Korean Service Medal

Last updated
Korean Service Medal
KoreanService.gif
Type Service medal
Awarded forService within territorial limits or service that directly supported the UN's military efforts in defense of South Korea between 1950 and 1954.
DescriptionObverse: On a bronze medal, 1-1/4 inch in diameter, a Korean gateway, encircled by the inscription "KOREAN SERVICE".
Reverse: On the reverse is the Korean "taegeuk" symbol taken from the center of the South Korean national flag with the inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and a spray of oak and laurel encircling the design.
Ribbon: The ribbon is 1-3/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 1/32 inch White; 19/32 inch Bluebird; center 1/8 inch White; 19/32 inch Bluebird; and 1/32 inch White
Presented bythe US Department of Defense
EligibilityMilitary service during the Korean War
Campaign(s) Korean War
StatusInactive
Established EO 10179, November 8, 1950, as amended [1]
First awarded1950 (retroactive to June 27, 1950)
Last awardedJuly 27, 1954
Korean Service Medal - Ribbon.svg

Korean Service Medal - Streamer.png
Korean Service Medal ribbon & streamer
Precedence
Next (higher) National Defense Service Medal
Next (lower) Vietnam Service Medal
Related Korean War Service Medal (Korea)
Korean Defense Service Medal
United Nations Korea Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Presidential Unit Citation (South Korea)

The Korean Service Medal (KSM) was a military award for service in the United States Armed Forces and was established November 8, 1950, by executive order of President Harry Truman. The Korean Service Medal is the primary US military award for service or participation in operations in the Korean area during the Korean War between June 27, 1950, and July 27, 1954. [2] [3]

Contents

Medal devices

Service stars

The United States Department of Defense declared thirteen official campaigns of the Korean War, all of which are annotated by service stars on the Korean Service Medal. Some campaigns apply to all branches of the US military, while others are branch specific. The Korean Service Medal is authorized a 3/16" bronze or silver (indicates five campaigns) service star to denote participation in any of the following campaigns:

Arrowhead device

An arrowhead device is authorized for US Army or Air Force personnel to denote participation in each of the following: [5]

Fleet Marine Force combat operation insignia

History

Although the Korean War Armistice ended combat operations in Korea on 27 July 1953, the Korean Service Medal was issued until June 1954 due to the tense nature of the occupation and garrison duty immediately after the armistice, as well as the high possibility of a renewed attack by North Korea. After 1954, the Korean Service Medal was no longer issued although the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was authorized for Korean area service between October 1, 1966, to June 30, 1974. As of 2004, a new medal known as the Korea Defense Service Medal was authorized for members of the armed forces who served in the defense of the Republic of Korea from July 28, 1954, to a date to be determined.

The KSM was designed by the Army Heraldic Section. The color scheme of the ribbon is derived from the Flag of the United Nations, as it was under the auspices of the United Nations (United Nations Security Council Resolution 82) that the war was conducted. The medal itself features a "Korean gateway," most likely an iljumun, on the front, and a taegeuk on the reverse. [6]

The United Nations Service Medal for Korea was usually issued alongside the Korean Service Medal. Beginning in 1999, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal was also awarded to United States service members who received the Korean Service Medal. The Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation is retroactively authorized to any United States Army veteran who served in Korea during the War.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)</span> Military award of the US Armed Forces

The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. The medal was established on July 2, 1926, and is currently awarded to any persons who, after April 6, 1917, distinguish themselves by single acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Both heroism and extraordinary achievement are entirely distinctive, involving operations that are not routine. The medal may be awarded to friendly foreign military members in ranks equivalent to the U.S. paygrade of O-6 and below in combat in support operations.

The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) was a service award of the United States Armed Forces established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. It was awarded to every member of the U.S. Armed Forces who served during any one of four specified periods of armed conflict or national emergency from June 27, 1950 through December 31, 2022. Combat or "in theater" service is not a requirement for the award.

The Navy Occupation Service Medal was a military award of the United States Navy which was "Awarded to commemorate the services of Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel in the occupation of certain territories of the enemies of the United States during World War II" and recognized those personnel who participated in the European and Asian occupation forces during, and following World War II. The medal was also bestowed to personnel who performed duty in West Berlin between 1945 and 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korean War Service Medal</span> South Korean military award

The Korean War Service Medal, also known as the Republic of Korea War Service Medal (ROKWSM), is a military award of South Korea which was first authorized in December 1950.

The Presidential Unit Citation is a military unit award of the government of Republic of Korea that may be presented to South Korean and foreign military units for outstanding performance in defense of the Republic of Korea. In recognition of allied military service to South Korea during the Korean War, all United States military departments were authorized the unit award for that period.

USS <i>Gloucester</i> (PF-22) Tacoma-class patrol frigate

USS Gloucester (PF-22), a Tacoma-class frigate in commission from 1943 to 1945, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Gloucester, Massachusetts. She later served in the Soviet Navy as EK-26 and in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force as JDS Tsuge (PF-12) and JDS Tsuge (PF-292).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reginald R. Myers</span>

Colonel Reginald Rodney Myers was a United States Marine Corps officer who received the Medal of Honor for his heroism in Korea as a major — for fearlessly leading 250 United Nations troops to victory over 4,000 of the enemy in November 1950 during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.

USS <i>La Moure County</i> (LST-883) LST-542-class tank landing ship

USS La Moure County (LST-883) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after LaMoure County, North Dakota, she was the first of two U.S. naval vessels to bear the name.

USS <i>Jupiter</i> (AK-43) Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Jupiter (AK-43) was an Aldebaran-class cargo ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for delivering necessary goods and equipment to ships and stations in the war zone.

USS <i>Karin</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Karin (AF-33) was an Adria stores ship in service with the United States Navy from 1945 to 1958. She was into commercial service in 1969 and was scrapped in 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea</span> Philippine contingent of the UN forces during the Korean War

The Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK) (Tagalog: Ipinadalang Lakas ng Pilipinas sa Korea, Korean: 필리핀 한국 원정군; RR: Pillipin Hanguk wonjeonggun, Spanish: Fuerza Expedicionaria Filipina a Corea or FEFC) was the Philippine Army contingent of the United Nations forces that fought in the Korean War (1950–1953). The unit arrived in Korea in August 1950. It was composed of 1,468 troops, and was the fifth largest force under the United Nations Command. The PEFTOK took part in the Battle of Miudong (which was hailed as the first battle won by Filipino soldiers in a foreign soil) Battle of Yultong and the Battle of Hill Eerie. The unit operated alongside the United States 1st Cavalry Division, 3rd Infantry Division, 25th Infantry Division, and 45th Infantry Division.

USS <i>Hewell</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Hewell (AG-145/AKL-14) was a Camano-class cargo ship constructed for the U.S. Army as FS-391 shortly before the end of World War II. FS-391 operated with a U.S. Coast Guard crew in the Southwest Pacific area. The ship was acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1948. She was configured as a transport and cargo ship and served with the U.S. Pacific Fleet – including highly decorated service during the Korean War – until decommissioned in 1955.

USS <i>Sussex</i> (AK-213) Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Sussex (AK-213) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship that was constructed for the US Navy during the closing period of World War II. She was retained by the Navy for post-war service, including that in the Korean War theatre where she earned three battle stars and then returned home for deactivation.

USNS <i>Sgt. Andrew Miller</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USNS Sgt. Andrew Miller (T-AK-242) was built as Victory ship SS Radcliffe Victory, a Boulder Victory-class cargo ship, built at the end of World War II. She served during the war and its demilitarization as a commercial cargo vessel operated by American West African Lines under charter with the Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration. From 1946 to 1950, she served the US Army as a transport named USAT Sgt. Andrew Miller. In 1950, she was acquired by the US Navy and assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS). In 1981 she ended her career and was placed into reserve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Air Force in South Korea</span>

The United States Air Force in South Korea is composed of units assigned to Pacific Air Forces Seventh Air Force. The mission of the personnel, equipment and aircraft is to deter, protect and defend the Republic of Korea from attack from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) or more commonly known as North Korea.

USS <i>Wantuck</i>

USS Wantuck (APD-125) was a United States Navy high-speed transport in commission from 1944 to 1957.

USS <i>Horace A. Bass</i>

USS Horace A. Bass (DE-691/APD-124/LPR-124) was a United States Navy high-speed transport in commission from 1944 to 1969.

USS <i>Gardiners Bay</i> Tender of the United States Navy

USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39) was a United States Navy seaplane tender in commission from 1945 to 1958 that saw service in the latter stages of World War II and in the Korean War. After her decommissioning, she was transferred to Norway, and she served in the Royal Norwegian Navy as the training ship HNoMS Haakon VII (A537) from 1958 to 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James H. Doyle</span>

James Henry Doyle was a vice admiral in the United States Navy. During the Korean War, he commanded the U.S. Navy, Marine, and Army forces of Amphibious Group 1, and was personally responsible for the execution of the amphibious phase of the Battle of Inchon in 1950. Admiral Doyle’s naval attack force put 13,000 Marines ashore on a coastline, together with all their heavy weapons and equipment. USS Doyle was named in his honor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Pierson Crowe</span> United States Marine Corps officer

Henry Pierson Crowe was a Marine of World War I, the Banana Wars, World War II, and the Korean War.

References

  1. Amended by EO 10429, January 17, 1953, and EO 13286, February 28, 2003. Additional details and descriptions given at 32 CFR 578.44.
  2. "Korean Service Medal". U.S. Navy Service and Campaign Medals. Naval History and Heritage Command.
  3. "Korean Service Medal". The Institute of Heraldry. Archived from the original on 27 Jan 2024. Retrieved 27 Jan 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Fact Sheet: Korean Service Medal". afpc.af.mil. Air Force Personnel Center. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  5. "Rank ribbons" (PDF). www.studyguides.af.mil.
  6. Kerrigan, Evans E. (1964). "The Korean War 1950-1953". American War Medals and Decorations. New York: The Viking Press. p. 103. OCLC   702555627.