Shown
below
are
periods
for
various
Wars
or
conflicts
during
which
these
ribbons
are
awarded
WW
I
VICTORY
MEDAL
Criteria: Awarded
to
all
members
of
the
armed
forces
who
served
at
least
1
day
active
federal
service.
Instituted
for
service
between
April
6,
1917
and
November
11,
1918.
|
Notes: The World War I Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was first created in 1919, designed by James Earle Fraser. The medal was originally intended to be created by an act of the United States Congress, however the bill authorizing the decoration never passed, leaving the service departments to create the award through general orders. The United States Army published orders authorizing the World War I Victory Medal in April 1919 and the U.S. Navy followed in June of that same year
|
World
War
2
Victory
Authorized
by
an
Act
of
Congress
on
July
6,
1945
and
awarded
to
all
members
of
the
Armed
Forces
who
served
at
least
one
day
of
honorable,
active
federal
service
between
December
7,
1941
and
December
31,
1946,
inclusive.
The
front
of
the
medal
depicts
the
Liberty
figure
resting
her
right
foot
on
a
war
god’s
helmet
with
the
hilt
of
a
broken
sword
in
her
right
hand
and
the
broken
blade
in
her
left
hand.
The
reverse
contains
the
words,
FREEDOM
FROM
FEAR
AND
WANT,
FREEDOM
OF
SPEECH
AND
RELIGION,
and
UNITED
STATES
OF
AMERICA
1941-1945.
The
red
center
stripe
of
the
ribbon
is
symbolic
of
Mars,
the
God
of
War,
representing
both
courage
and
fortitude.
The
twin
rainbow
stripes,
suggested
by
the
World
War
I
Victory
Medal,
allude
to
the
peace
following
a
storm.
A
narrow
white
stripe
separates
the
center
red
stripe
from
each
rainbow
pattern
on
both
sides
of
the
ribbon.
The
World
War
II
Victory
Medal
provides
deserving
recognition
to
all
of
America’s
veterans
who
served
during
World
War
II.
No
attachments
are
authorized
although
some
veterans
received
the
medal
with
an
affixed
bronze
star
which,
according
to
rumors
at
the
time,
was
to
distinguish
those
who
served
in
combat
from
those
who
did
not.
However,
no
official
documentation
has
ever
been
found
to
support
this
supposition.
Although
eligible
for
its
award,
many
World
War
II
veterans
never
actually
received
the
medal
since
many
were
discharged
prior
to
the
medal’s
institution
Awarded
to
members
of
the
US
Armed
Forces
for
service
in
the
Korean
Theater
of
Operations
from
30
Jun
1949
to
27
Jul
1954.
Authorized
by
executive
order
on
November
8,
1950
and
awarded
for
service
between
June
27,
1950
and
July
27,
1954
in
the
Korean
theater
of
operations.
Members
of
the
U.S.
Armed
Forces
must
have
participated
in
combat
or
served
with
a
combat
or
service
unit
in
the
Korean
Theater
for
30
consecutive
or
60
nonconsecutive
days
during
the
designated
period.
Personnel
who
served
with
a
unit
or
headquarters
stationed
outside
the
theater
but
in
direct
support
of
Korean
military
operations
are
also
entitled
to
this
medal.
The
combat
zone
designated
for
qualification
for
the
medal
encompassed
both
North
and
South
Korea,
Korean
waters,
and
the
airspace
over
these
areas.
The
first
campaign
began
when
North
Korea
first
invaded
South
Korea
and
the
last
campaign
ended
when
the
Korean
Armistice
cease-fire
became
effective.
The
period
of
Korean
service
was
extended
by
one
year
from
the
cease
fire
by
the
Secretary
of
Defense;
individuals
could
qualify
for
the
medal
during
this
period
if
stationed
in
Korea
but
would
not
receive
any
campaign
credit.
An
award
of
this
medal
qualifies
personnel
for
award
of
the
United
Nations
(Korean)
Service
Medal
and
the
Republic
of
Korea
War
Service
Medal
(
approved
1999
).
A
Korean
gateway
is
depicted
on
the
front
of
the
medal
along
with
the
inscription:
KOREAN
SERVICE
and
on
the
reverse
are
the
“Taeguk”
symbol
from
the
Korean
flag
that
represents
unity
and
the
inscription:
UNITED
STATES
OF
AMERICA.
A
spray
of
oak
and
laurel
line
the
bottom
edge.
The
suspension
ribbon
and
ribbon
bar
are
both
blue
and
white
representing
the
United
Nations.
Bronze
and
silver
stars
are
affixed
to
the
suspension
drape
and
ribbon
bar
to
indicate
participation
in
any
of
the
10
designated
campaigns
in
the
Korean
War
(see
below).
Army
and
Air
Force
personnel
who
participated
in
an
amphibious
assault
landing
are
entitled
to
wear
the
arrowhead
attachment.
Vietnam
Campaign
Established
by
order
of
the
President
on
01
Oct
1965,
for
service
in
Vietnam
and
contiguous
waters
or
airspace
after
03
Jul
1965
and
through
28
Mar
1973.
Service
in
direct
support
of
Vietnam
from
Thailand,
Laos,
and
Cambodia
is
also
eligible.
 |
| South West Asia |
Defense of Saudi Arabia --
2 Aug 1990-16 Jan 1991
Liberation of Kuwait --
17 Jan 1991-11 Apr 1991
Southwest Asia Cease-Fire --
12 Apr 1991-30 Nov 1995
Persian Gulf (Desert Storm)
August 2, 1990 - November 30. 1995
|
|
Kosovo Campaign
March 24, 1999 - July 20, 1999
awarded to US Armed Forces personnel who served in direct support of Kosovo operation(s):
Operation ALLIED FORCE --
24 MAR 1999-10 JUN 1999
Operation JOINT GUARDIAN --
11 JUN 1999-To Be Anncd
Operation ALLIED HARBOR --
04 APR 1999-01 SEP 1999
Operation SUSTAIN HOPE/SHINING HOPE --
04 ARP 1999-10 JUL 1999
Operation NOBLE ANVIL --
24 MAR 1999-20 JUL 1999
or
Kosovo task force(s):
Hawk--05
APR 1999-24 JUN 1999
Saber--31
MAR 1999-08 JUL 1999
Falcon--11 JUN 1999-To Be Arncd, Coincides With Joint Guardian
Hunter--01 APR 1999-01 NOV 1999
_____________________________________
Global War on Terrisim
Sept 11,2001 -
TWO NEW MEDALS FOR SERVICE IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM. THEY ARE THE 
GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL AND
THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM SERVICE MEDAL. THESE MEDALS WILL BE AWARDED TO RECOGNIZE ALL MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES SERVING IN OR IN SUPPORT OF GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM OPERATIONS, ON OR AFTER 11 SEP 2001 TO A DATE TO BE DETERMINED
