RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-00846 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect his entitlement to the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He traveled to Thailand and Vietnam in October and November 1972 but was never awarded the VSM. He landed at NKP in Thailand and Tan Son Nhut in Vietnam between October 31 and November 18 1972. In support of his request the applicant submitted copies of his DD Form 214, and DD Form 1351-2, Travel Voucher or Subvoucher. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: According to documents extracted from his Military Personnel record (MPR), the applicant is a former member of the Regular Air Force who enlisted on 19 June 1961 and retired from active duty on 30 June 1981. Item 13, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized of his DD Form 214, does not reflect award of the VSM. The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), created on 8 Jul 65, is awarded to all service members of the Armed Forces who, between 4 Jul 65 and 28 Mar 73, served in the following areas of Southeast Asia: in Vietnam and the contiguous waters and airspace; in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia or the airspace thereover and in the direct support of military operations in Vietnam. The specific eligibility criteria requires a member to be attached to or directly serving for one or more days with an organization, or aboard a naval vessel, directly supporting military operations; actually participate as a crew member on one or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations; or serve on temporary duty (TDY) for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, although these time limitations may be waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations. However, no member may be issued both the AFEM and the VSM for service in Vietnam. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends disapproval for award of the VSM. DPSID states the applicant served on temporary duty at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam from 31 October 1972 to 18 November 1972, for a total of 18 days. This renders the applicant ineligible for award of the VSM. The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) is awarded to all service members of the Armed Forces who, between 4 July 65 and 28 March 1973, served in the following areas of Southeast Asia: in Vietnam and the contiguous waters and airspace; in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia or the airspace thereover and in the direct support of military operations in Vietnam for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days. After a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel records and provided documentation, they determined the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P) should have been awarded during the applicant’s service from 19 June 1961 to 30 June 1981 and is not reflected in his records. The complete AFPC/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 2013 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D). To date, a response has not been received. ________________________________________________________________ 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 criteria for the VSM, we find the applicant does not meet the eligibility criteria for award of this medal. The Air Force office of primary responsibility has determined the applicant is entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P) and has taken action to administratively correct his record to reflect this medal. Therefore, in view of the above and in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find that relief beyond that already granted administratively is not warranted. ________________________________________________________________ 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 this application in Executive Session on 5 November 2013, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered in AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-00846: Exhibit A. DD Form 149 dated 14 Feb 2013, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 13 May 2013. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 May 2013. 1 2