RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03274 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to reflect entitlement to the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He requested copies of all his flight orders and temporary duty (TDY) orders to show proof of service in Vietnam; however, he has yet to receive any of these documents. He searched the internet for names of crewmembers he may have served with and found a navigator from the 44th Air Transport Squadron (44th ATS) who had a copy of an aeronautical order dated 4 Jan 64, showing the names of the crewmembers on a flight from Travis AFB to Saigon, Vietnam. He flew approximately three years with the 44th ATS and entered Saigon frequently. He also entered Da Nang on Christmas day in 1965 and was aboard the first C-141 to do so. In support of his appeal, the applicant provided a flight order, itinerary, and per diem voucher that documents a flight that departed Travis AFB, CA on 4 Jan 64 and flew via Hickam AFB, HI and Clark AB, PI to Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam, and reflects a 4- hour, 30 minute stop-over at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam, on 8 Jan 64. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant served on active duty in the Regular Air Force from 21 Aug 62 to 20 Jun 66. His DD Form 214 reflects a total of 3 years and 11 months of total active service, with 3 months and 1 day of Foreign Service. AFPC/DPSIDR has verified the applicant’s entitlement to the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with One Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. His DD Form 214 will be administratively corrected to include these awards. The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), created on 8 Jul 65, 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 thereover and in the direct support of military operations in Vietnam. The specific eligibility criteria requires a member to be attached to or directly serving for one or more days with an organization, or aboard a naval vessel, directly supporting military operations; actually participate as a crew member on one or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations; or serve on temporary duty (TDY) for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, although these time limitations may be waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations. However, no member may be issued both the AFEM and the VSM for service in Vietnam. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for entitlement to VSM. 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 and in the direct support of military operations in Vietnam for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days. DPSID states they were unable to locate documentation verifying the applicant served in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days as required for award of the VSM. The 4-hour, 30 minute stop-over at Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam, on 8 Aug 64, does not meet the time requirements for award of the VSM. The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant reiterates his earlier contentions, and disagrees with the terminology of his time in Vietnam being labeled as a stop-over. It was either a completion of their mission or the beginning of a new one. The 44th ATS was formed to assist in the war in Vietnam. They delivered troops, supplies, cargo and equipment, and also removed the remains of fallen heroes out of Vietnam. They flew air evacuation missions bringing wounded troops back to the states, these were not simply stop-over’s. Some missions into Vietnam were not printed orders but were diverted missions. Fellow Airmen of the 44th ATS, as well as the other flying squadrons at Travis AFB, also wore the VSM. The applicant’s complete response is at Exhibit D. _________________________________________________________________ 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 error or injustice. After carefully reviewing the evidence of record, and taking into consideration the comments of the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), we believe that relief is warranted. We note the OPR recommends denial, and states that they were unable to locate any official documentation verifying the applicant served in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in direct support of military operations in Vietnam. However, according to Department of Defense Manual (DoDM) 1348.33-V2, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, an additional criterion for award of the VSM, is if a service member actually participated as a crew member in one or more aerial flights supporting military operations in Vietnam. We note the applicant has provided a flight order reflecting he was scheduled to depart Travis AFB, to Saigon, Vietnam on or about 4 Jan 1964 to perform an aerial flight mission. He also provides a statement from the senior navigator on this same mission certifying that he was part of the crew that arrived in Vietnam on 8 Jan 1964. While the travel voucher provided is not legible, we find the voucher coupled with the flight orders and the statement from the senior navigator sufficient to recommend award of the VSM. In view of the above, we recommend his records be corrected as indicated below. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that the DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, issued in conjunction with his 20 Jun 66 discharge, be amended in Block 26, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized, to reflect award of the Vietnam Service Medal. _________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC-2012-03274 in Executive Session on 9 Apr 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 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 12 Jul 12, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 17 Sep 12. Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 Sep 12. Exhibit D. Letter, Applicant, 5 Oct 12. Panel Chair