RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2017-03560

XXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL: XXXXX

	HEARING REQUESTED: NO	

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

His military record be corrected to reflect he was awarded the following medals and badge:

a.	Army Good Conduct Medal (administratively corrected)

b.	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (annotated as Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon on applicant’s WD AGO 53-55, dated 5 December 1946)

c.	Philippine Independence Medal

d.	Philippine Liberation Medal

e.	Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

f.	Marksman Rifle Badge

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

He served with the XXt Bomb Squadron (M) and feels that based upon the documentation that he has provided, he has earned the requested medals/badges.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The applicant is a former Army Air Force (AAF) private first class (PFC).  His WG AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation – Honorable Discharge, dated 5 December 1946 shows his active duty service period as 20 March 1945 to 5 December 1946.  According to Section 36, Service outside Continental U.S. and Return, the applicant arrived in Manila, Philippines on 20 September 1945 and returned to the United States on 19 October 1946.  He is credited with 1 year and 19 days of Foreign Service.

On 12 April 2018, the AFBCMR Case Management notified the applicant that pertinent records were not included with his application.  Upon receipt of supporting documents and his military records from the National Personnel Record Center (NPRC), the processing of his case would resume.  

On 14 February 2019, the AFBCMR Case Management notified the applicant of the receipt of his military personnel records from the NPRC.  In addition, his awards and decorations request was forwarded to the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) for review and/or corrective action.  He was further notified, if AFPC is unable to resolve his awards and decorations request, his application would be resubmitted to the AFBCMR by AFPC.    

On 27 October 2021, according to the AFPC Awards and Decorations Section, and the applicant’s original DD Form 149, with all attachments, was returned to the AFBCMR for further processing.  In addition, it was noted that the Good Conduct Medal (GCM) was added to his WD AGO 53-55 (sic), dated 5 December 1946.  
 
For more information, see the excerpt of the applicant’s record at Exhibit B and the advisory at Exhibit C.

APPLICABLE AUTHORITY/GUIDANCE

Air Force Manual 36-2806, Awards and Memorialization Program, 10 June 2019:

A12.9.1. Philippine Defense Medal. The medal was awarded for combat service in the defense of the Philippines from 8 December 1941 to 15 June 1942, if the service member was: a member of the Bataan or Manila Bay Forces or of a unit, ship, or airplane under enemy attack; or assigned or stationed in the Philippine territories or water for at least 30 calendar days during the eligibility period.  

A12.9.2. Philippine Liberation Medal. The medal is awarded to members who participated in the Philippines’ liberation from 17 October 1944 to 3 September 1945.

A12.9.3. Philippine Independence Medal.  The medal was awarded to personnel who are recipients of both the Philippine Defense Medal and the Philippine Liberation Medal.

A12.10.1. Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation. The Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation was awarded to certain units of the U.S. Armed Forces in recognition of participation in the war against the Japanese Empire during the periods of 7 December 1941 and 10 May 1942, inclusive, and 17 October 1944 to 4 July 1945, inclusive.  The citation was also awarded to several U.S. military units for outstanding service to the Republic of the Philippines in 1970 and 1972 during disaster relief operations.  

A14.33. Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon. The ribbon was established by SECAF on 28 August 1962 and made effective on 1 January 1963.  The ribbon is awarded to regular Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve members, who, after 1 January 1963, qualify as “Expert” with either the M-16 rifle (to include the M-4 and GAU-5) or an issued handgun on the Air Force qualification course, an appropriate orientation course prescribed in other Air Force Instructions, other Military Services’ qualification course, or who satisfactorily complete the Combat Rifle Program.

A15.5.4.1. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.  The medal is awarded for service within the Asiatic-Pacific Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946.  

AIR FORCE EVALUATION

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denying the application.  After a thorough review of the applicant’s military personnel record and documentation provided by the applicant, verification was made for award of the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal as annotated on his WD AGO 53-55 (sic), dated 5 December 1946.  Additionally, verification was made for the applicant’s award of the Good Conduct Medal and his record was administratively corrected.  However, the applicant’s dates of active duty service time was from 20 March 1945 to 5 December 1946, which are dates of service after the inclusive period for award of the Philippine Defense Medal, rendering him ineligible for award of the Philippine Independence Medal.  According to the applicants WD AGO Form 53-55 (sic), for 21 days he served in Manilla, Philippines from 31 August 1945 to 20 September 1945, which does not meet the 30 calendar day requirement for award of the Philippine Liberation Medal.  In addition, verification could not be made for the XXst Bomb Squadron receiving award of the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.  Lastly, with respect to the Small Arms Marksmanship Ribbon, the applicant’s dates of service are prior to the inclusive period for this award.  

The complete advisory opinion is at Exhibit C.

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION

The Board sent a copy of the advisory opinion to the applicant on 8 November 2021 for comment (Exhibit D), but has received no response.

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION

1.  The application was not timely filed.

2.  The applicant exhausted all available non-judicial relief before applying to the Board.

3.  After reviewing all Exhibits, the Board concludes the applicant is not the victim of an error or injustice.  The Board concurs with the rationale and recommendation of AFPC/DP3SP and finds that a preponderance of the evidence does not substantiate the applicant’s contentions in regards to his award for the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Independence Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation or Marksman Rifle Badge.  The Board notes the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was first issued as a service ribbon in 1942 and a full medal was authorized in 1947.  The applicant’s WD ADG 53-55, dated 5 December 1946 reflects his credit for service within the Asiatic-Pacific Theater with the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon since the medal was not authorized until 1947.  The Board further notes that while the applicant has requested award of a Marksman Rifle Badge, recognition to qualify as an “Expert” with the M-16 rifle was not effective until 1 January 1963, which was subsequent to the applicant’s service.  Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting any relief beyond that rendered administratively.    

RECOMMENDATION

The Board recommends informing the applicant the evidence did not demonstrate material error or injustice, and the Board will reconsider the application only upon receipt of relevant evidence not already presented.

CERTIFICATION

The following quorum of the Board, as defined in Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2603, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR), paragraph 1.5, considered Docket Number BC-2017-03560 in Executive Session on 19 April 2022:

, Panel Chair	
, Panel Member	
, Panel Member
	
All members voted against correcting the record.  The panel considered the following:

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 21 July 2017.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory Opinion, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 28 May 2021.
Exhibit D:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to Applicant, dated 8 November 2021.

Taken together with all Exhibits, this document constitutes the true and complete Record of Proceedings, as required by AFI 36-2603, paragraph 4.11.9.