RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-00003 INDEX CODE: 107.00 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His record be corrected to show that he was awarded: a. The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). b. The Air Medal (AM) with five Oak Leaf Clusters (OLC). c. The African-Middle-Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars. (Administratively corrected) _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He flew 30 combat missions. He received one AM for each of the five missions. He never received any battle stars. In support of his request, the applicant provides a personal statement, a copy of his United States Honorable Discharge Certificate, WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge and a letter from the Department of the Army Review Boards Agency. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant enlisted in the Army Air Corps on 1 June 1942. He was honorably discharged on 4 June 1945 in the grade of staff sergeant. According to the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55, filed in his master personnel record, he was awarded the AM w/4 OLC, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal and the Purple Heart. On 29 March 2010, AFPC/DPSIDR corrected the applicant’s records to reflect he was entitled to the American Campaign Medal (ACM), the European-African-Middle-Eastern Campaign Medal, with three Bronze Stars and the World War II Victory Medal. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial. DPSIDR states there are no special order, recommendations, proposed citation, or any other evidence provided by the applicant or located within his official record to support his submission for the award of the DFC and the AM w/5 OLCs based on the number of missions flown. Under the FY96 NDAA, Section 526, the original or reconstructed written award recommendation is required for the recommended individual. The recommendation must be made by someone other than the member himself, preferably the commander or supervisor at the time of the act of achievement, with firsthand knowledge of the member’s accomplishments. If someone has firsthand knowledge of the applicant’s accomplishments and achievements, he may act as the recommending official. The recommendation must include the name of the decoration, reason for recognition (heroism, achievement, or meritorious service), inclusive dates of the act, and a narrative description of the act. The recommending official must sign the recommendation. Also, a proposed citation is required and any chain of command endorsements are encouraged. Any statements from fellow comrades, eyewitness statements attesting to the act, sworn affidavits, and other documentation substantiating the recommendation should be included with the package. The complete DPSIDR 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 14 May 2010 for review and response within 30 days. However, as of this date, this office has received no response (D). _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2. The application was not timely filed; 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 error or injustice. After thoroughly reviewing the evidence of record, we are not persuaded the requested relief should be granted. We do not find the evidence provided sufficiently persuasive to override the rationale provided by the Air Force office of primary responsibility. Should the applicant provide further evidence or a recommendation for the awards, we would be inclined to reconsider his application. While we are not unmindful or unappreciative of the applicant’s service to our Nation, based on the evidence provided, we find no basis to recommend granting the requested relief. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; that the application was denied without a personal appearance; and that 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-2010-00003 in Executive Session on 28 September 2010, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: Panel Chair Member Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 28 Dec 09, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 24 Mar 10. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 14 May 10. Panel Chair