RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-04386 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His official records be corrected to show his service in Vietnam. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He overflew Vietnam during the period 29 Mar 75 through 4 Apr 75 while shuttling from Clark Air Force Base (AFB), Philippines to Thailand. Then, on 3 and 4 April 75 he was in Vietnam in support of Operation BABYLIFT. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________ ______________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant initially entered the Air Force Reserve on 11 Dec 73. On 20 Mar 80, the applicant separated, and was credited with six years, three months, and nine days of active service, including one year and three days of foreign service. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the letters prepared by the Air Force offices of primary responsibility, which are attached at Exhibits C and D. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice. A review of the applicant’s Master Personnel Records and the documentation submitted failed to substantiate any service time in Vietnam. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSID recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice. The applicant contends he should have been awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) for his flights over Vietnam in 1975 and for his participation in Operation BABYLIFT. The VSM is awarded to all members of the Armed Services who between 4 Jul 65 and 28 Mar 73, served in the following areas of Southeast Asia: Vietnam and its contiguous waters and airspace; in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the airspace thereof and in the direct support of military operations in Vietnam as a crew member in one or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations, or, for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days. Those time limitations may be waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations. The applicant provided a copy of his Individual Flight Record with entries from 10 Feb 75 to 9 Apr 75. The entries do not indicate destinations or flight plans. The Air Force Personnel Center Directorate of Assignments has determined the applicant’s records do not reflect foreign service in Vietnam. After a thorough review of the applicant’s military personnel record, and documentation provided, we were unable to locate official documentation verifying the applicant’s service in Vietnam. In addition, the last day of eligibility for award of the VSM was 28 Mar 73. The applicant did not enter onto active duty until 11 Dec 73. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit D. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: His request was that his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be updated to reflect Vietnam Service. He is not asking for any decorations, just to have his record corrected. He was in Vietnam. On 4 Apr 75, his aircraft extracted the survivors of a C-5 crash that crashed short of the runway in Saigon. His flight records have a “V” indicator on his flights on 3 and 4 April, indicating his aircraft entered Vietnam airspace on both occasions. He submitted a picture of himself on a C-141 holding a baby. His pay should reflect the tax deductions for a two month period in the combat zone (Exhibit F). ________________________________________________________________ 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. The applicant contends he served in Vietnam while participating in Operation BABYLIFT. Operation BABYLIFT missions were flown into Saigon, Vietnam beginning 3 April 1975. After a thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s complete submission, to include a picture of the applicant on board an Air Force aircraft holding a baby, a nomination for an award for his participation in Operation BABYLIFT, and the applicant’s flight records for 3 and 4 April 1975 with a “V” assigned to the mission type, we believe a preponderance of the evidence indicates the applicant was in Vietnam while participating in Operation BABYLIFT. While the applicant’s service in Vietnam does not meet the requirement for documentation on the DD Form 214, the Board has found it in the interest of justice to provide similarly situated applicants a “boots-on-the-ground” letter, and therefore recommends the record be corrected as indicated below. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that he had boots-on-the-ground in the Republic of Vietnam from 3 through 4 April 1975. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-04386 in Executive Session on 4 Jun 13, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: Panel Chair Member Member All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, 19 Sep 12, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 20 Nov 12. Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 25 Jan 13. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 Feb 13. Exhibit F. Letter, Applicant, dated 25 Feb 13.