RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-03177 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 1. His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, issued 4 Sep 70, be amended to include his service in Vietnam. (Administratively Corrected) 2. He be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). (Administratively Corrected) 3. He be awarded the Air Medal (AM). APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He qualifies for award of the VSM and the AM. He provides copies of his Temporary Duty (TDY) orders, AM order and other source documents to substantiate his entitlement to the requested awards. The Board should consider his untimely request in the interest of justice because he just had open-heart surgery and had to review all of his records for correction. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 6 Sep 66, the applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force. On 4 Sep 70, the applicant was honorably released from active duty and was credited with 3 years, 11 months, and 29 days of active duty service, including 1 year, 9 months, and 18 days of foreign and/or sea service. On 21 Nov 14, DPAPP administratively corrected the applicant’s record to reflect boots on the ground in Hawaii and the Republic of Vietnam. Upon final Board action, the applicant’s record will be administratively corrected to reflect award of the VSM, with Three Bronze Service Stars (VSM, w/3BSS) and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC, w/P). AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial for award of the AM, indicating there is no official documentation, such as a recommendation or Special Order, in the applicant's military personnel record to verify he was recommended for or awarded the AM. In order to reasonably consider the applicant's request, he will need to submit a recommendation from someone with firsthand knowledge of the act/achievement preferably from someone within the applicant's chain of command at the time of the act/achievement, a proposed citation, and eyewitness statements. In regards the memorandum from the 6lst Military Airlift Wing, we believe the last paragraph to be an error, and that the memorandum refers to the applicant's Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM). Although the applicant refers to orders, we are unable to locate any of the award elements that should have been attached to the memorandum, and none were provided. However, the citation and Special Order for the award of the AFCM are located in the applicant's record. It seems unlikely that there were two decorations, the AM and the AFCM, awarded by the same unit for the same time period, and all the elements for one are in the applicant's record, but the record is silent as to the other. If the National Personnel Record Center transmitted the award based on official documentation, we are unable to locate it. Finally, a search for flight orders ended with a negative result, and the applicant's primary job of Aerospace Ground Equipment Mechanic, coupled with the absence of any references to flight in either the AFCM citation or the applicant's Enlisted Performance Report (EPR), result in it being questionable that the applicant was awarded the AM for sustained meritorious achievement while engaged in aerial flight. The only supporting documentation is an uncorroborated sentence in an undated memorandum. To grant relief would be contrary to the criteria established by DoDM 1348.33, Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff, and/or the War Department. The AM may be awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States Armed Forces, subsequent to 8 Sep 39, distinguishes himself or herself by meritorious achievement while participating in an aerial flight. The Air Medal may be awarded for combat or non-combat action in recognition of single acts of valor, heroism, or merit while participating in aerial flight. Additionally, it may be conferred for sustained meritorious achievement (distinction) in the performance of duties involving aerial flight. DPSID also notes that based on a review of the applicant's official military personnel record, they were able to determine the applicant should be awarded the VSM w/3BSS and the RVNGC w/P, during his service from 6 Sep 66 to 4 Sep 70 which were not reflected in his records. Upon final board decision, administrative correction of the applicant's official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DPSOR: The complete DPSID evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit C. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant refutes the OPR’s claim that he is not entitled to the AM; however, based on the criteria, he is not able to provide any documents awarding him the AM. In addition, while he is not aware of the reasons of what he did to earn consideration for the AM, he seriously doubts the Air Force, Awards and Personal Affairs Branch would sign any sort of document, etc, without a just cause. The applicant’s complete response, with attachment, is at 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 opinion and recommendation of the Air Force Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error of injustice. Should the applicant provide additional evidence, as requested by the OPR, to substantiate his claim, we would be willing to reconsider his appeal. Aside from the administrative corrections noted above, 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-2014-03177 in Executive Session on 14 Apr 15 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, undated, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 28 Jan 15, w/atch. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 Feb 15. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 3 Mar 15, w/atch.