Korean Service Medal

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Korean Service Medal

The Korean Service Medal (KSM) is awarded to personnel who were assigned or attached to combat or service units designated by the Commander, Far East Air Forces, in general orders for service within the Korean Theater or adjacent areas between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954. The term "Korean Theater" as used in this instruction includes the areas that encompass North and South Korea, Korean waters, the air over North and South Korea, and the air over Korean waters.

Personnel also are considered having participated in an engagement if they were members of a designated combat or service unit in the Korean Theater; a combat or service unit, other than one within the Korean Theater, which was designated by the Commander, Far East Air Force, as having directly supported the military operations in the Korean Theater; or a designated headquarters of the Far East Air Forces that exerted a distinct and contributory effort to the military operations in the Korean Theater.

The personnel must have performed the prescribed service while they were on permanent assignment, on TDY with a designated unit or headquarters for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days, or in actual combat against the enemy, as reflected by an awarded combat decoration or furnished a certificate by a division, comparable, or higher unit commander, a ship, comparable, or higher unit commander, or an Air Force group, comparable, or higher unit commander stating that they actually participated in combat.

Authorized Devices: A 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 the 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 he 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 served in the combat zone.

3. Was an evader or escapee in the combat zone or recovered from a prisoner-of-war status in the combat zone during the time limitations of the campaign. Prisoners of war will not be accorded credit for the time spent in confinement or while otherwise in restraint under enemy control.

4. An arrowhead device will be awarded to members of designated combat or service units in combat, units assigned to the Far East Air Forces command, or units that were on TDY with the Army Ground Forces and participated in an airborne or amphibious assault within the territorial limits of Korea (see AFI 36-2803, Chapter 11, Devices and Appurtenances, Paragraph 11.5.). Contact the Air Force Contact Center for a listing of entitled Air Force units.

Korean Service Medal Designated US Military Operations:

United Nations (U.N.) Defensive 27 June 1950 - 15 September 1950
U.N. Offensive 16 September 1950 - 2 November 1950
Chinese Communist Forces Intervention 3 November 1950 - 24 January 1951
First U.N. Counteroffensive 25 January 1951 - 21 April 1951
Chinese Communist Forces Spring Offensive 22 April 1951 - 8 July 1951
U.N. Summer-Fall Offensive 9 July 1951 - 27 November 1951
Second Korean Winter 28 November 1951 - 30 April 1952
Korea Summer-Fall 1952 1 May 1952 - 30 November 1952
Third Korean Winter 1 December 1952 - 30 April 1953
Korea Summer-Fall 1953 1 May 1953 - 27 July 1953
Korea Ceasefire 28 July 1953 - 27 July 1954

Category of Award: U.S. Campaign and Service Medal - Personal Service Medal

Established by: Executive Order 10179, dated 8 November 1950, as amended by Executive Order 13286, 28 February 2003. It is awarded for service between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954

Device(s): Bronze Service Star

References:
AFI 36-2803, The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program, Pages 170 and 171
AR 600-8-22, Army Regulation, Military Awards, Pages 67 and 68
SECNAVINST 1650.1H, Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual, Page 4-16 to 4-18
COMDTINST M1650.25E, Coast Guard Military Medals and Awards Manual, Pages 5-5 and 5-6
DoD Manual 1348.33-M, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, Page 152
DoD Manual 1348.33, Volume 3, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards: DoD-Wide Performance and Valor Awards, Page 68.