RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-02962 COUNSEL: NO HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) and the Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM). _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He believes he is entitled to the requested medals based on his service in South Korea. He was stationed at Yokota Air Base (AB), Japan, from 22 October 1967 through 23 October 1969. While at Yokota, he went on temporary duty (TDY) to Osan AB, Korea in support of the Pueblo incident. The Air Force Historical Research Agency website shows the 36th Tactical Fighter Squadron, of which he was a member, was deployed to South Korea four separate times during the period he was stationed at Yokota AB. He was TDY to Osan AB during those four periods. 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 served on active duty from 29 November 1965 to 23 October 1969. He served 3 years, 10 months, and 25 days on active duty with 2 years and 1 day of Foreign Service. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the evaluation prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force at Exhibit B. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial. DPSID states that in accordance with Department of Defense Manual 1348.33, the AFEM was established on 4 December 1961 to be awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who, after 1 July 1958, have participated in a United States military operation and encountered foreign armed opposition, or were in danger of hostile action by foreign Armed Forces. In order to receive the KDSM, members must have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating or serving on all land area of the Republic of Korea, and the contiguous waters out to 12 nautical miles, and all airspace above the stated land and water areas. To be eligible for the KDSM, members must have been physically present in the stated areas for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days. DPSID indicates that after a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel record, they were unable to verify the applicant serve at any time in a location which would qualify him for award of the AFEM. In addition, there is no documentation to verify he was TDY to Osan AB, Korea; therefore, he is ineligible for the KDSM. The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit B. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: He has attempted to contact two other airmen who were stationed with him to attempt to obtain affidavits attesting to him being in South Korea. Instead, one of the airmen provided him with a copy of a TDY order indicating they were both deployed to Osan AB, Korea. The applicant’s complete rebuttal, with attachment, is at Exhibit E. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMEDS 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 to warrant correcting the applicant’s records to reflect his entitlement to the KDSM. We note the applicant provided a copy of a TDY order indicting he and several members from his unit were ordered to Osan AB, Korea, for not more than ten trips and not more than 60 days per trip between 1 August 1968 to 31 December 1968, in support of aircraft on a classified project in accordance with the 347th FOB Rotation Plan 40-69, dated 3 July 1968. While this order does not identify the specific dates the applicant served in Korea, we find the order sufficient evidence to conclude he likely served enough time in Korea during the period of eligibility to warrant award of the KDSM. Therefore, we recommend the applicant’s records be corrected to show he was awarded the KDSM. 4. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice warranting the award of the AFEM. We find no evidence in the applicant’s record, nor has he submitted any to verify his entitlement to the AFEM. In this regard, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt its rationale that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this part of the application. _________________________________________________________________ RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to reflect that his DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, issued in conjunction with his separation on 23 October 1969, be amended to include award of the KDSM. _________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-02962 in Executive Session on 4 April 2013, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: Panel Chair Member Member All members voted to correct the record as recommended. The following documentary evidence was considered in connection with AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-02962: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 20 Jun 12, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 9 Oct 12. Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 23 Oct 12. Exhibit D. Letter, Applicant, dated 27 Nov 12. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 10 Dec 12, w/atch.