RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-03236 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to reflect the following: 1. Awards for his service in Southeast Asia. 2. The Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR). APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: His DD Form 214 does not reflect all of his awards. His Veterans of Foreign Wars membership is in question and he needs his records updated. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 30 Mar 62. On 20 Apr 66, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with 4 years and 21 days of active service. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the memoranda prepared by the Air Force offices of primary responsibility (OPR), which are attached at Exhibits C and D. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice. A review of the applicant’s personnel records verified foreign service in Japan and the Republic of the Philippines, but did not contain information that reflects service in Vietnam or Thailand. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSID recommends denial for award of the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM), and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon. The VSM is awarded to all members of the United States Armed Forces who served in Vietnam or contiguous waters or airspace after 3 Jul 65, and before 28 Mar 73. In addition, personnel serving in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia in direct support of operations in Vietnam during the same time period also were eligible for the Vietnam Service Medal. To be eligible, a service member must be: permanently assigned, attached, or detailed for one, or more, days with an organization participating in or directly supporting ground (military) operations; permanently assigned, attached, or detailed for one, or more, days abroad a naval vessel directly supporting military operations; have actually participated as a crew member in one or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations; have served on temporary duty (TDY) for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days. Those time limitations may be waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations. The VCM is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who, between 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73 served for 6 months in South Vietnam, or, served outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces for an aggregate of six months. Only members of the United States Armed Forces who meet the criteria established for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or the VSM during the period of service required are considered to have contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces; or did not complete the length of service required, but who during wartime, were: wounded by the enemy (in a military action), captured by the enemy during action or in the line of duty, but later rescued or released, killed in action or in the line of duty; or were assigned in Vietnam on 28 Jan 73, and served in Vietnam for the entire period between 29 Jan 73 to 28 Mar 73. The Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon is awarded to all United States Air Force members who after 1 Jan 63, qualify as “expert” in small-arms marksmanship with either the M-16 rifle or issue handgun. Qualifications as “expert” in both weapons after 22 Jun 72 shall be denoted by a bronze service star worn on the service ribbon. After a thorough review of the applicant’s provided documentation and records, they were able to place him in both Vietnam and Thailand on temporary duty, but were unable to determine the length of time he was in the area of eligibility. The applicant would have had to serve in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days for award of the VSM or for an aggregate of six months for award of the VCM. As for the applicant’s request for the SAEMR, since the Special Order in the applicant’s record is for someone else with a different name and service number, there is no official documentation in the applicant’s record to verify that he qualified as expert with either the M-16 rifle or issue handgun to be eligible for the award. To grant relief would be contrary to the criteria established by DoDM 1348.33, Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff, and/or the War Department. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit D. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant refutes virtually every point made by the OPR and argues that his records prove that he served in Vietnam and Thailand. His performance report states that the endorsing official worked directly with him during his TDY to Vietnam, and his hospital report shows that he was treated in Thailand for an injury sustained there. Additionally, the applicant requests his blood type be corrected in the remarks section of his DD Form 214. He states that his Blood Group should read “O Negative” not “O Positive”. THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2. The application was timely filed. 3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice warranting correction of the applicant’s records to reflect his entitlement to the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM), and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR). We took notice of the applicant's complete submission, to include his rebuttal comments, in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of AFPC/DPSID and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. While the applicant’s rebuttal of the DPSID advisory claims that he was in Thailand and the Republic of Vietnam from 21 Aug 64 to 14 Oct 64, we do not find the evidence sufficient to substantiate his entitlement to the VSM and VCM. Although they were able to place him in both Vietnam and Thailand on temporary duty, the length of time he was in the area of eligibility could not be determined. As for the applicant’s supplementary request for relief identified in his rebuttal statement to correct his blood type on his DD Form 214, we find this request requires appropriate Air Force office of primary responsibility evaluation in order to assist the Board in determining if a material error or injustice has occurred. Therefore, we advise the applicant to formally apply for correction of this request under a separate application. 4. Notwithstanding the above, sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice with respect to the applicant’s service in Vietnam and Thailand. In this respect, we note the applicant’s performance report (AF Form 75), rendered for the period 16 Mar 64 through 30 Oct 64, reflects he performed temporary duty in Vietnam. Additionally, his Clinical record Consultation Sheet (SF 513), dated 26 Oct 64, reflects a postal address in Thailand and a DD Form 600, Patient’s Baggage Tag, originating from Don Muang, Thailand. Therefore, in view of the above, we believe it appropriate to recommend the applicant’s 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 had boots on the ground in the Republic of Vietnam and Thailand, in 1964. The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-03236 in Executive Session on 21 May 15, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 7 Aug 14, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 21 Nov 14. Exhibit D. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 16 Feb 15. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 Feb 15. Exhibit F. Letter, Applicant, dated 6 Mar 15.