RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-00545 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 1. His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to reflect award of the Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM). 2. His DD Form 214, be corrected to reflect award of the Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Short Tour (AFOR-ST). ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: His DD Form 214 does not reflect the KDSM and the AFOR-ST. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 2 Jul 56, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force and served on active duty until 1 Jul 60 and was honorably discharged. He was credited with 9 years, 10 months, and 8 days of total active service, to include 1 year, 10 months and 14 days of Foreign Service. Additionally, he was credited with 6 years, 1 month, and 19 days of other service. In a letter dated 4 Dec 13, AFPC/DPSIRP notified the applicant that his military personnel records were destroyed in the fire at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the KDSM, indicating they are unable to verify the applicant served in Korea for the required time period. They also recommend denial of the AFOR-ST, indicating the applicant separated from active duty several years before the AFOR was authorized; therefore he is not qualified for this award. The applicant provided travel orders for travel to Japan from APO 970, which DPSID verified as Korea dated 11 Mar 57, and a supply form dated 26 Jul 57, issuing him an M-1 Carbine; however, the travel voucher which authenticates the travel order and details exact dates and locations the applicant served was not provided or located within the applicant's limited military personnel record. The AFOR was authorized by the Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, on 12 Oct 80. The ribbon was authorized to be awarded to Air Force and Air Force Reserve members credited with completion of an overseas tour on or after 1 Sep 80. Only individuals serving on active duty as of 6 Jan 86 are eligible to have the AFOR applied retroactively for completion of an overseas tour. The KDSM is awarded to service members who were permanently assigned, attached, or detailed to a unit that operated within all land area of Korea, and the contiguous water out to 12 nautical miles, and all air spaces above the land and water areas, and must have been physically deployed in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days between 28 Jul 54 and a future date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense. 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 19 May 13 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 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 error or injustice with respect to the applicant’s request for the AFOR-ST. We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission in judging the merits of this case; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. In view of the above we find no basis to grant the relief sought in this portion of his application. 4. Notwithstanding the above, sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice to warrant award of the KDSM. We note the comments of DPSID indicating they were unable to verify the applicant served in Korea for the required time period. However, after a thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s complete submission, we believe relief is warranted. In this respect, we note the applicant provides a travel order dated 11 Mar 57 to Japan from the 1246th Airways and Air Communications Service Squadron (AACSS), APO 970, which DPSID verified as Korea. Additionally, the applicant provides an AF Form 448, Issue Slip, dated 26 Jul 57, from the 1246th AACSS issuing him an M-1 Carbine. Although there is no travel voucher to authenticate the exact dates and locations the applicant served, we find the evidence presented sufficient to conclude that he more likely than not served in Korea for at least 30 days. As such, we recommend the applicant be awarded the KDSM. Therefore, in the interest of justice, we recommend his 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 the APPLICANT be corrected to show that he was awarded the Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM). ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-00545 in Executive Session on 9 Oct 14, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-00545 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 28 Jan 13, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Available Master Personnel Records Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 13 May 13. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 May 13. 1 2