RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-00363 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to reflect the award of all eligible Air Force Medals and/or Ribbons, including but not limited to: a. Armed Force Expeditionary Medal (AFEM). b. Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM). c. Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). (Administratively Corrected) d. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/ P). (Administratively Corrected) APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: These decorations were omitted from his record. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 8 Sep 66. On 27 Aug 69, the applicant arrived in Vietnam. On 17 Oct 69, the applicant departed Vietnam in Patient Status. On 7 Sep 70, the applicant was furnished an Honorable discharge, and was credited with 4 years, 2 months, and 28 days of active service. The applicant’s DD Form 214 reflects 1 month and 25 days of Foreign Service and award of the following Air Force Medals and/or Ribbons: - National Defense Service Medal - Air Force Outstanding Unit Award - Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Award - Air Force Good Conduct Medal The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the memorandum prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), which is attached at Exhibit C. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) and Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM), indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice. The AFEM may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after 1 July 1958, participate, or have participated, as members of United States military units in a United States Military operation in which service members of any Military Department participate, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in significant numbers; encounter, incident to such participation, foreign armed opposition, or are otherwise placed, or have been placed, in such position that, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, hostile action by foreign armed forces was imminent even though it did not materialize. Service members must be bona fide members of a unit participating in or be engaged in the direct support of the operation for 30 consecutive days in the area of operations (or for the full period when an operation is less than 30 days duration) or for 60 nonconsecutive days provided this support involved entering the area of operations or meet one or more of the following criteria: Be engaged in actual combat, or duty which is equally as hazardous as combat duty, during the operation with armed opposition, regardless of time in the area; Is wounded or injured and requires medical evacuation from the area of eligibility while participating in the operation, regardless of time; Accumulate 15 days service (consecutive/nonconsecutive) while participating as a regularly assigned crewmember of an aircraft flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the area in direct support of the military operation. The VCM is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who, between 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73 served for 6 months in South Vietnam, or 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. Only members of the United States Armed Forces who met the criteria established for the AFEM or the VSM during the period of service required are considered to have contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces; or did not complete the length of service required, but who, during wartime, were: wounded by the enemy (in a military action), captured by the enemy during action or in the line of duty, but later rescued or released, killed in action or in the line of duty; or were assigned in Vietnam on 28 Jan 73, and served in Vietnam for the entire period between 29 Jan 73 to 28 Mar 73. The VSM is awarded to all members of the United States Armed Forces who served in Vietnam or contiguous waters or airspace after 3 Jul 65, and before 28 Mar 73. In addition, personnel serving in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia in direct support of operations in Vietnam during the same time period also were eligible for the VSM. To be eligible, a service member must be permanently assigned, attached or detailed for one, or more, days with an organization participating in or directly supporting ground (military) operations; permanently assigned, attached, or detailed for one, or more, days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations; have actually participated as a crew member in one or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations; have served on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days. Those time limitations may be waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations. One bronze campaign star shall be worn on the suspension and campaign ribbon of the VSM for one or more days of participation in each designated campaign phase. The RVNGC with Palm was awarded by the Republic of Vietnam by certain units of the Armed Forces of the United States for valorous combat achievement during the Vietnam Conflict, inclusive from 1 Mar 61 to 28 Mar 73. There are no authorized devices. After a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel records, they were not able to verify the applicant deployed to an area of eligibility in direct support of an operation for which the AFEM was authorized. They were also not able to verify the applicant served in direct combat support of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces for an aggregate of six months. They did confirm he served in Vietnam between 27 Aug 69 and 17 Oct 69; this length of time does not meet the award criteria for the award of the VCM. They have determined the below Air Force Medals and/or Ribbons should have been awarded: - Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters - Air Force Longevity Service Award - Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Upon final Board decision, administrative correction of the applicant’s official military personnel records will be complete 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 8 Sep 15 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. 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. We note the Air Force OPR has determined the applicant’s eligibility for the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Longevity Service Award, the Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and will correct his records administratively. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting relief beyond that rendered administratively. 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-2015-00363 in Executive Session on 20 Oct 15 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-00363 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 21 Jan 15, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 10 Aug 15. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 8 Sep 15.