RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS. IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-01752 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 1. His records be corrected to reflect any and all awards from his service in Vietnam. 2. His records be corrected to reflect foreign service in Vietnam. 3. He receive a copy of the TDY orders sending him to Vietnam from October 1965 thru February 1966. APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He should have medals, commendations, or campaign ribbons that show he served in Vietnam. The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: According to the applicant’s DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, on 11 Jul 58, he entered the Regular Air Force. The applicant's AF Form 910, Airman Performance Report, with a closeout date of 4 Apr 66, states the applicant, “has been assigned as Maintenance Controller, reassigned as Assistant Crew Chief, and then as a Team Member of the recovery team on both the BQM-34 and the SPA-147 vehicles during TDY tours.” According to the applicant’s AF Form 7, Airman Military Record, he was on Temporary Duty (TDY) to Southeast Asia (SEA) from 6 Oct 65 through 15 Jan 66 for a total of 101 days. According to the applicant’s AF Form 7, he was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). On 15 Jul 66, the applicant received an honorable discharge and was credited with 8 years and 5 days of total active service, to include 11 months and 23 days of Foreign Service. 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 D. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial of the applicant’s request for Foreign Service credit in Vietnam. A review of the applicant’s records did not provide any documents to substantiate service time in Vietnam but was able to verify foreign service boots on the ground in Greenland. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DP3SP makes no recommendation but requests the Board make a decision based on the merits of the case. While it appears as though the applicant could have been deployed to the area of responsibility with the VSM annotated on his Form AF Form 7, DP3SP was unable to verify award of the VSM as the first page of the form does not reflect exact locations of his SEA TDY. During Vietnam, locations in the region not in the area of responsibility for award of the VSM, such as the Philippines, Taiwan, and Guam, were sometimes referred to as SEA. The VSM was 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. The Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM) is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who between 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73, served for 6 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 6 months. The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVGC w/P) 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. A complete copy of the AFPC/ DP3SP evaluation is at Exhibit D. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant states that he was stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona from 1965 to 1966 and was assigned as a crew chief with the 100th ORGL Maintenance Squadron. He asserts that during the war, his unit was flying missions out of Bien Hoa Air Base, Vietnam in which he was there from Oct 65 to Jan 66 and his record should reflect that he was receiving combat pay during that period. The applicant indicates that if the records are needed, he will request them. The applicant’s complete response is at Exhibit F. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE BOARD: Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. After a careful review of the applicant's contentions, documentation submitted in support of the request, and the available evidence of record, we are not convinced the applicant has provided sufficient evidence for us to conclude that he is the victim of an error or injustice. We also note the applicant did not file the application within three years after the alleged error or injustice was discovered, or should have been discovered, as required by Title 10, United States Code, Section 1552 and Air Force Instruction 36-2603. While the applicant claims a date of discovery of less than three years prior to receipt of the application, we believe a reasonable date of discovery was more than three years prior to receipt of the application. Therefore, because we do not find it would be in the interest of justice to recommend granting relief, and the applicant has offered no plausible reason for the delay in filing the application, we cannot conclude it would be in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file the application. Accordingly, we find the application untimely. THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The application was not timely filed and it would not be in the interest of justice to waive the untimeliness. It is the decision of the Board, therefore, to reject the application as untimely. The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-01752 in Executive Session on 23 Feb 16 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 20 Apr 15. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 9 Jun 15. Exhibit D. Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 7 Dec 15. Exhibit E. Letter, AFBCMR, dated 16 Dec 15. Exhibit F. Letter, Applicant, undated.