What Does Bronze Star On Vietnam Service Medal Mean

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The Vietnam Service Medal was established past Executive Social club 11231 signed by 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. Afterwards this initial say-so certain personnel who served in Vietnam betwixt 28 March 1973 and 30 Apr 1975 (during Operation Frequent Wind) are also authorized the VSM, as well as all US armed services personnel who served in-country or in-waters prior to 07/01/1958 under MAAG.

Criteria

The Vietnam Service Medal is authorized to members of the Armed services of the United States who served at whatsoever time in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, limited to specific persons on an individual bases for service Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air spaces thereover and in directly 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 after the Armed forces Expeditionary Medal and before the Southwest Asia Service Medal.

Devices

A. Statuary service/campaign/boxing stars

Bronze stars are authorized for participation in the the 29 campaigns specified for the Vietnam War. A silver star is worn in lieu of v statuary stars. See Campaigns and Dates

B. Bronze Arrowhead

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

Designer

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

Commencement Recipient

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

Description and Symbolism

Obverse

In the heart of a statuary medallion ane and a quarter inches in diameter, an Asian dragon in profile is shown partially hidden by a grove of bamboo trees. In the exergue, the words Republic OF VIETNAM SERVICE are shown in three lines.

The bamboo grove was taken from the flag of the President of Vietnam, who at the offset of the war was Ngo Ninh Diem (1901-1963). Diem was the start President of the Commonwealth of Vietnam. The bamboo grove was a symbol of the first republic Vietnam, which followed the last regal government under Emperor Bao Dai. The bamboo grove represented the lawful, democratic state. The dragon backside the bamboo grove is a traditional symbol of vietnam.

Contrary

In the middle of a statuary medallion ane 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 profile of its rim, the words United states.

The crossbow is the aboriginal weapon of Vietnam. It is surmounted by the torch from the Statue of Liberty, symbolic of the United states of america and of freedom.

Ribbon

The ribbon to the Vietnam Service Medal consists of a gold background edged in green, with three crimson stripes in the centre. The gold groundwork with the iii red stripes is the flag of South Vietnam and represents the political state supported by the United states of america during the war; the green edge 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 cosmos of sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones, a former employee of the Army's Institute of Heraldry.

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

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

To qualify for accolade of the VSM an private must meet one of the following qualifications:

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

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

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

(four) Serve on temporary duty for thirty sequent days or lx nonconsecutive days in Vietnam or contiguous areas, except that time limit may be waived for personnel participating in bodily 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. Upwardlyon request, any such individual may exist awarded the VSM instead of the Military machine Expeditionary Medal. No person will be entitled to both awards for Vietnam service.

Vietnam and contiguous waters, as used herein, is defined as an expanse which includes Vietnam and the water adjacent thereto inside the following specified limits: From a point on the East Declension of Vietnam at the juncture of Vietnam with Prc southeastward to 21 Northward. Latitude, 108 fifteen'E. Longitude; thence, southward to 18 Northward. Latitude, 108 15'East. Longitude; thence southeastward to 17 30'N. Breadth, 111 E. Longitude; thence due south to 11 N. Latitude; 111 Due east. Longitude, thence southwestward to vii N. Latitude, 105 E. Longitude; thence westward to 7 North. Latitude, 103 Eastward. longitude, thence northward to 9 30'North. Latitude, 103 E. Longitude, thence northeastward to ten 15'N. Latitude, 104 27'Due east. Longitude, thence northward to a point on the Westward Declension of Vietnam atthe juncture of Vietnam with Cambodia.

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

CAMPAIGNS & DATES

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

Vietnam Advisory Campaign: from 1962-03-xv to 1965-03-07

Vietnam Defense Entrada: from 1965-03-08 to 1965-12-24

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

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

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 Two: from 1966-07-01 to 1967-05-31

Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase 2: from 1967-03-09 to 1968-03-31

Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase 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-xxx to 1968-04-01

Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III: from 1968-04-01 to 1968-10-31

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

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

Vietnam Air Offensive, Stage Iv: 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-Autumn 1969: from 1969-06-09 to 1969-10-31

Vietnam Wintertime-Spring 1970: from 1969-xi-01 to 1970-04-30

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

Southwest Monsoon: from 1970-07-01 to 1970-eleven-thirty

Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase VII: from 1970-07-01 to 1971-06-30

Commando Hunt Five: from 1970-12-01 to 1971-05-xiv

Commando Chase Half dozen: from 1971-05-15 to 1971-10-31]]

Consolidation I: from 1971-07-01 to 1971-11-thirty

Commando Hunt Vii: from 1971-11-01 to 1972-03-29

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

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

Functioning Frequent Wind: from 29 Apr 1975 to thirty April 1975

The design of the medal's suspension ribbon reflects that of the flag of the former South Vietnam -- yellowish with 3 red stripes. The light-green trim at the edges is suggestive of the jungle nature of the disharmonize.

Executive Lodge 11231:
Establishing the Vietnam Service Medal

By virtue of the authority vested in me equally President of the United States and as Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the United States, information technology is ordered as follows:

Department 1. There is hereby established the Vietnam Service Medal with suitable appurtenances. Except as limited in section two of this order, and nether uniform regulations to be prescribed past the Secretaries of the military departments and approved by the Secretary of Defense, or regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Transportation with respect to the Coast Baby-sit when information technology is non operating equally a service in the Navy, the Vietnam Service Medal shall be awarded to members of the armed forces who serve in Vietnam or contiguous waters or air space, as defined by such regulations, after July 3, 1965, and before a terminal appointment to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. 1

[Sec. 1 amended by Executive Order 11382 of November. 28, 1967, 32 FR 16247, iii CFR, 1966-1970 Comp., p. 691]

Sec. 2. Notwithstanding section 3 of the Executive Order No. 10977 of December 4, 1961, establishing the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, whatever fellow member who qualified for that medal by reason of service in Vietnam between July ane, 1958, and July 4, 1965, shall remain qualified for that medal. Upon application, whatsoever such member may be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal in lieu of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, but no person may be awarded both medals by reason of service in Vietnam and no person shall be entitled to more one honour of the Vietnam Service Medal.

Sec. 3. The Vietnam Service Medal may be awarded posthumously.

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

1. Editorial annotation: On Jan. 26, 1973, a terminal date of Mar. 28, 1973, was prescribed (DOD Instruction 1348.15).

House Rpt.107-772 - NATIONAL Defence Authorisation Act FOR FISCAL Twelvemonth 2003 SEC. 542. Option to catechumen award of Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal awarded for Functioning Frequent Air current to Vietnam Service Medal.

(a) IN Full general- The Secretarial assistant of the armed services department concerned shall, upon the application of an private who is an eligible Vietnam evacuation veteran, accolade that private the Vietnam Service Medal, notwithstanding any otherwise applicable requirements for the award of that medal. Whatever such award shall be made in lieu of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal awarded the private for participation in Operation Frequent Wind.

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

iv. Personnel that were awarded the Military machine Expeditionary Medal for participating in Functioning Frequent Current of air from 29-xxx April 1975 are now entitled to exchange it for the Vietnam Service Medal per section 542 in public law 107-314. Performance Frequent Wind, 29-30 april 1975, volition be reflected as the 18th campaign under the Vietnam Campaign.

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

b. Retired and onetime personnel affected by this law demand to submit their requests using form SF180 (http://www.americanwarlibrary.com/htomr.htm to The National Personnel Records Heart by fax to (314) 801-9195 or by mail to:

NATIONAL PERSONNEL RECORDS Centre
War machine PERSONNEL RECORDS
9700 PAGE Avenue
ST. LOUIS MO 63132

Requests addressed to NPRC must include the following personal data: full name, ssn, service/series number, co-operative of service, date of birth, and period of service.

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