RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-00256 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to reflect entitlement to the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He served in Vietnam between the periods Nov 61 – Feb 62; and did not receive the VSM. In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his DD Form 214, a temporary duty (TDY) order, and photographs of the base he was stationed at in Vietnam. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant served on active duty from 20 Apr 59 to 21 Nov 62. The VSM was created on 8 Jul 65, and is awarded to all service members of the Armed Forces who, between 4 Jul 65 and 28 Mar 73, served in the following areas of Southeast Asia: in Vietnam and the contiguous waters and airspace; in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia or the airspace thereof and in the direct support of military operations in Vietnam. A service member must have served on TDY for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days to be eligible for award of the VSM. These time limitations may be waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial. DPSIDR states there is no documentation in the applicant’s military personnel record (MPR), or submission that verifies the applicant’s service in the area of eligibility. The applicant’s records confirm service at Clark Air Base, Philippines from 7 Nov 61 to 1 Mar 62. The complete DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit B. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: DPSIDR recommended denial of his request because they were unable to verify that he was in Vietnam. He provides a letter from his detachment commander that certifies he was in South Vietnam during the period of eligibility for the VSM. The applicant states since it was a secret mission initially, and was later declassified, their presence in Vietnam was not to be acknowledged initially. He also provided a newspaper article from “The Pensacola News-Journal,” dated 11 Nov 62, announcing the first anniversary of his 4400th Combat Crew Training Squadron being deployed to Bein Hoa, South Vietnam. The applicant’s complete response, with attachments, is at Exhibit 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. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. The applicant is requesting that he be awarded the VSM for service in Vietnam from Nov 61 through Feb 62. We note the applicant did not serve in Vietnam during the time-frame for award of the VSM (4 Jul 65 and 28 Mar 73); however, it does appear he served in Vietnam in Nov 61, for a period of 120 days, as affirmed by his former detachment commander. According to AFM 900-3, Decorations, Service Awards, Unit Awards, Special Badges, Favorable Communications, Certificates, and Special Devices, prior to the issuance of the VSM on 8 Jul 65, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) was awarded for service in Vietnam between Jul 58 and Jul 65, and could, upon request, be exchanged for the VSM. However, no member was to be issued both the AFEM and the VSM for service in Vietnam. In view of the above, we believe he is entitled to the VSM as a replacement to the AFEM. Therefore, we recommend his records be corrected to the extent indicated below. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that his DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be, and hereby is, amended in Block 26, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized, to reflect award of the Vietnam Service Medal. _________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2011-00256 in Executive Session on 9 Jun 11, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 6 Jan 11, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 10 Feb 11. Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 Feb 11. Exhibit D. Letter, Applicant, dated 21 Mar 11, w/atchs. Panel Chair