RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-04733 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His records be corrected to reflect he served in the Republic of Vietnam and was awarded the appropriate awards and decorations. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, does not reflect or credit him with time served in Tuy Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam from 13 June 1968 until 13 September 1968. He will receive veteran compensation benefits upon verification of service in the Republic of Vietnam. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________ ______________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant’s military personnel records indicate he enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 14 September 1964. On 11 October 1968, the applicant was honorably discharged from the Air Force and was credited with four years and one month of total active service. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for award of the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), indicating there is no evidence to verify he had boots-on-the-ground. The VSM is awarded to all service members of the Armed Services who between 4 July 1965 and 28 March 1973, served in the following areas of Southeast Asia: Vietnam and the continuous waters and airspace; in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the airspace thereof and in the direct support of military operations in Vietnam for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days. There was no official documentation submitted by the applicant or in his official military personnel records to verify he served in Vietnam, Laos, or Cambodia. To grant the applicant relief would be contrary to the eligibility criteria established by DoDM 1348.33. The applicant’s entitlement to the Air Force Good Conduct Medal (AFGCM) and the Air Force Longevity Service Award (AFLSA) has been verified and his records will be corrected administratively. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial, indicating that based on the evidence provided by the applicant and his military personnel records, there is nothing to reflect he served in Vietnam. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit D ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 3 February 2013 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, no response has been received by this office (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. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice with respect to the applicant’s request to be credited with service in Vietnam. We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinions and recommendations of the Air Force offices of primary responsibility and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. While we are not unmindful of the applicant’s service to the Nation, there is no documentary evidence contained in his submission or military personnel records indicating that he served in Vietnam. We note that AFPC/DPSID has verified the applicant’s entitlement to the Air Force Good Conduct Medal (AFGCM) and the Air Force Longevity Service Award (AFLSA) and his records will be corrected administratively. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting any relief beyond that rendered administratively. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the application was denied without a personal appearance; and 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-2012-04733 in Executive Session on 25 June 2013, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: Panel Chair Member Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 3 October 2012, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 28 December 2012. Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 22 January 2013. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 3 February 2013.