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Vietnam Service Medal

 The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) is awarded to any Armed Forces of the United States Service member serving in Vietnam, contiguous waters, or air space, including service in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, or their air space, on or after 4 July 1965 through 28 March 1973.

 To qualify for award of the VSM a member must meet one of the following qualifications:

  1. Be attached to or regularly serve for 1 or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting military operations.
  2. Be attached to or regularly serve for 1 or more days aboard a Naval vessel directly supporting military operations.
  3. Actually participate as a crewmember in one or more aerial flights into airspace above Vietnam and contiguous waters directly supporting military operations.
  4. Serve on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days in Vietnam or contiguous areas, except that time limit may be waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations.

 No person will be entitled to more than one award of the VSM.

 Members who qualified for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) for reason of service in Vietnam between 1 July 1958 and 3 July 1965 (inclusive) will remain qualified for that medal. Upon request, any such member may be awarded the VSM instead of the AFEM. In such instances, the AFEM will be deleted from the list of authorized medals in personnel records. No person will be entitled to both awards for Vietnam service.

 Service members who earned the AFEM for Operation FREQUENT WIND between 29 and 30 April 1975 may elect to receive the Vietnam Service Medal instead of the AFEM. No service member may be issued both medals for service in Vietnam.

 Vietnam and contiguous waters, as used herein, is defined as an area which includes Vietnam and the water adjacent thereto within the following specified limits: From a point on the East Coast of Vietnam at the juncture of Vietnam with China southeastward to 21 degrees North latitude, 108 degrees; 15'Eeast Longitude; thence, southward to 18 degrees; North latitude, 108 degrees; 15'Eeast Longitude; thence southeastward to 17 degrees 30'North latitude, 111 degrees East longitude; thence southward to 11 degrees North latitude; 111 degrees East longitude; thence southwestward to 7 degrees North latitude, 105 degrees East longitude; thence westward to 7 degrees North latitude, 103 degrees; East longitude; thence northward to 9 degrees 30' North latitude, 103 degrees East longitude, thence northeastward to 10 degrees 15'North latitude, 104 degrees 27'East longitude; thence northward to a point on the West Coast of Vietnam at the juncture of Vietnam with Cambodia.

 Authorized Device: A service star (bronze or silver) 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 the service member 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.

  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.

Vietnam Service Medal Designated Campaigns:
 Vietnam Advisory Campaign 15 March 1962 - 7 March 1865
 Vietnam Defense Campaign 8 March 1965 - 24 December 1965
 Vietnam Counteroffensive Campaign 24 December 1965 - 30 June 1966
 Vietnam Counteroffensive Campaign, Phase II 1 July 1966 - 31 May 1967
 Vietnam Counteroffensive Campaign, Phase III 1 June 1967 - 29 January 1968
 Tet Counteroffensive 30 January 1968 - 1 April 1968
 Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase IV 2 April 1968 - 30 June 1968
 Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase V 1 July 1968 - 1 November 1968
 Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase VI 2 November 1968 - 22 February 1969
 Tet 69 Counteroffensive, 1969 23 February 1969 - 8 June 1969
 Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 9 June 1969 - 31 October 1969
 Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 1 November 1969 - 30 April 1970
 Sanctuary Counteroffensive 1 May 1970 - 30 June 1970
 Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase VII 1 July 1970 - 30 June 1971
 Consolidation I 1 July 1971 - 30 November 1971
 Consolidation II 1 December 1971 - 29 March 1972
 Vietnam Cease-Fire Campaign 30 March 1972 - 28 January 1973

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

Authorized by: Executive Order 10977, December 4, 1961

Device(s): Bronze Service Star

References:
AFI 36-2803, The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program, Pages 178 to 180
AR 600-8-22, Army Regulation, Military Awards, Pages 27 and 28
SECNAVINST 1650.1H, Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual, Page 8-18 to 8-20
COMDTINST M1650.25E, Coast Guard Military Medals and Awards Manual, Page 6-2
DoD Manual 1348.33-M, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, Page 155

Page updated June 9, 2017

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