RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-04484

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING: NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His service records be updated to show that he was in the Republic of Vietnam.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He served in Vietnam with the 316th Avionics Maintenance Squadron and participated in Operation ENHANCE from June – July 1972.  He worked on aircraft that were used to spray Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.  However, his service records do not indicate that he was in Vietnam.  He would like the service reflected in his records so that he can qualify for Veterans Administration benefits.  The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant served in the Regular Air Force from 29 October 1970 to 3 August 1974 and he was credited with 1 year, 1 month, and 7 days of Foreign Service.  For more information, see the excerpt of the applicant’s record at Exhibit B and the advisory at Exhibit C.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP3AM recommends denying the application.  They were able to verify and confirm foreign service boots on ground at Clark Air Base, Republic of the Philippines; however, they were unable to verify any foreign service in Vietnam.  The complete advisory is at Exhibit C.

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Board sent a copy of the Air Force evaluation to the applicant on 25 July 2018 for comment (Exhibit D), and the applicant replied on 27 July 2018.  In his response, the applicant contended that in 1972, he was on a temporary duty assignment to Taiwan (Ching Chuan Kang Air Base) and Vietnam (Tan Son Nhut Air Base).  During this deployment he received temporary duty pay and combat pay and also wrote a letter to his wife almost every day.  In support of his request, the applicant provides several letters that he wrote to his wife during his deployment.  The applicant’s complete response is at Exhibit E.

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 and injustice.  While the Board notes the comments of AFPC/DP3AM indicating that relief should be denied, the Board believes a preponderance of the evidence substantiates the applicant’s contentions.  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 he had boots on ground in the Republic of Vietnam.

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-2016-04484 in Executive Session on 30 August 2018:

, 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 4 November 2016.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP3AM, dated 9 November 2017.
Exhibit D:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 25 July 2018.
Exhibit E:	Applicant’s response, dated 27 July 2018.

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