RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-00605 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Bronze Star Medal (BSM). ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He was recommended for a BSM; however, it was never awarded or presented due to an administrative error. In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of AF Form 642, Recommendation for Decoration; AF Form 11, Officer Military Record; an Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) citation, and various other documents associated with his request. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ _ STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 1 Aug 69, he retired from the Air Force after serving 26 years, 3 months and 24 days of active service. The BSM is awarded to a person in any branch of the military service, who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the United States after 6 Dec 41, shall have distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy. The award recognizes acts of heroism performed in ground combat if they are of lesser degree than required for the Silver Star. It also recognizes single acts of merit and meritorious service if the achievement or service is of a lesser degree than that deemed worthy of the Legion of Merit (LOM); but such service must have been accomplished with distinction. DPSID was able to verify that the applicant should have been awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P) during his service from 31 Mar 43 to 31 Jul 69. DPSOR will administratively correct his records. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force which is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ _ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial. DPSID states that they were unable to locate any official documentation verifying the applicant was approved for award of the BSM. DPSID states that the applicant’s submission was not requested in a timely manner as over 47 years have passed since the recommendation for award of the BSM was initiated. In addition, DPSID states the merits of the applicant’s achievements do not warrant consideration of the BSM. As his request does not contain a proposed citation or any eyewitness statements; which at this point any eyewitness statement accounts would be questionable due to the passage of time. The applicant provided poor copies of a BSM recommendation and narrative dated 1 Sep 67, for the BSM for outstanding achievement from 27 Sep 66 to 1 Sep 67, while stationed in Thailand. The documentation has the name, grade, and duty title of the individual initiating the recommendation; however, the recommendation the applicant provided was never physically signed; therefore, it does not appear that it was ever placed into official channels due to lack of signature on the recommendation and narrative. DPSID’s impression is that the BSM was denied as the timeframe of the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) is overlapped and written in a general way that could encompass the merits to which the BSM recommendation attempted to distinguish. 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 22 Apr 13, for review and comment (Exhibit D). As of this date, this office has not received a 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 timely file. 3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. After thoroughly reviewing the evidence of record and noting the applicant’s contentions, we do not find any official documentation to show that he was awarded the BSM. Therefore, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt the rationale expressed as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. In view of the above and in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting further relief in this application. ________________________________________________________________ _ 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 Docket Number BC-2013-00605 in Executive Session on 19 Nov 13, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: Panel Chair Member Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 24 Jan 23 {sic}, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 22 Apr 13. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 May 13. 2 3 4