RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2017-00773

XXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING: NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to add the following:

	a. Vietnam Service (Administratively corrected)
	b. The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
	c. The Vietnam Service Medal

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was not recognized for his service in the Republic of Vietnam.  The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant served in the Regular Air Force as an aircraft mechanic from 20 April 1967 to 19 April 1971.  He was credited with 2 years, 1 month and 8 days of Foreign and/or Sea Service. 

AF Form 626, Request and Authorization for Temporary Duty – Military, dated 4 March 1969, indicates the applicant was issued orders from Naha AB, Okinawa to Tan Son Nkut AB, Republic of Vietnam, effective on or about 11 March 1969, for approximately 52 days to perform maintenance duties.

AF Form 626 dated 23 September1969, indicates the applicant was issued orders from Naha AB, Okinawa to Cam Ranh Bay AB, Republic of Vietnam, effective on or about 25 September 1969, for approximately 52 days to perform aircraft maintenance duties.

AF Form 910, TSgt, SSgt and Sgt Performance Report, for the period 1 October 1969 through 5 March 1970, indicates the applicant “has had numerous TDY’s to the Republic of Vietnam.”

The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to all members of the United States Armed Forces who served in Vietnam or contiguous waters or airspace after 3 July 1965, and before 28 March 1973.  In addition, personnel serving in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia in direct support of operations in Vietnam during the same 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 aboard 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 for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days.

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who, between 1 March 1961 and 28 March 1973, 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 6 months.  Only members of the United States Armed Forces who meet the criteria established for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or the Vietnam Service Medal 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 January 1973, and served in Vietnam for the entire period between 29 January 1973 to 28 March 1973.

In a letter to the applicant dated 15 August 2018, AFPC/DP3AM indicated they are able to verify and confirm that while assigned to Okinawa, the applicant performed temporary duty assignments to the Republic of Vietnam; however, they were unable to determine the amount of time he served in the Republic of Vietnam.  The amount of Foreign Service time reflected on the applicant’s DD Form 214 is correct; therefore, a correction is not needed.  Since specific locations are not annotated on a member's DD Form 214, the applicant was advised to use their letter as proof of “boots on ground” for Okinawa and the Republic of Vietnam.

For more information, see the excerpt of the applicant’s record and documentary evidence at Exhibit B.

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The application was not timely filed, but it is in the interest of justice to excuse the delay.

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

3.  After reviewing all Exhibits, the Board concludes the applicant has presented evidence sufficient to demonstrate an error or injustice regarding part, but not all, of his request.  In particular, AFPC/DP3AM was able to verify the applicant had boots on ground in the Republic of Vietnam.  While they are unable to determine the amount of time the applicant served in the Republic of Vietnam the Board notes the applicant’s performance report ending 5 March 1970, indicates that he was an aircraft mechanic who, while assigned to Okinawa, went on numerous temporary duty assignment to the Republic of Vietnam.  In addition, the applicant’s record indicates that temporary duty orders were published twice assigning him to different locations in the Republic of Vietnam.  Therefore, it is the Board’s opinion that the available evidence appears to weigh more in favor of amending the applicant’s DD Form 214 to reflect the Vietnam Service Medal.  However, for the remainder of the applicant’s requests, the evidence presented did not demonstrate an error or injustice, and the Board therefore finds no basis to recommend granting that portion of the applicant’s request.  Accordingly, the Board recommends the applicant’s records be corrected as set forth 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 was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal and the DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, issued in conjunction with his 19 April 1971 discharge, be amended in Block 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) to reflect the Vietnam Service Medal.

However, regarding the remainder of the applicant’s requests, the Board recommends the applicant be informed the evidence did not demonstrate material error or injustice and the application could only be reconsidered upon receipt of relevant evidence not already considered by the Board.

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-2017-00773 in Executive Session on 28 August 2018:

 , Panel Chair
 , Panel Member
 , Panel Member

All members voted to correct the record.  The panel considered the following:

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 22 February 2017.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.

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