RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-02664 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ___________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His records be corrected to reflect: 1. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Unit Plaque. 2. His Foreign Service in North Africa. 3. He was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He received the Meritorious Service Award and Certificate; however, they were lost. There was a disagreement with the processing of his discharge which may have inadvertently caused his unit to leave off his North Africa service and his Meritorious Service Award. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant is a former member of the Air Force who served from 2 December 1942 through 20 February 1946. His records were destroyed in a fire at the National Personnel Center in 1973; therefore, the facts and circumstances surrounding his service could only be verified through the limited amount of reconstructed records. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial. A review of the applicant’s Master Personnel Records failed to substantiate he served in North Africa or with the 4th Army Airways Communications Systems Wing (AACSW). However, there was mention of his service in New Delhi, India in October 1944. The complete DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSID recommends denial. The applicant requests the European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the Meritorious Service Unit Plague, which is now called the Meritorious Unit Citation (Army). The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is awarded to all military departments for service outside the continental United States, in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater, for at least 30 days between 7 December 1941 and 8 November 1945. Personnel who were assigned or attached members of units during the period for which campaigns participation credit, or assault landing credit, was accorded to the unit, were awarded the bronze service star and arrowhead to denote their participation in the action. The applicant’s only verifiable Foreign Service was in New Delhi, India in October 1944, for which he received the Asian-Pacific Campaign Medal. Without documentation verifying he was in the area of responsibility, he is ineligible for the award of the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. The Meritorious Unit Citation (Army) is awarded to units for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services for at least 6 continuous months during the period of military operations against and armed enemy occurring after 1 January 1944. Service in a combat zone is not required, but it must be directly related to the combat effort. The unit must display such outstanding devotion and superior performance of exceptionally difficult task as to set it apart and above units with similar missions. The degree of achievement required is the same that would warrant award of the Legion of Merit to an individual. Although they were able to verify the 4th AACSW was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation from 1 May 1944 through 2 September 1945, they were unable to verify the applicant was assigned to this unit. Therefore, he is ineligible for the Meritorious Unit Citation. There is insufficient evidence to show the applicant is eligible for the requested awards. The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit D. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 11 September 2012, for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit E). As of this date, this office has not received a 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 an error or injustice. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission and the available evidence of record in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinions and recommendations of the Air Force offices of primary responsibility and adopt their 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 RECOMMENDS 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-2012-02664 in Executive Session on 15 February 2013, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: Panel Chair Member Member The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-02664 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 18 Jun 12, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 25 Jul 12. Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 4 Sep 12. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 11 Sep 12.