RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-04178

XXXXXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL: XXXXXXX

HEARING: NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to reflect his service in Korea and Vietnam.
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
His DD 214 was completed prior to his orders to Vietnam.

In support of his application, the applicant submits a Temporary Duty Order (TDY) showing he participated in a classified training mission along with a witness statement attesting to his service in Vietnam between 1962 and 1963.
The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant entered commissioned service on 12 Mar 45 and retired as a major on 30 Apr 65.

His AF Form 11, Officer Military Record, notes in block 14, Combat Record, 51 combat hours, Korea (B-29), from Apr 51 to Jul 51. It also notes the applicant was awarded the Korean Service Medal in block 10, Awards, in May 51.

The applicant’s AF Form 11, notes in block 2, Foreign Service, Temporary Duty, that he served a total of 144 days (8 Nov 62 to31 Mar 63). Finally, the applicant’s AF Form 707, Field Grade Officer Effectiveness Report, for the reporting period of 17 Jul 62 – 28 Mar 63, reflects duty performed in Southeast Asia.

For more information, see the applicant’s record at Exhibit B.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP3AM recommends denying the application since the information provided and Master Personnel Record did not contain information that reflects that the applicant served in the Republic of Vietnam or the Republic of Korea.  The complete advisory is at Exhibit C.

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY – PRIVACY ACT OF 1974

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Board sent a copy of the Air Force evaluationon 11 Sep 18 for comment (Exhibit D). Response from the applicant dated 5 Oct 18 was not necessary to adjudicate the case.

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.	The application was not timely filed, but it is in the interest of justice to excuse the delay.

2.	The applicant exhausted all available avenues of non-judicial relief before applying to the Board.

3.	After thoroughly reviewing all Exhibits, it is the Board’s opinion that the applicant is the victim of an error or injustice. While the Board notes the comments of AFPC/DP3AM indicating that relief should be denied stating the applicant’s records contain no documentation to substantiate he served in Vietnam and Korea, we find the entirety of the evidence indicates he more likely than not had boots on ground in Vietnam and Korea. In this respect, a review of the personnel record and documentation submitted, to include the witness statement is sufficient to justify granting the applicant “boots on ground” in Vietnam and Korea. Therefore, the Board recommends correcting the applicant’s records as indicated below.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the applicant be corrected to show that his record reflect that he had boots on the ground in the Republic of Vietnam and the Republic of Korea.

CERTIFICATION:

The following quorum of the Board, as defined in Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2603, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR), paragraph 1.5, considered Docket Number BC-2016-04178 in Executive Session on 13 Nov 18:

, Panel Chair
, Panel Member
, Panel Member
All members voted to correct the record. The panel considered the following: Exhibit A: Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 7 Oct 16.
Exhibit B: Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records. Exhibit C: Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP3AM, dated 8 Aug 18.
Exhibit D: Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 11 Sep 18.
Exhibit E: Applicant response w/atchs, dated 5 Oct 18.

Taken together with all Exhibits, this document constitutes the true and complete Record of Proceedings required by AFI 36-2603, paragraph 4.11.9, regarding Docket Number BC-2016- 04178.