ADDENDUM TO 
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:			DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2012-04920
		
  						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The Board reconsider his request for the Korean Defense Service Medal.  

RESUME OF THE CASE:

On 6 Aug 13, the Board considered and denied a request for correction of military records submitted by the applicant.  The Board took notice of the applicant's complete submission and his rebuttal in judging the merits of the case; however, agreed with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopted its rationale as the as the basis for their conclusion the applicant had not been the victim of an error or injustice.

For an accounting of the facts and circumstances surrounding the applicant’s original request and the rationale of the earlier decision by the Board, see the AFBCMR Letter and Record of Proceedings at Exhibit F.  

On 1 Dec 15, the applicant requested reconsideration to be awarded the Korean Defense Service Medal.  In support of his reconsideration request, he provides a detailed synopsis of actions taken with various government and non-government agencies to verify his service in Korea, Compact Discs (CDs) including correspondence on reel-to-reel tapes between the applicant and his parents, and letters from airmen who served with him in Korea.

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit G.

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 in accordance with Title 10, United States Code, Section 1130.  

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an injustice.  After a thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s complete submission, we believe the applicant is the victim of an error or injustice.  While we note the previous comments of AFPC/DPSID indicating that relief should be denied because the applicant’s records contain no documentation substantiating the applicant’s contention that he served in Korea and the previous Board denied his original application, we believe a preponderance of the new evidence substantiates that corrective action is warranted.  In this respect, we note the applicant has provided eye-witness statements from airmen who served with him in Korea.  Additionally, it is more likely than not the applicant would have had an assignment to Korea, correlating to his foreign service of 11 months and 10 days, as a linguist following the completion of the Korean language course at Monterey, CA in April 1958, as annotated on his DD Form 214.  Therefore, we recommend the applicant’s records 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 was awarded the Korean Defense Service Medal for service in Korea from June 1958 to May 1959.  

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-04920 in Executive Session on 9 Feb 17 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-2012-04920 was considered:

	Exhibit F.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 28 Aug 13, w/ROP.
	Exhibit G.  DD Form 149, dated 1 Dec 15, w/atchs.
	Exhibit H.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 16 May 16.

Pursuant to paragraph 1 of AFI 36-2603 (Title 32 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 865.1), it is certified that a quorum was present at the Board's review and deliberations, and that the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board's proceedings in the above entitled matter.