RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-00103 COUNSEL: HEARING DESIRED: YES ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be amended to reflect he served in Vietnam. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He served in Vietnam on Temporary Duty (TDY) missions between Dec 65 and Jul 66 as an assistant crew chief on a C-130E aircraft. His Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) claim was denied as they said he never served in Vietnam. He discovered the error in May 13 and the Board should find it in the interest of justice to consider his application. In support of his request, the applicant provides a copy of his medical recommendation for flying duty, aeronautical orders and various other documents in support of his request. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 30 Jul 62, the applicant entered active duty. According to his AF Form 7, Airman Military Record, he served in Okinawa in Dec 65 and Taiwan in Mar 66. On 27 Jul 66, he was honorably released from active duty. He served 3 years, 11 months and 27 days on active duty. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPAPP recommends disapproval since the information provided and a review of his master personnel records did not contain information that he served in Vietnam. DPAPP confirmed foreign service boots on ground at Naha Air Base, Okinawa, and Kung Kuan Air Base, Taiwan, but was unable to verify any foreign service in Vietnam. The complete DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C. _____________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: He asks how the Air Force can order an entire unit into a combat zone and not signify it on the DD Form 214. He was an Airman Second Class (A2C, E-3) and was placed on flying status. He cannot begin to express his disagreement, disgust, rage, depression and feelings. It is despicable that the government told him he had to go support his country in an extremely unfavorable war and now informs him that he was never there. He will not give up until this injustice is brought to his satisfaction. He has earned this for his over 12 years of service to this country and he is still serving as a volunteer with the DVA. The information he has researched has been filed with his DVA claim, to include statements by fellow airmen he served with and a Stars and Stripes article signifying his unit was in Vietnam. He is in complete disagreement with the misinformed decision and injustice. The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit E. ________________________________________________________________ FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE BOARD: 1. After careful consideration of the evidence of record, we find the application untimely. The applicant did not file within three years after the alleged error or injustice was discovered as required by 10 U.S.C. § 1552 and Air Force Instruction 36-2603, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records. The applicant has not shown a sufficient reason for the delay in filing on a matter now dating back 48 years, which has greatly complicated the ability to determine the merits of the applicant’s position. We are not persuaded the record raises issues of error or injustice which requires resolution on the merits based on the lack of official documentation to substantiate he served in Vietnam. Therefore, we cannot conclude it would be in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to file in a timely manner. 2. The applicant’s case is adequately documented and it has not been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel will materially add to our understanding of the issue involved. Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably considered. ________________________________________________________________ DECISION OF THE BOARD: The application was not timely filed and it would not be in the interest of justice to waive the untimeliness. It is the decision of the Board, therefore, to reject the application as untimely. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC- 2014-00103 in Executive Session on 21 Oct 14, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 5 Jan 14, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 14 Feb 14. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 21 Mar 14. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 7 Apr 14.