RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-05271 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty, be amended to reflect the following: 1. Vietnam service. (Administratively Corrected) 2. Thailand service. 3. Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM). 4. Completion of the Noncommissioned Officers Academy (NCOA) course. (Administratively Corrected). 5. In a letter dated 25 Jun 14, the applicant amended his requests to include award of the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM). (Administratively Corrected) ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He was on Temporary Duty (TDY) assignment to Vietnam and Thailand. He is unable to get Vietnam veteran car tags. The only proof he has of his Vietnam service is a travel voucher. In support of his requests, the applicant provides copies of his DD Form 214, AF Forms 626, Request and Authorization for Temporary Duty-Military; and DD Forms 1351-2, Travel Voucher or Subvoucher. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 10 Jan 58, the applicant entered active duty. On 31 Jul 78, he was retired. He served 20 years, 6 months and 21 days on active duty. In a letter dated 22 May 14, AFPC/DPAPP informed the applicant they were able to verify his Vietnam service and instructed him to use the letter as proof of his Vietnam service since specific TDY locations are not included on the DD Form 214 (Exhibit E). The VCM is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who between 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73, served for 6 months in South Vietnam during this period; served outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces for an aggregate of 6 months. The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) is awarded to all service members of the Armed Forces who between 4 July 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. _______________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPAPP recommends disapproval of the applicant’s request to correct his records to reflect service in Thailand. The information provided by the applicant and a review of his master personnel records did not contain information that reflects he served in Thailand. DPAPP verified Vietnam service and provided the applicant with a boots on the ground letter as proof of his Vietnam service. The complete DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the VCM. DPSID was unable to locate any official documentation verifying he served an aggregate of 6 months in support of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam nor were they able to locate official documentation indicating he was wounded or captured; therefore rendering him ineligible for the VCM. According to the official documentation in his records he was in the area of eligibility for the VCM for a total of 105 days and not the 6 months required for eligibility of the VCM. To grant relief would be contrary to the criteria established by DOD Manual 1348.33, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards; Secretary of the Air Force, and the Chief of Staff. DPSID was able to determine the applicant should have been awarded the VSM with three Bronze Service Stars (VSM w/3 BSSs), the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P) and the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon (NCOPMEGR). Administrative corrections of his records to reflect these awards will be accomplished by AFPC/DPSOR. The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit D. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: He served at Bien Hoa AB, Republic of Vietnam from 8 Feb to 1 Aug 68 and 23 Oct 69 to 3 Feb 70. He also served at U-TPOA Airfield, Thailand from 18 Jul to 27 Aug 72 and from 9 Apr to 16 Apr 73. These TDY assignments should qualify him for the VCM. He completed four trips to Southeast Asia and DPSID verified award of the VSM w/3 BSS. His overseas duty selection date was changed to 20 Oct 72 and he was awarded the VCM at a commander’s call. He was also awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) upon his retirement on 31 Jul 78. In further support of his requests, the applicant provides copies of AF Form 1712, Uniform Military Personnel Record; MSM citation and various other documents. 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. ? 3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice to warrant correcting his record to reflect service in Thailand or to award him the VCM. We note the applicant served in Southeast Asia; however, as pointed out by DPSID, his records reflects that he was only in the Area Of Eligibility (AOE) for a total of 105 days and has not provided any evidence to show that he served in the AOE for at least 6 months to qualify for the VCM. Therefore, 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 failed to sustain his burden of proof that he has been the victim of an error or injustice. Therefore, aside from the administrative correction noted above, we find no basis to recommend granting the additional 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 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 Docket Number BC- 2013-05271 in Executive Session on 28 Aug 14, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence pertaining to Docket Number BC-2013-05271 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, 5 Nov 13, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 14 Jan 14. Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 24 Mar 14. Exhibit E. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 22 May 14. Exhibit F. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 13 Jun 14. Exhibit G. Letter, Applicant, dated 25 Jun 14, w/atchs.