U.S. ARMED FORCES, VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL, AND RIBBON

Description: U.S. ARMED FORCES, VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL, AND RIBBON The Vietnam Service Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces established on 8 July 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The medal is awarded to recognize service during the Vietnam War by all members of the U.S. Armed Forces provided they meet the award requirements. The distinctive design has been attributed to both sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones, a former employee of the Army Institute of Heraldry and Mercedes Lee who created the design. The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) was awarded to all members of the U.S. Armed Forces who served in Vietnam and its contiguous waters or airspace, after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973. Members of the U.S. Armed Forces in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, or airspace thereover, during the same period and serving in direct support of operations in Vietnam are also eligible for the award. The Vietnam Service Medal is a rounded bronze shaped medal, 1 1⁄4 inches in diameter with a green, yellow, and red suspension ribbon. The obverse side of the medal consists of a figure of an oriental dragon (representing the subversive nature of the conflict) behind a grove of bamboo trees located above the inscription "REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM SERVICE". On the reverse, a crossbow (representing the ancient weapon of Vietnam) facing upwards with a ready to be fired lighted torch of the Statue of Liberty, above an arched inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". The service ribbon of the medal is 1 3⁄8 inches wide and consists of the following vertical stripes: three narrow (1⁄16 inch) strips of red with wider (5⁄32 inch) stripes of yellow in the center, flanked by even wider (5⁄16 inch) stripes of yellow on each side and narrow 1⁄8-inch stripes of primitive green on the ends. The yellow (yellow is traditionally the imperial color of Vietnam) with red stripes (the red represents the three ancient Vietnamese empires of Tonkin, Annam, and Cochin China) resembles the former flag of South Vietnam. The green border on each side alludes to the jungle of that country. Ribbon devicesThe Vietnam Service Medal is authorized three devices for wear on the suspension and service ribbon of the medal: Arrowhead device: assigned or attached member of a U.S. Army or Air Force unit with direct combat assault credit for a parachute jump, helicopter assault landing, combat glider landing, or amphibious assault landing. FMF combat operation insignia: for Naval personnel assigned to a Marine Corps unit during Marine Corps combat operations.Service star (campaign star): for participation in or support of operations in the seventeen designated campaigns of the Vietnam War, a 3⁄16 inch bronze service star is authorized for wear on the Vietnam Service Medal suspension and service ribbon for each of the campaigns from 15 March 1962 to 28 January 1973; a 3⁄16 inch bronze star is also authorized for Operation Frequent Wind, 29–30 April 1975, for Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force personnel. A 3⁄16 inch silver star is authorized in lieu of five bronze stars.One 3⁄16 inch bronze service star is authorized for each campaign under the following conditions: 1. Assigned or attached to and present for duty with a unit during the period in which it participated in combat.2. Under orders in a combat zone and in addition meets any of the following requirements:a. Awarded a combat decoration.b. Furnished a certificate by a Commanding General of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that soldier actually participated in combat.c. Served at a normal post of duty (as contrasted to occupying the status of an inspector, observer, or visitor).d. Aboard a vessel other than in a passenger status and furnished a certificate by the home port commander of the vessel that he or she served in the combat zone.e. Was an evadee or escapee in the combat zone or recovered from a POW status in the combat zone during the time limitations of the campaign. POWs will not be accorded credit for the time spent in confinement or while otherwise in restraint under enemy control.

Price: 10 USD

Location: Fort Knox, Kentucky

End Time: 2024-12-01T04:39:53.000Z

Shipping Cost: 4 USD