RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-00215 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the following awards: Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA) and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P). (Will be administratively corrected). APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: The missing awards are an oversight. The 35th Civil Engineer Squadron (35 CES) and 35th Tactical Fighter Wing (35 TFW) were awarded the PUC per special order GB- 298. The applicant's complete submission is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 20 May 1966 the applicant entered the Regular Air Force and was honorably released from active duty on 19 March 1970. The PUC, formerly the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the United States Armed Forces for outstanding performance in action against an armed enemy occurring on or after, 16 October 1941 for the US Navy, and on or after 7 December 1941 for the US Army and US Air Force units. The unit must have displayed such gallantry, determination and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions to have set it apart and above other units participating in the same campaign. The degree of heroism required is the same as that which would be required for award of a Distinguished Service Cross to an individual. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant's request for award of the PUC. Although the 35 TFW received award of the PUC, there is no evidence the applicant was assigned to the 35 TFW. The applicant's direct unit of assignment, 35 CES, did not share in the award of the PUC rendering the applicant ineligible for the award. DPSID was unable to verify any unit the applicant was assigned to received award of the PUC while the applicant was assigned to the unit. To grant relief would be contrary to the criteria established by DODM 1348.33, Manual of Military Decorations and Award, the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff. Based on a review of the applicant's official military personnel record, the applicant should have been awarded the AFOUA with Valor and two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (AFOUA w/V & 2 BOLCs) and the RVNGC w/P. Upon the Board's final decision, the applicant's records will be administratively corrected by AFPC/DPSOR. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 2 July 2015 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D). 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. After a thorough review of the available evidence and the applicant's complete submission, we find no evidence that his records should be corrected to show he was awarded the PUC. Therefore, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error of injustice. Aside from the administrative corrections to award the AFOUA w/V & 2 BOLCs and the RVNGC w/P, we find no basis to recommend granting the additional relief sought in this application. 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-2015-00215 in Executive Session on 3 September 2015 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 11 January 2015. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 18 April 2015. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 2 July 2015.