RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-00269 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to include award of the Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM) and the National Defense Service Medal (NDSM). APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He was advised by the VFW he qualifies for the KDSM and NDSM. The applicant has submitted evidence of service in Korea to include a special order assigning him to Korea and another special order with amendment reassigning him from Korea to South Dakota. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: No official military personnel record of the applicant was available at the time of his request. Therefore, the applicant’s documentation was used. On 31 Jan 56, according to information provided by the applicant, he entered active duty and was honorably discharged on 4 Sep 59, having served 3 years, 7 months, and 4 days on active duty, which includes 11 months and 28 days of foreign service. According to information provided by the applicant, Special Order (SO) dated 21 May 57 assigned the applicant to the 314 ADH Division on “PROJ-JUL-FEAF-Korea” with EDSCA of 27 Aug 57. According to information provided by the applicant Special Order A-182 dated 11 Jun 58 returned the applicant from 6314 ABGRU (PACAF) to Ellsworth AFB with EDSCA of 16 Aug 58. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the KDSM and the NDSM. The KDSM period of eligibility is 28 Jul 54 to a future date to be determined and is awarded by the Secretary of Defense to service members who were assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating or serving on all the land area of the Republic of Korea, and the contiguous waters out to 12 nautical miles, and all airspace above the stated land and water areas. To be eligible for the (KDSM), personnel must have been physically present in the stated areas for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days. The NDSM was established on 22 Apr 53, and amended 11 Jan 66, to recognize honorable active military service during periods of conflict or national crisis. Members of the Armed Forces of the United States who are on active duty, members of the Selected Reserve in good standing, members of other than the Selected Reserve called to active duty, cadets in the United States Air Force Academy, and United States Air Force members who have completed United States Air Force Basic Training are eligible for the medal. Ineligible members include Reserve Officer Training Corp cadets and members called to active duty for the sole purpose of undergoing a physical examination, for training only, or to serve on boards, courts, or commissions. The NDSM is authorized for service during the Korean Conflict (27 Jun 50 to 27 Jul 54), the Vietnam Conflict (1 Jan 61 to 14 Aug 74), the Gulf War (2 Aug 90 to 30 Nov 95), and the Global War on Terrorism (11 Sep 01 to a date to be determined). With regard to the KDSM, the applicant provided Special Order Number 6, issued from the 1901st Airways and Air Communications Service Squadron, dated 27 May 57 indicating assignment to Korea, as APO 970 was Korean Base Command, Inchon Korea. He also provided Special Order Number A282 issued from 314th Air Division, APO 970 San Francisco, dated 24 Jun 58, reassigning the applicant. However, without travel vouchers to authenticate the applicant's assignment to Korea and for how long, his foreign service in Korea could not be verified. With regards to the NDSM, the applicant's dates of service do not fall within a period for which the NDSM is authorized; rendering the applicant ineligible. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/JA recommends denial of award of the KDSM and NDSM citing the same rationale as AFPC/DPSID. The units designated in the applicant’s orders along with the assignment dates appear to evidence the applicant’s assignment to Korea in 1957 and from Korea in 1958. However, there is a lack of travel vouchers or other documentation to authenticate the applicant’s assignment to Korea and for how long. Without additional documents or evidence, the member has failed to substantiate the specific requirement for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days of physical presence required to qualify for the KDSM. The applicant’s DD 214 evidences service dates of 31 Jan 56 through 4 Sep 59. These dates are outside the applicable period for award of the NDSM. Therefore, the applicant is ineligible for the NDSM. A complete copy of the AFPC/JA evaluation is at Exhibit D. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant refutes OPR’s position to deny and restates his service dates in Korea and points out any additional documents to support his case were destroyed in a fire (Exhibit F). THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2. The application was timely filed. 3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice with respect to the applicant’s request for the National Defense Service Medal (NDSM). We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we accept the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force offices of primary responsibility (OPR) and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant is not the victim of an error or injustice with respect to the NDSM. 4. Notwithstanding the above, sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice with respect to his request for the Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM). While we note the comments of AFPC/DPSID and AFPC/JA indicating that copies of paid travel vouchers are required to substantiate the applicant actually served in the Republic of Korea for the requisite 30 consecutive or 60 non- consecutive days to qualify for award of the KDSM, we believe the preponderance of evidence, taken together, supports the applicant’s eligibility for award of the KDSM. In this respect, we note the applicant’s assignment orders to Korea in 1957 and reassignment from Korea to Ellsworth AFB in 1958 indicate the applicant did serve in Korea. These orders, plus the applicant’s foreign service time on his DD Form 214 of 11 months and 28 days, validate the applicant served the requisite time for award of the KDSM. Therefore, we recommend the applicant’s records be corrected to the extent indicated below. THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the applicant be corrected to show that he was awarded the Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM). The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-00269 in Executive Session on 15 Dec 15 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: Panel Chair Member Member All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 19 Jan 15, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 13 Oct 15. Exhibit D. Memorandum, AFPC/JA, dated 3 Nov 15. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 4 Nov 15. Exhibit F. Letter, Applicant, dated 10 Nov 15.