RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-04426 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 1. His DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect the missions he flew over the Republic of Vietnam during the period Feb 72 to Sep 72. 2. He receive a copy of his Air Medal citation. 3. His records be corrected to reflect his Foreign Service in Vietnam. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 1. He flew from Kadena Air Force Base (AFB), Japan; Anderson AFB, Guam; and Clark AFB, Philippines on Vietnam missions. 2. His DD Form 214 does not reflect any missions over Vietnam; therefore, he has been denied benefits for exposure to Agent Orange by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). 3. The DVA needs documentation to verify his service in Vietnam. In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his DD Forms 214; DD Form 1351-2, Travel Voucher or Subvoucher (Continuation Sheet); AF Form 11, Officer Military Record; and memorandums. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant served on active duty from 18 Nov 69 to 15 May 75 and is credited with 7 months and 10 days of Foreign Service. On 11 Jan 12, AFPC/DPSOY notified the applicant they were unable to correct his DD Form 214. Per Air Force Instruction and Department of Defense regulations, a DD Form 214, will not be reissued or amended showing specific locations served, including flying missions. On 4 Apr 11, the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) informed the applicant that they did not find a copy of the AM citation in his personnel file. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPAPP makes no recommendation. DPAPP states a review of the applicant’s master personnel records and documentation provided failed to substantiate Foreign Service time in Vietnam. Although, the applicant has several performance reports in his records that indicate numerous combat missions in Southeast Asia, nothing specifically states Vietnam. DPAPP states they believe these missions were over or in Vietnam, but the applicant’s records do not clearly indicate Vietnam service. The complete DPAPP 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 13 Jan 12 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, no response has been received by this office (Exhibit D). _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2. The application was 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. In this respect, we note the applicant has already been advised that IAW DoD regulations, the DD Form 214 will not be reissued or amended to reflect specific locations served, including flying missions. Regarding his request for a copy of his Air Medal citation, we note the applicant was also advised that the citation was not in his personnel file. Moreover, this Board is not the custodian of his records, as such, this request is not within our purview. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting this portion of his request. 4. Nothwithstanding the above, sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice regarding the applicant’s request to reflect his service in Vietnam. According to his AF Forms 77, Company Grade Officer Effectiveness Report, the applicant performed duty in direct support of the Southeast Asian Conflict from 20 Jul 72 to 21 Sep 72. While we cannot determine the exact location, we find the evidence presented sufficient to conclude the applicant had boots on ground in Vietnam from 20 Jul 72 to 21 Sep 72. As such, we recommend the applicant’s 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 he had boots on the ground in the Republic of Vietnam. _________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC-2011-04426 in Executive Session on 31 May 12, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 28 October 2011, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 6 Dec 11. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 13 January 2012.