RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-01946 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His official records be corrected to: 1. Show his service in Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam. 2. Update his DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, with appropriate Vietnam Campaign Awards. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He served in Vietnam with the 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron from 1964 to 1965. In support of his appeal, the applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachment, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant initially entered the Air Force on 8 Jun 61, received an honorable discharge certificate on 7 Jun 65, and was credited with four years of active service, which included one year and four months of foreign service. While assigned to the 474th Organizational Maintenance Squadron, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, the applicant received an Enlisted Performance Report (EPR) for the period 8 Jun 64 through 7 Jun 65, which contains the comment, “He also performs well on TDY’s under difficult situations such as the most recent TDY to Southeast Asia.” The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the letters prepared by the Air Force offices of primary responsibility which are included at Exhibits C and D. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial indicating that there is no evidence of an error or injustice. Unfortunately, the applicant’s DD Form 214 does not provide the exact locations or dates of his foreign service to substantiate his claim of service in the Republic of Vietnam. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSID recommends denial indicating that there is no evidence of an error or injustice. Award of service and campaign medals is based on the location and length of service in the areas of operation for each distinctive campaign award. The applicant’s DD Form 214 reflects award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM). This is an appropriate award for service in Vietnam. The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) was not awarded during the dates of the applicant’s TDY. It could not be determined if the applicant is eligible for award of the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal or the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm without specific dates and locations. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit D. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant reiterates that he spent time in Vietnam with the 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron in 64 and 65, and identifies his commander. He provides two “eye witness” letters, from a retired Chief Master Sergeant and retired Master Sergeant respectively, both of whom attest to the fact they served with the applicant in Vietnam as he contends. In addition, he provides copies of letters from the Commander of the 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron, the Commander of the 428th Tactical Fighter Wing, and the 747th Tactical Fight Wing Deputy Commander for Material, each commending the applicant for his outstanding performance with the 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron on Operation One Buck Five. In addition, the applicant provides a picture which he states shows him in Vietnam with the two individuals who provided the eye-witness letters, a recent newspaper article about his service in Vietnam, and copies of Vietnamese money, historical newspaper articles, and a Christmas Day Dinner Menu from the Air Force Dining Hall at Da Nang, Vietnam (Exhibit F). ________________________________________________________________ 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. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. The applicant contends he served in Vietnam and his DD Form 214 should be corrected to reflect said service. After a thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s complete submission, we believe a preponderance of the evidence indicates the applicant served in the Republic of Vietnam. In this respect, we note the applicant has provided evidence indicating he was involved in Operation One Buck Five as a member of the 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron, and the 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron was in Vietnam for Operation One Buck Five from 24 Nov 64 to 13 Mar 65. Therefore, we believe it is in the interest of justice to resolve any doubt in this matter in the applicant’s favor and recommend his record be corrected as indicated below. ________________________________________________________________ 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 had boots on the ground in the Republic of Vietnam from 24 Nov 64 to 13 Mar 65. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-01946 in Executive Session on 9 Jan 13, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: Panel Chair Member Member All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-01946 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 13 Jan 12, w/atch. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 10 Jul 12. Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 11 Aug 12. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 28 Aug 12. Exhibit F. Letter, Applicant, undated, w/atchs. Panel Chair