RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03934 COUNSEL: NO HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His record be corrected to reflect award of the following medals or awards for foreign service at Eniwetok, Marshall Islands, from 1 March 1956 to 30 July 1956: 1. Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) 2. Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) 3. Joint Service Commendation Medal (JSCM) 4. Defense Meritorious Service Medal (DMSM) 5. Overseas Service Commemorative Medal 6. Defense Distinguished Service Medal (DDSM) 7. Airman’s Medal (AM) 8. United States Air Force Commemorative Medal 9. Joint Service Achievement Medal (JSAM) ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He should have been awarded the requested medals. He was assigned to the Joint Task Force-7, and his assignment was considered top secret due to 17 nuclear detonations. 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 from 19 December 1952 to 7 December 1956. The remaining relevant facts, extracted from the applicant’s military service record, are contained in the evaluation provided by the Air Force office of primary responsibility at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ _ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial. DPSID states that after a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel record and the provided documentation, they were unable to verify award of the AFCM, MSM, JSCM, DMSM, DDSM, AM, and JSAM. The applicant’s service was prior to the establishment of all the requested awards/decorations being authorized; therefore, he is ineligible for all of the requested decorations. In regard to the Overseas Service Commemorative Medal and the United States Air Force Commemorative Medal, commemorative medals are primarily celebratory display medals rather than official awards or decorations of the United States Air Force and Department of Defense. Their office is not able to verify entitlement to award of commemorative medals, nor can commemorative medals be updated in a member’s official military personnel record. Their office was able to verify the applicant eligibility for award of the Korean War Service Medal (KWSM). His record will be administratively corrected to reflect the KWSM. The complete DPSID 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 9 November 2012 for review and response within 30 days (Exhibit D). As of this date, this office has received no response. ________________________________________________________________ _ 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 do so. 3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. Therefore, the applicant’s request is not favorably considered. ________________________________________________________________ _ 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 AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-03934 in Executive Session on 8 May 2013, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Vice Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered in connection with AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-03934: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 6 Aug 12. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 3 Nov 12. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 9 Nov 12.