What Does Vietnam Service Medal With 3 Bronze Stars

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The Vietnam Service Medal was established by Executive Order 11231 signed past President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 8, 1965.

Effective Dates

Initially, the Vietnam Service Medal was authorized for qualifying service betwixt 01 July 1958 and 28 March 1973. Later on this initial authority certain personnel who served in Vietnam between 28 March 1973 and xxx Apr 1975 (during Functioning Frequent Current of air) are too authorized the VSM, every bit well as all United states of america military personnel who served in-country or in-waters prior to 07/01/1958 nether MAAG.

Criteria

The Vietnam Service Medal is authorized to members of the Armed services of the U.s. who served at whatsoever time in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, limited to specific persons on an private bases for service Thailand, Laos, or Kingdom of cambodia or the air spaces thereover and in straight support of operations in Vietnam. (This does not include ALL personnel who served in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia during the Vietnam War.)

Order of Precedence

The Vietnam Service Medal is worn later on the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and before the Southwest Asia Service Medal.

Devices

A. Bronze service/entrada/battle stars

Bronze stars are authorized for participation in the the 29 campaigns specified for the Vietnam War. A silvery star is worn in lieu of five bronze stars. Meet Campaigns and Dates

B. Bronze Arrowhead

The bronze arrowhead is authorized for members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade who really participated in a landing in the vicinity of Katum, RVN, betwixt the hours of 0900-0907 on February 22, 1967.

Designer

The Vietnam Service Medal was designed by Mercedes Lee and sculpted by Frank Male monarch.

Kickoff Recipient

The identity of the start recipient of the Vietnam Service Medal is not known.

Description and Symbolism

Obverse

In the middle of a bronze medallion one and a quarter inches in diameter, an Asian dragon in profile is shown partially subconscious past a grove of bamboo trees. In the exergue, the words Commonwealth OF VIETNAM SERVICE are shown in three lines.

The bamboo grove was taken from the flag of the President of Vietnam, who at the beginning of the war was Ngo Ninh Diem (1901-1963). Diem was the first President of the Democracy of Vietnam. The bamboo grove was a symbol of the start republic Vietnam, which followed the last imperial government nether Emperor Bao Dai. The bamboo grove represented the lawful, autonomous state. The dragon behind the bamboo grove is a traditional symbol of vietnam.

Reverse

In the center of a statuary medallion one and a quarter inches in diameter, a crossbow over which is superimposed a flaming torch. In the lower half of the medal, and following the contour of its rim, the words Usa.

The crossbow is the ancient weapon of Vietnam. It is surmounted by the torch from the Statue of Liberty, symbolic of the U.s. and of freedom.

Ribbon

The ribbon to the Vietnam Service Medal consists of a gilt background edged in green, with three blood-red stripes in the center. The gold background with the three reddish stripes is the flag of Southward Vietnam and represents the political land supported by the Us during the state of war; the dark-green border stripes represent the vegetation of Southeast Asia and allude to the physical terrain in which the service was rendered.

The Vietnam Service Medal was established past Executive Order 11231 from President Johnson's desk on 8 July 1965.

The distinctive blueprint was the creation of sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones, a former employee of the Army'south Found of Heraldry.

The service medal was awarded to all members of the military who served in Vietnam and contiguous waters and airspace between 01 July 1958 and 28 March 1973.

In addition, personnel serving in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia in direct support of operations in Vietnam during the same fourth dimension period also were eligible for the medal.

To qualify for award of the VSM an individual must meet ane of the following qualifications:

(ane) Exist fastened to or regularly serve for 1 or more days with an system participating in or directly supporting military operations.

(ii) Be attached to or regularly serve for 1 or more days aboard a Naval vessel direct supporting military operations.

(3) Actually participate as a crewmember in one or more aeriform flights into airspace to a higher place Vietnam and contiguous waters directly supporting military operations.

(4) Serve on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days in Vietnam or contiguous areas, except that time limit may exist waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations.

Individuals qualified for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for reason of service in Vietnam between I July 1958 and 3 July 1965 (inclusive) shall remain qualified for that medal. Upon asking, whatsoever such individual may exist awarded the VSM instead of the Military Expeditionary Medal. No person will be entitled to both awards for Vietnam service.

Vietnam and contiguous waters, as used herein, is divers equally an area which includes Vietnam and the water adjacent thereto within the following specified limits: From a point on the Eastward Declension of Vietnam at the juncture of Vietnam with China southeastward to 21 N. Latitude, 108 fifteen'E. Longitude; thence, southward to eighteen N. Latitude, 108 15'Due east. Longitude; thence southeastward to 17 30'Due north. Latitude, 111 E. Longitude; thence southward to eleven Due north. Latitude; 111 E. Longitude, thence southwestward to seven N. Latitude, 105 East. Longitude; thence westward to 7 North. Breadth, 103 Due east. longitude, thence northward to 9 30'Northward. Breadth, 103 E. Longitude, thence northeastward to 10 15'N. Latitude, 104 27'Due east. Longitude, thence northward to a bespeak on the Due west Coast of Vietnam atthe juncture of Vietnam with Kingdom of cambodia.

There are a total of 17 campaign stars authorized for the Vietnam Service Medal. Personnel are authorized one bronze campaign star for each qualifying campaign with a silver star worn in lieu of 5 statuary stars.

CAMPAIGNS & DATES

Vietnam Initial Advisory Campaign: from 1961-11-15 to 1965-03-01

Vietnam Informational Campaign: from 1962-03-fifteen to 1965-03-07

Vietnam Defense force Campaign: from 1965-03-08 to 1965-12-24

Vietnam Air Defensive Entrada: from 1965-03-02 to 1966-01-30

Vietnam Counteroffensive: from 1965-12-25 to 1966-06-30

Vietnam Air Counteroffensive: from 1966-01-31 to 1966-06-28

Vietnam Air Offensive from 1966-06-29 to 1967-03-08

Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase II: from 1966-07-01 to 1967-05-31

Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase Two: from 1967-03-09 to 1968-03-31

Vietnam Counteroffensive, Stage III: from 1967-06-01 to 1968-01-29

Vietnam Air/Ground Campaign: from 1968-01-22 to 1968-07-07

Tet Counteroffensive: from 1968-01-30 to 1968-04-01

Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III: from 1968-04-01 to 1968-x-31

Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase IV: from 1968-04-02 to 1968-06-30

Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase 5: from 1968-07-01 to 1968-eleven-01

Vietnam Air Offensive, Stage 4: from 1968-11-01 to 1969-02-22

Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase VI: from 1968-11-02 to 1969-02-22

Tet 1969 Counteroffensive: from 1969-02-23 to 1969-06-08

Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969: from 1969-06-09 to 1969-10-31

Vietnam Winter-Jump 1970: from 1969-11-01 to 1970-04-thirty

Sanctuary Counteroffensive: from 1970-05-01 to 1970-06-30

Southwest Monsoon: from 1970-07-01 to 1970-11-30

Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase VII: from 1970-07-01 to 1971-06-xxx

Commando Chase V: from 1970-12-01 to 1971-05-14

Commando Chase Vi: from 1971-05-fifteen to 1971-x-31]]

Consolidation I: from 1971-07-01 to 1971-eleven-30

Commando Hunt VII: from 1971-eleven-01 to 1972-03-29

Consolidation 2: from 1971-12-01 to 1972-03-29

Vietnam Cease Fire: from 1972-03-30 to 1973-03-28

Operation Frequent Wind: from 29 April 1975 to thirty April 1975

The design of the medal'south suspension ribbon reflects that of the flag of the former South Vietnam -- yellow with iii red stripes. The greenish trim at the edges is suggestive of the jungle nature of the disharmonize.

Executive Order 11231:
Establishing the Vietnam Service Medal

By virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States and every bit Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the Usa, it is ordered as follows:

Section one. At that place is hereby established the Vietnam Service Medal with suitable appurtenances. Except as limited in department 2 of this club, and under compatible regulations to exist prescribed by the Secretaries of the military departments and canonical by the Secretary of Defense, or regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Transportation with respect to the Coast Guard when information technology is not operating equally a service in the Navy, the Vietnam Service Medal shall be awarded to members of the military machine who serve in Vietnam or face-to-face waters or air space, as divers by such regulations, after July iii, 1965, and before a concluding engagement to exist prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. 1

[Sec. 1 amended past Executive Order 11382 of Nov. 28, 1967, 32 FR 16247, 3 CFR, 1966-1970 Comp., p. 691]

Sec. 2. Even so section 3 of the Executive Club No. 10977 of December 4, 1961, establishing the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, any member who qualified for that medal by reason of service in Vietnam between July one, 1958, and July four, 1965, shall remain qualified for that medal. Upon application, any such member may be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal in lieu of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, but no person may exist awarded both medals by reason of service in Vietnam and no person shall be entitled to more than than ane award of the Vietnam Service Medal.

Sec. iii. The Vietnam Service Medal may be awarded posthumously.

Source: The provisions of Executive Order 11231 of July 8, 1965, appear at 30 FR 8665, 3 CFR, 1964-1965 Comp., p. 325, unless otherwise noted.

1. Editorial notation: On January. 26, 1973, a terminal engagement of Mar. 28, 1973, was prescribed (DOD Instruction 1348.fifteen).

House Rpt.107-772 - NATIONAL Defence force AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2003 SEC. 542. Choice to convert award of Armed forces Expeditionary Medal awarded for Functioning Frequent Wind to Vietnam Service Medal.

(a) IN General- The Secretary of the armed forces section concerned shall, upon the application of an individual who is an eligible Vietnam evacuation veteran, award that individual the Vietnam Service Medal, notwithstanding whatsoever otherwise applicable requirements for the accolade of that medal. Any such award shall exist made in lieu of the Armed services Expeditionary Medal awarded the individual for participation in Functioning Frequent Wind.

(b) ELIGIBLE VIETNAM EVACUATION VETERAN- For purposes of this section, the term `eligible Vietnam evacuation veteran' ways a member or former member of the Armed Forces who was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for participation in military operations designated as Performance Frequent Wind arising from the evacuation of Vietnam on April 29 and 30, 1975.

4. Personnel that were awarded the Armed services Expeditionary Medal for participating in Operation Frequent Current of air from 29-thirty Apr 1975 are now entitled to substitution it for the Vietnam Service Medal per section 542 in public law 107-314. Performance Frequent Air current, 29-30 april 1975, volition be reflected as the 18th campaign under the Vietnam Campaign.

A. Commanders are authorized to procedure requests for personnel under his/her cognizance.

b. Retired and former personnel afflicted past this law demand to submit their requests using form SF180 (http://world wide web.americanwarlibrary.com/htomr.htm to The National Personnel Records Center by fax to (314) 801-9195 or past postal service to:

NATIONAL PERSONNEL RECORDS CENTER
MILITARY PERSONNEL RECORDS
9700 PAGE AVENUE
ST. LOUIS MO 63132

Requests addressed to NPRC must include the following personal information: full name, ssn, service/serial number, branch of service, engagement of nascency, and menstruum of service.

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