Korea Defense Service Medal
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The Korea Defense Service Medal (KDSM) is a
military service medal The Military Service Medal is a military medal awarded to members of the Military of Austria. It is awarded in three classes: gold, silver, and bronze depending on length of recognized service. Established in 1963, the medal was originally called ...
of the
United States Armed Forces The United States Armed Forces are the Military, military forces of the United States. U.S. United States Code, federal law names six armed forces: the United States Army, Army, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps, United States Navy, Na ...
that was first created in 2002 when it was signed into law by President
George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and businessman who was the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Bush family and the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he i ...
. The bill to create the proposal was introduced and championed by Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA) and Sen.
Jeff Bingaman Jesse Francis "Jeff" Bingaman Jr. (born October 3, 1943) is an American retired politician who served as a United States Senate, United States Senator from New Mexico from 1983 to 2013. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic ...
(D-NM). Several designs for the medal were proposed; the selected design was done by John Sproston. Those awarded the medal are eligible for membership in the
Veterans of Foreign Wars The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), formally the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, is an Voluntary association, organization of United States Armed Forces, United States war veterans who fought in wars, Military campaign, campaig ...
(VFW) as well as the
American Legion The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is an Voluntary association, organization of United States, U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It comprises U.S. state, state, Territories of the United States, U.S. terr ...
.


Criteria

The Korea Defense Service Medal is authorized for those members of the
United States Armed Forces The United States Armed Forces are the Military, military forces of the United States. U.S. United States Code, federal law names six armed forces: the United States Army, Army, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps, United States Navy, Na ...
who have served duty in
South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...
in support of the defense of the South Korean state after the signing of the
Korean Armistice Agreement The Korean Armistice Agreement (; zh, t=韓國停戰協定 / 朝鮮停戰協定) is an armistice that brought about a cessation of hostilities of the Korean War. It was signed by United States Army Lieutenant General William Kelly Harrison Jr ...
. To qualify for the KDSM, a service member must have served at least thirty consecutive days in the South Korean theater. The medal is also granted for 60 non-consecutive days of service, which includes reservists on annual training in South Korea. Exceptions are made for the 30/60 days time requirement if a service member participated in a combat armed engagement, was wounded or injured in the line of duty requiring medical evacuation, or participated as a regularly assigned aircrew member in flying sorties which totaled more than 30 days of duty in South Korean airspace. In such cases, the KDSM is authorized regardless of time served in theater. The Korea Defense Service Medal is retroactive to the end of the
Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...
and is granted to any service performed after July 28, 1954. The
National Personnel Records Center The National Personnel Records Center(s) (NPRC) is an agency of the National Archives and Records Administration, created in 1966. It is part of the United States National Archives National Archives facilities#Federal Records Centers, federal recor ...
is responsible for verifying entitlement of the KDSM to discharged members of the military who served in South Korea prior to the creation of the KDSM. As an official
U.S. Department of Defense The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD, or DOD) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government charged with coordinating and supervising the six U.S. armed services: the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Space Force, t ...
exception to policy, service members may be entitled to both the
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John F. Kennedy. The medal is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who, a ...
, and the KDSM for participation in operations in South Korea during the same timeframe between October 1, 1966 and June 30, 1974. Only one award of the Korea Defense Service Medal is authorized, regardless of the amount of time served in the South Korean theater.


Appearance

The Korea Defense Service Medal is a bronze medal in diameter. The
obverse The obverse and reverse are the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags, seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, ''obverse'' ...
bears a Korean "circle dragon", surrounded by a scroll inscribed ''KOREA DEFENSE SERVICE''. In an earlier design of the medal, the scroll is inscribed ''KOREA DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL''. At the base of the medal are two sprigs, laurel on the left and bamboo on the right. The reverse bears an outline of the
Korean Peninsula Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically divided at or near the 38th parallel between North Korea (Dem ...
surmounted by two crossed swords, pointed up. Around the edge is a decorative circlet with five points. The ribbon for the Korea Defense Service Medal is predominantly green and wide. In the center is a ultramarine blue stripe, flanked by stripes of golden yellow and white, spaced apart.


See also

*
Military of South Korea The Republic of Korea Armed Forces (), also known as the ROK Armed Forces, are the armed forces of South Korea. The ROK Armed Forces is one of the largest and most powerful standing armed forces in the world with a reported personnel strength o ...


References


Further reading


DoD News: DoD Announces Korean Defense Service Medal
(February 2004)


External links


Air Force Personnel Center Korea Defense Service Medal
{{Authority control Aftermath of the Korean War Awards established in 2004 South Korea–United States military relations United States service medals United States campaign medals