RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS. IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-01425 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty, be amended to reflect the following awards: Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM). Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM). APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He should be awarded the medals for his participation in Operation FREQUENT WIND from 29 to 30 April 1975, Operation EAGLE PULL from 11 to 13 April 1975 and the MAYAGUEZ OPERATION on 15 May 1975. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachment, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 21 May 1973, the applicant entered the Regular Air Force and was released from active duty on 18 July 1977. The applicant’s AF Form 909, Airman Performance Report, for the period ending 18 June 1975 reflects he was assigned to U-Tapao Airfield, Thailand. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the memorandum prepared by the Air Force Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR), which is attached at Exhibit C. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial for award of the VSM. The VSM was awarded to all members of the U.S. Armed Forces who served in Vietnam or the contiguous waters or airspace after 3 July 1965, and before 28 March 1973. Per the applicant’s AF Form 909 for the period covering 2 November 1974 through 18 June 1975, he was assigned to the 307th Strategic Wing, U-Tapao Airfield, Thailand. The applicant’s dates of service in Thailand are outside of the award inclusive period for award of the VSM, rendering him ineligible for award of the VSM. AFPC/DPSID recommends denial for award of the AFEM. The AFEM was awarded for participation in Operation FREQUENT WIND, in regards to the fall of Saigon, with inclusive period from 29 April 1975 to 30 April 1975, for participation in support of Operation EAGLE PULL from 11 April 1975 to 13 April 1975 in Cambodia and for participation in support of the MAYAGUEZ OPERATION on 15 May 1975 in Cambodia. The applicant was stationed in U-Tapao Airfield, Thailand; however, Thailand is not in the area of eligibility for Operation FREQUENT WIND, Operation EAGLE PULL and the MAYAGUEZ Operation. DPSID was unable to verify the applicant served in the areas of eligibility for award of the AFEM, rendering him ineligible for award of the AFEM. AFPC/DPSID recommends denial for award of the VCM. The VCM is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who between 1 March 1961 and 28 March 1973 served for six 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 U.S. Armed Forces who meet the criteria established for the AFEM or the VSM are considered to have contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces. The applicant’s dates of service in Thailand are outside the award inclusive period for award of the VCM. AFPC/DPSID was able to determine the applicant should have been awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (AFOUA w/1 BOLC). The applicant’s records will be administratively corrected by AFPC/DPSOR upon the Board’s final decision. A complete copy of the 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 3 November 2015 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D). As of this date, no response has been received by this office. THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2. The application was not timely filed. While the applicant claims a date of discovery of less than three years ago, in our view, the reasonable date of discovery of the alleged error or injustice was more than three years ago and the application is therefore untimely. 3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force OPR and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the requested relief. THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the application was denied without a personal appearance; and 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 AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-01425 in Executive Session on 13 January 2016 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-01425 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 1 April 2015, w/atch. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 6 October 2015. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 3 November 2015.