RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-03420 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NOT INDICATED _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to reflect: 1. His award of the Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster (PH w/1OLC). (Already reflected on DD Form 214 – AFPC provided copy to applicant) 2. His award of the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters (AM w/4OLC). _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He was awarded these medals as indicated in the submitted special orders. In support of his appeal, the applicant provides copies of special orders for award of two PHs and the AM w/1OLC. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant is a former member of the Regular Air Force who retired effective 1 November 1978 in the grade of senior master sergeant (E-8). He served 23 years, 2 months, and 18 days on active duty. The applicant’s initial request was for PH w/1OLC and the AM w/3OLC; however, he subsequently amended his request for the AM w/4OLC (See applicant’ rebuttal). The following relevant information has been extracted from the Air Force History Office Fact Sheet - DFC and Air Medal Criteria in the Vietnam War: On 18 March 1966, Pacific Air Force (PACAF) announced the Chief of Staff of the Air Force changed the Air Medal criteria for sustained operational activities in Southeast Asia (SEA). Specifically, requiring 10 combat operational missions be flown over North Vietnam or 25 combat operational missions be flown over South Vietnam and other SEA areas or 35 combat support missions. As of 1 September 1969, Seventh Air Force continued the practice of awarding an end-of-tour DFC but wanted such recommendations to include total combat sorties, missions and hours, the dates and places of the “one best mission,” and the circumstances surrounding the mission. The most important factor to be included was the presence of hostile fire and danger to the crew and airplane. The remaining relevant facts, extracted from the applicant’s military service records, are contained in the evaluation by the Air Force office of primary responsibility at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the AM w/3OLCs and states, in part, the applicant provided copies of Headquarters Seventh Air Force Special Order G-2071, dated 31 August 1972, indicating his award of the AM w/1OLC. Although the applicant highlighted the “3RD OLC” above his name, the appropriate award is listed below his name as “1st OLC.” They were unable to locate official documentation in the applicant’s military personnel file indicating additional awards of the AM. The AM is awarded to United States military and civilian personnel for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Required achievement is less than that required for the Distinguished Flying Cross, but must be accomplished with distinction above and beyond that expected of professional airmen. The applicant’s DD Form 214, dated 31 August 1969, reflects his award of the PH w/1OLC; therefore, their office has provided him a copy of the appropriate DD Form 214. The complete DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: He would like to be awarded three additional AMs (AM w/4OLC) that he earned during his two tours in Vietnam. He served a total of 26 months - 12 months on a C-7A aircraft at Phu Cat Air Base, Vietnam, and 14 months on a C-130E aircraft at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, Taiwan. It took 35 missions to qualify for one AM. They only got credit for one mission per day, regardless of take- offs and landings. He logged 207 missions during his two tours, but he only received two AMs. He has provided a copy of his Flight Record to support his request. The applicant’s complete rebuttal, with attachment, 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 error or injustice warranting the award of the AM second through fourth oak leaf cluster. In this respect, we note the applicant’s chain of command recommended him for award of the AM and AM w/1OLC for his meritorious achievements while participating in aerial flight as a Flight Engineer Technician in Southeast Asia. We further note the applicant’s assertion that he earned and is entitled to three additional awards of the AM for the 207 missions that he flew during his two tours in Vietnam. Historical documentation indicates that during the Vietnam War, Seventh Air Force awarded the AM for every 35 combat support missions. Since the applicant has provided copies of his flight records as evidence of the number of missions he flew, we have no reason to doubt his assertion. Therefore, the Board believes that in view of the evidence provided and the applicant’s accomplishments in the service of the Nation, and to preclude a possibility of an injustice, any doubt in this matter should be resolved in the applicant’s favor. Accordingly, we recommend that his records be corrected as indicated below. 4. The applicant's case is adequately documented and it has not been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel will materially add to our understanding of the issues involved. Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably considered. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to reflect that his DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty, Section 26, Decorations, Medals Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized, issued in conjunction with his retirement with an effective date of 31 October 1978, be amended to reflect the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters (AM w/4OLC). _________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC- 2011-03420 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 for AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2011- 03420 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 17 Aug 11, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 21 Nov 11. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 9 Dec 11. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 22 Dec 11, w/atchs.