RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-01475 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty be corrected to reflect service in Vietnam. ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He served in Vietnam from Oct 66 to Jan 67. He is applying for benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) due to an illness. In support of his request, the applicant provides a letter from the DVA. The applicant's complete submission, with attachment, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ _ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant served on active duty in the Air Force from 2 Jul 63 to 30 Jun 67. His DD Form 214 reflects a total 3 years, 11 months, and 29 days of total active service; however, does not reflect any Foreign Service. ________________________________________________________________ _ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial. DPAPP states the information provided and the applicant’s master personnel records did not reveal any documents that substantiate Foreign Service in Vietnam. The complete DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: In response to the advisory opinion, the applicant’s spouse provides a personal letter. She states that she knows for a fact her husband served in Vietnam and cannot understand how the Air Force would not have such important information documented. Her husband is ill now and is being refused VA benefits. She does not understand why he would be denied his rights after serving his country in a foreign war. The spouse’s complete response 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; 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 do not find sufficient evidence to support that the applicant served in Vietnam. The contentions made by the applicant and his spouse are duly noted; however, regrettably, without evidence that corroborates their claims, we find no basis to recommend that his record be corrected. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we must recommend the requested relief be denied. ________________________________________________________________ _ 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 Docket Number BC-2011-01475 in Executive Session on 3 Nov 11, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence pertaining to Docket Number BC-2011-01475 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 9 Apr 11, w/atch. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 8 Sep 11. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 16 Sep 11. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant’s spouse, dated 20 Sep 11.