RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-03962

						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records reflect the following awards:

1.  The Bronze Star with V device.

2.  The Presidential Unit Citation.

3.  The Vietnam Campaign Streamer.

4.  The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor - administratively corrected.

5.  The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm – administratively corrected.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He believes he is entitled to the contested awards.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 14 July 1965.

On 12 December 1968, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with 3 years, 4 months, and 29 days of active service and credited with 1 year of foreign and/or SEA 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 of the Bronze Star Medal, Presidential Unit Citation and the Vietnam Campaign Streamers.

DP3SP indicates the Bronze Star Medal is governed by Executive Order 11046, which authorizes the Secretary of a Military Department to award the Bronze Star Medal to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States Armed Forces, distinguishes himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight; while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.  When the Bronze Star Medal is awarded for heroism, a bronze letter "V" (for valor) is worn on the suspension and service ribbon of the medal.

They were unable to locate any official documentation verifying the applicant was recommended for or awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor.  In order for the applicant’s request for an Air Force decoration to be reasonably considered, the following information is required: a signed recommendation from someone with firsthand knowledge of the act/achievement, preferably from someone within the applicant’s chain of command at the time of the act/achievement, a proposed citation, and eyewitness statements.

The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and cobelligerent nations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy occurring on, or after, 16 October 1941, for United States Navy and United States Marine Corps units, and on or after 7 December 1941, for United States Army 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.

They were unable to locate official documentation verifying any units the applicant was directly assigned to receive award of the Presidential Unit Citation while the applicant was assign to the unit.  The applicant provided Department of the Air Force Special Order GB-504 dated 23 September 1968 awarding the Presidential Unit Citation to the 377th Tactical Fighter Wing and specific subordinate units as listed in Special Order GB-504, for award inclusive period of 23 April 1967 to 1 August1967.  The applicant’s direct unit of assignment is not listed in Special Order GB-504 as sharing in the award.

Campaign Streamers denotes participation of a unit in a designated Department of Defense 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.

Campaign streamers denote participation of a unit in a designated Department of Defense campaign and are awarded to the unit itself; these are not awarded to individuals.  Therefore, the applicant is ineligible to receive Vietnam Campaign Streamers.

After a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel record, they were able to verify award of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.

The 366th Security Police Squadron received award of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor for the inclusive period of 1 April 1967 to 31 March 1968 and award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm for the inclusive period of 15 May 1967 to 31 October 1972.  According to the applicant’s Airman's Military Record (AF Form 7) he served with the 366th Security Police Squadron, from 15 November 1966 to 15 November 1967.  The 351st Security Police Squadron received award of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the inclusive period of 1 July 1967 to 30 June 1968.  According to the applicant’s AF Form 7 he was assigned to the 351st Security Police Squadron from 16 November 1967 to 12 December 1968.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DP3SP 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 24 June 2016 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D).  As of this date, no response has been received by this office.

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-2015-03962 in Executive Session on 13 September 2016, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-03962 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 10 September 2015, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 12 June 2016.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 24 June 2016.

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.