RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-02307 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His records be corrected to reflect the following awards and decorations: 1. Air Medal (AM). 2. Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). 3. Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon. 4. Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM). ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He flew over 100 combat missions in Vietnam. From 1963 to 1969, he was assigned to Tachikawa, Japan, and continued to perform combat missions until Jun 1970. In support of his requests, the applicant provides a copy of his NA Form 13059, Transmittal of and/or Entitlement to Awards. The applicant's complete submission, with attachment, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 17 Jul 1959, the applicant entered active duty. His records show he was assigned at Tachikawa, Japan, from 14 Apr 1964 to 8 Jan 1966. On 1 Jun 1969, he was released from active duty. The applicant served a combined period of 9 years, 10 months and 15 days on active duty. The AM may be awarded to any person who while serving in any capacity with the United States Armed Forces, subsequent to 8 Sep 1939, distinguishes himself or herself by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Additionally, it may be conferred for sustained meritorious achievement (distinction) in the performance of duties involving aerial flight. The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) is awarded to units of the United States Armed Forces for outstanding performance in action against an armed enemy occurring on or after, 16 Oct 1941 for the US Navy, and on or after 7 Dec 1941 for the US Army and US Air Force units. The Air Force Long Tour Ribbon was authorized by the Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force, on 12 Oct 1980. Before 6 Jan 1986, the ribbon was awarded to Air Force and Air Force Reserve members credited with completion of an overseas tour on or after 1 Sep 1980. Air Force and Air Force Reserve members serving as of 6 Jan 1986 or later are entitled to reflect all Air Force overseas tours credited during their career. A service member may wear both ribbons, if appropriate. The short tour ribbon takes precedence over the long tour ribbon when both are worn. The AFEM may be awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who after 1 Jul 1958: Participate, or have participated, as members of the U.S. military in a U.S. military operation in which service members of any military department participate, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in significant numbers, and encounter, incident to such participation, foreign armed opposition, or are otherwise placed, or have been placed, in such position that, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, hostile action by foreign armed forces was imminent even though it did not materialize. Service members must have been permanently assigned, attached, or detailed to a unit that participated in or engaged in direct support of the operation for 30 consecutive days in a designated area of eligibility in a foreign territory (or the full period when an operation is less than 30 days duration) or for 60 non-consecutive days provided the support involved entering the area of eligibility. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the AM, PUC, Air Force Overseas Ribbon and the AFEM. They were unable to locate any official documentation in the applicant’s record to verify he was recommended for or awarded the AM. The applicant did not provide a citation, recommendation or narrative for the AM or any documentation to substantiate an error or injustice occurred. DPSID was unable to verify the applicant served with a unit that received the PUC while the applicant was assigned to the unit; therefore, rendering him ineligible for the award. The applicant served overseas before the Air Force Overseas Ribbon was authorized rendering him ineligible for the award. Furthermore, the applicant was not on active duty as of 6 Jan 1989; therefore, he does not qualify for retroactive award of the Air Force Overseas Ribbon. There was no documentation available in the applicant’s military personnel record verifying the applicant served in the area of eligibility and in direct support of an operation for which the AFEM is authorized rendering him ineligible for the award. Based on a review of the applicant’s military personnel records, DPSID determined the applicant should have been awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (AFOUA w/3 BOLC) and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P). Upon final determination by the Board, DPSID will administratively correct his corrects to include these awards. The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. SAF/MRBP recommends denial of the applicant’s requests. For award of the AM, a copy of the applicant’s records and flight logs with annotation, “AM (20 Jul 67)/DAF,” are required to corroborate the applicant was awarded the AM. Absent this documentation, MRBP recommends denial of the AM. There is no documentation to support the applicant’s unit of assignment, with inclusive dates, was awarded the PUC. Therefore, MRBP recommends denial of award of the PUC. For award of the AFEM, a copy of certified orders or documentation showing assignment to a unit that participated in or engaged in direct support of an operation for 30 consecutive days in a designated area of eligibility, or for the full period when an operation was less than 30 days duration, or for 60 non- consecutive days provided the support involved entering the area of eligibility. Absent this documentation, MRBP recommends denial of award of the AFEM. As stated in the DPSID advisory, the applicant is not eligible for the Air Force Overseas Ribbon since it was established for those members credited with completion of an overseas tour on or after 1 Sep 1980. Since the applicant served before this time period, he is not eligible for award of the Air Force Overseas Ribbon. The complete MRBP evaluation is at Exhibit D. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: On 19 Mar 2014, the copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, no response has been received by this office (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. We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission 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 the rationale expressed as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. Therefore, other than the administrative corrections awarding the AFOUA w/3 BOLC and the RVNGC w/P, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; that the application was denied without a personal appearance; and that 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-2013-02307 in Executive Session on 24 Apr 2014, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence in AFBCMR Docket Number BC- 2013-02307 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 6 May 2013, w/atch. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 16 Sep 2013. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBP, undated. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 Mar 2014. Chair 1