RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-03016 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Army of Occupation Medal (AOM). _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He was stationed in Berlin, Germany from June 1960 to June 1961. In support of his request, the applicant submits documents extracted from his military personnel records. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant, with prior service, enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 8 October 1958 for a period of four years. On 5 October 1962, the applicant was honorably released and transferred to the Air Force Reserve. His net service this period totaled 3 years, 11 months and 28 days. He was credited with 1 year, 5 months and 20 days of foreign service. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIDRA recommends denial. DPSIDRA states the AOM is awarded for military service of 30 or more consecutive days of duty in one of the occupied territories after World War II. In accordance with the Army of Occupation of Berlin criteria, members must have completed military service in Berlin, Germany for 30 consecutive days between 9 May 1945 and 2 October 1990 in order to qualify for the AOM. The applicant has provided three travel orders as supporting documentation; however, the travel vouchers authenticating the travel orders were not provided. According to official documentation located within the applicant’s official military record DPSIDRA has been able to confirm the applicant arrived for service in Bremerhaven, Germany on 14 March 1956; however, they are unable to confirm how long the applicant served in Bremerhaven Germany. Furthermore, they are unable to locate official documentation verifying the applicant served in Berlin, Germany for 30 consecutive days during the Army of Occupation of Berlin inclusive period; therefore, they are unable to verify the applicant’s entitlement to the AOM. The DPSIDR complete evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant states he provided a copy of a travel voucher for travel orders from Berlin to USA Oregon. The applicant’s complete response, with attachments, 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. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. After a review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s complete submission, we believe the special orders provided establish reasonable doubt that the applicant was in Berlin for more than 30 consecutive days and is entitled to the AOM. In addition, we note that the 6912th Radio Squadron Mobile was located in Berlin. As such, we believe any doubt in this matter should be resolved in the applicant’s favor and recommend his records be corrected as 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 he was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal. _________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2011-03016 in Executive Session on 5 April 2012, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2011-03016 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 22 July 2011, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDRA, dated 19 September 2011, w/atchs. Exhibit D. Letter, AFBCMR, dated 30 September 2011. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 10 October 2011, w/atchs.