We note the comments of the Air Force office of primary responsibility indicating there was insufficient official documentation in the applicant’s submission and military personnel records to indicate he had served the requisite number of days “boots on the ground” for award of the VSM or RVCM. Nonetheless, we believe that a preponderance of the evidence indicates the applicant met the criteria for the awards based on his service as an aircrew member. We note the flight records provided by the applicant indicate that he participated in 18 qualifying combat missions for award of the VSM, and while said missions originated from outside the Republic of Vietnam, these missions were flown in direct support of the RVN armed forces over the course of more than the six months required for the applicant to qualify for the RVCM. Therefore, we recommend his records be corrected to the extent indicated below. 4. The applicant's case is adequately documented and it has not been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel will materially add to our understanding of the issue(s) involved. Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably considered. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that he was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal for his service as a crew chief with the 3960th Strategic Wing. _________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2011-01922 in Executive Session on 2 Feb 12, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2011-01922 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 17 May 11, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Military Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSIDRA, dated 28 Jun 11. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 22 Jul 11. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 5 Aug 11, w/atchs.