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

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-02562

 						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to reflect he served in Vietnam.  

He be awarded the following awards and decorations:

	The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM).
	
	The Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM).  

The applicant amended his request to include the following awards and decorations:

	The Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Short Tour (AFOR-Short Tour).

	The Air Force Training Ribbon (AFTR).

	The Nuclear Deterrence Award.  

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The Air Force failed to maintain his records.  

Justice has no time limits. He received an invitation from the group assigned at Phan Rang, Vietnam.  He has sent information over the past four years requesting reinstatement of his Vietnam campaign awards and each time the response is that the information is not in his records.  He was on flying status with the 776th Troop Carrier Squadron (776 TCS) which supported Vietnam to include Temporary Duty (TDY) assignment at Ton Son Nhut AB, Vietnam.  He was awarded these awards at Ching Chuan Kang AB in 1967 by his decorations officer.  

He is 74 years old and has cancer.  Common sense and reasoning have failed.  At 74 years of age, he would like to put the medals on his wall.

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

RESUME OF CASE:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 6 January 1961 and was honorably discharged on 7 June 1968.  He was credited with 7 years, 4 months and 27 days of active duty service.  

A letter from the Air Force Historical Research Agency dated 14 June 2012, states the 776 TCS participated in numerous rotational missions to the Republic of Vietnam.  However, very few individual names were noted. 

On 17 March 2015, by majority vote, the Board denied the applicant’s requests that his record be corrected to reflect he served in Vietnam and that he be awarded the VSM and VCM.  The Board majority adopted the conclusions and recommendations of the Air Force Offices of Primary Responsibility (OPRs) that the applicant had had not provided substantial evidence and there was no documentation in his records to warrant granting the requested relief.  However, the applicant was informed by AFPC/DPAPP they were able to verify Boots on Ground (BOG) foreign service at Ching Chuan Kang AB, Taiwan and that his DD Form 214 correctly reflected his foreign service time.  The applicant was further advised to use the letter as his proof of BOG foreign service in Taiwan. The applicant’s records were also administratively corrected for award of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA).  

The VSM is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who between 4 July 1965 and 28 March 1973 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 days or 60 nonconsecutive days.

The VCM is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who between 1 March 1961 and 28 March 1973; served for six 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 six months.  

The Air Force Overseas Ribbon (AFOR) was authorized by the Chief of Staff, United States Air Force on 12 October 1980.  The ribbon was authorized to be awarded to Air Force and Air Force Reserve members credited with completion of an overseas tour on or after 1 September 1980.  Only individuals serving on active duty as of 6 January 1986 are eligible to have the AFOR applied retroactively for completion of an overseas tour.

The Air Force Training Ribbon (AFTR) was established on 12 October 1980 and is awarded to members who after 14 August 1974 completed an Air Force accession training program.  

The Secretary of the Air Force approved the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal on 27 May 2014 to recognize direct support to nuclear deterrence operations.  The medal is authorized for Airmen who directly impacted the Nuclear Enterprise.  The Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal may be awarded retroactively to 27 December 1991 to fully qualified airmen.  

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the memorandums prepared by the Air Force offices of primary responsibility (OPR), which are attached at Exhibits I and J.    

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP3AM recommends denial of the request that the applicant’s record be corrected to reflect he served in Vietnam.  The information provided and the applicant’s records do not contain information which reflects the applicant served in Vietnam.  DPAPP verified the applicant had BOG at Ching Chuan Kang AB, Taiwan from 19 April 1966 to 26 May 1967 for 1 year, 1 month and 8 days but was unable to verify any foreign service in Vietnam.    

A complete copy of the AFPC/DP3AM evaluation is at Exhibit I.

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denial for award of the VSM.  DP3SP was unable to locate official documentation nor did the applicant provide any to verify he served in Vietnam, Thailand, Laos or Cambodia in direct support of operations in Vietnam or he was permanently assigned, attached or detailed for one or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting ground (military) operations or participated as a crew member in on or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations; or served on TDY for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days in the area of eligibility for award of the VSM.

DP3SP recommends denial for award of the VCM.  There is no official documentation in the applicant’s record to verify he was in the area of eligibility for an aggregate of six months for award of the VCM.

DP3SP recommends denial for award of the AFTR.  The AFTR is authorized for completion of initial Air Force accession training after 14 August 1974.  The applicant completed Basic Military Training (BMT) in 1969, rendering him ineligible for the award.

DP3SP recommends denial for award of the AFOR-Short Tour.  The applicant did not complete an overseas tour on or after 12 September 1980 and was not serving on active duty as of 6 January 1986 to be eligible for retroactive award of the ribbon.

DP3SP recommends denial for award of the Nuclear Deterrence Operation Service Medal.  The applicant’s service dates were prior to the award dates for the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal.  To grant relief would be contrary to the criteria established by DODM 1348.33, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff.  

A complete copy of the AFPC/DP3SP evaluation is at Exhibit J.  

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 19 December 2016 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit K).  As of this date, no response has been received by this office.

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 (OPRs) and adopt the rationale expressed as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not sustained the burden of proof that he has 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 requested relief.

THE BOARD DETERMINES 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-2014-02562 in Executive Session on 23 February 2017 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	 , Panel Chair
	 , Member
	 , Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

	Exhibit F.  DD Form 149, dated 25 March 2016, w/atchs.
	Exhibit G.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit H.  Record of Proceedings, dated 17 March 2015,
			  w/exhibits.  
	Exhibit I.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3AM, dated 21 October 2016.  
	Exhibit J.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 8 December 2016.  
	Exhibit K.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 19 December 2016.  

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.