RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-03372

						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and the Korea Campaign Streamers.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He served in Korea.

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 6 January 1951.

On 5 January 1955, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge and was credited with 4 years of active 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 C.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice.

The Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation was awarded to certain units of the United Nations Command for service in Korea, as well as certain units of Armed Forces of the United States participating in disaster relief operations in 1972.

Campaign Streamers denotes participation of a unit in a designated Department of Defense (DoD) campaign.  Awarded for active Federal military service to units or organizations that are authorized an organizational color or distinguishing flag to recognize receipt of campaign participation credit.  To be eligible for a campaign streamer, a unit must have been awarded for campaign participation credit by Headquarters Air Force.  This authority may be delegated to the Commander Air Force forces to the Combatant Command that has operational control over the designated campaign, operation, or expedition.  Air Force units are deemed to have participated if they were stationed in a designated combat zone and actually engaged the enemy in combat or performed duties either in the air or on the ground in any part of the combat zone at any time during the designated period of the respective battle, campaign or expedition.  Campaign credit represents a unit’s participation in a campaign. Air Force units will be considered for eligibility if the home unit deploys more than 50 percent of their unit simultaneously to the deployed location.  

After a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel record, they were unable to verify award of the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and the Korean Campaign Streamers.

The applicant’s parent unit, Headquarters 58th Fighter Bomber Wing received award of the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation with award inclusive period of 10 July 1952 to 31 March 1953; however, the applicant was directly assigned to the 6156th Air Base Squadron.  They were unable to locate official documentation verifying the 6156th Air Base Squadron shared in the award of the Korea Presidential Unit Citation the Headquarters 58th Fighter Bomber Wing received.

Campaign streamers are awarded directly to a unit and not to individual service members; therefore, rendering the applicant ineligible.

Based on their review of the applicant’s official military personnel record, they were able to determine that award of the Korean War Service Medal (KWSM) should have been awarded to the applicant during his service from 6 January 1951 to 5 January 1955 and was not reflected in his records.  Upon final board decision, administrative correction of the applicant’s official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DP2STM.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DP3SP evaluation is at Exhibit C.

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant states he had boots on the ground at Tague AFB, which he believes was APO 901.  Unless K-2 was assigned - two APO mail designators and the 6156th (AP0-970) was also part of K-2 AFB.  He was assigned to 53rd.  He believes the findings that he was assigned directly to the 6156th Air Base Squadron APO 970 is incorrect and that he was part of the 58th FBW AP, from time of arrival, until his assigned Korean duties were served, and reassigned to Moses Lake AFB Washington, as part of 62nd AP Squadron until discharged.

The applicant’s complete response, with attachments, 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.  While the applicant claims a date of discovery of less than three years ago, in our view, the reasonable date of discovery of the alleged error or injustice was more than three years ago and the application is therefore untimely; however, it is in the interest of justice to waive 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 OPR and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice.  There is no evidence in the applicant’s record nor was any provided to support his appeal.  Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the requested relief.  Therefore, other than the administrative correction cited above - KWSM, we find no basis to recommend granting any 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-2015-03372 in Executive Session on 11 August 2016 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-03372 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 16 June 2015, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP dated 8 April 2016.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 23 May 2016.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 17 June 2016, w/atchs.

Pursuant to paragraph 1 of AFI 36-2603 (Title 32 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 865.1), it is certified that a quorum was present at the Board’s review and deliberations, and that the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board’s proceedings in the above entitled matter.