RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2019-03823

	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING REQUESTED: NO

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to reflect his service in Vietnam. 

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

He served in a combat zone and qualified for hostile fire pay.  He contends a news article that appeared in the Selfridge Air Reserve Base’s Flyer memorializes his crew’s presence and initial foray into XXXXXXXX during May 1968. 

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The applicant is former Air Reserve sergeant (E-4) who was released from this period of active duty service on 28 June 1969.  He was credited with 1 year, 4 months and 23 days of active service and 8 months and 22 days of foreign service.  

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

AIR FORCE EVALUATION

ARPC/DPTS recommends denying the application.  There is insufficient source documentation within the applicant’s personnel record to support his contention that he served in Vietnam.

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 20 February 2020 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 the victim of an error or injustice.  While the Board notes the recommendation of ARPC/DPTS against correcting the record, the Board finds a preponderance of the evidence substantiates the applicant’s contentions in part.  Specifically, the applicant has provided the Selfridge Air Reserve Base newspaper article, which reflects the applicant and his crew, served in Vietnam, which is sufficient to justify granting the applicant “boots on the ground” in Vietnam.  However, for the remainder of the applicant’s request, 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.  Therefore, the Board recommends correcting the applicant’s records as indicated below.

RECOMMENDATION

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that he had “boots on ground” in the Republic of Vietnam.

However, regarding the remainder of the applicant’s request, 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-2019-03823 in Executive Session on 30 June 2020:

Mr., Panel Chair, AFBCMR
Mr., Panel Member
Dr., Panel Member

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

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 28 July 2019.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, ARPC/DPTS, w/atchs, dated 20 January 2020.
Exhibit D:	Notification of advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 20 February 2020.

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.