RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			  DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-01736

						  COUNSEL:  NONE

	  					  DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her husband’s DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be amended to reflect he served in Vietnam.  

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

As a member of Military Airlift Command (MAC) 10, he went to Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam.  He shared some of his experiences in a letter to her.  

Her husband served his country honorably.  She wants him to receive the recognition he deserves.  He may not have been stationed in Vietnam but he set foot in Vietnam for at least one day which qualifies him for Vietnam service.  

The photographs of her husband’s uniform which he was buried in includes what she believes to be a Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM).  His command would not present him with a medal that he was not entitled to wear.  Her husband was an honest man and he would not have worn these medals if he had not earned them.  He flew into Vietnam on numerous occasions which is indicated by his Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) and what he did while assigned in the Philippines.   

The applicant provides a copy of her letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) dated 25 April 2016, which states that her husband was assigned to Mactan Island, Philippines in 1968 and she is 100 percent sure he was at Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam during this time. 

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The deceased service member retired 1 July 1976 in the grade of Master Sergeant (MSgt, E-7).  He was credited with 20 years and 13 days of active duty service.

The decedent’s DD Form 214 issued for the period of service from 7 November 1968 to 6 November 1972, shows “Indochina Yes. Vietnam No. Korea No.”  

His AF Form 7, Military Record, shows he was assigned to the 772nd Tactical Airlift Squadron, Mactan Isle AB and Clark AB, Philippines from 26 April 1968 to 1 March 1970.  

The death certificate issued by Champaign Urbana Public Health District, Champaign, IL reflects he died on 31 January 2015.  

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/DPAPP recommends denial.  DPAPP was able to verify the decedent’s foreign service boots on ground in Alaska from 31 August 1962 to 1 February 1965 and in the Philippines from 24 April 1968 to 8 February 1970, but unable to verify any foreign service in Vietnam.  

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

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Her husband made several trips to Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam to maintain the life support shop on the base.  He also assisted in loading the planes with wounded and deceased service members.  She has taken various documents to the DVA for the past two years and cannot believe the Air Force does not believe her.  

In further support of her request, the applicant provides an undated letter from their daughter which states that her father told her of the sirens, alarms and bombings that he heard constantly.  They bought a house near a fire station when they first returned from the Philippines and one night when the alarm for a fire next door went off, her father ran through the house yelling “fox hole” while trying to take cover.  She knows living through the past had to have traumatized him greatly.  

In a letter dated 18 March 2017, their son states one of his father’s duties while assigned in the Philippines was to pick up supplies and injured and deceased troops.  Working in life support, he packed, loaded and unloaded different planes back and forth from Tan son Nhut to where the plane needed to go.  He would set up shop in Mactan as well as Tan Son Nhut.  He knows this from what he was told and has no doubt it to be true.

A complete copy of the applicant’s submission, 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 excuse the failure to timely file.   

3.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. While the applicant states her deceased husband made several trips to Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam while stationed in the Philippines and was awarded the VCM, we find no evidence this to be the case.   The decedent’s sacrifice and service to his country are noted and our decision in no way lessens our regard for his service; however, we are unable to grant the applicant’s request without documentation to substantiate he served in Vietnam.  In view of the above, 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 the decedent was not a victim of an error or injustice.  Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the requested relief.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS 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-2016-01736 in Executive Session on 6 July 2017 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-01736 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 25 April 2016, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 9 September 2016.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 14 February 2017.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, 7 March 2017, 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.