Korea Defense Service Medal

Infobox Military Award
name=Korea Defense Service Medal


caption=Korea Defense Service Medal
awarded_by=United States
type=Campaign medal
eligibility=July 28, 1954-to be determined
for=duty in the Republic of Korea to uphold the armistice between South and North Korea.
campaign=
status=current
description=
clasps=
established=2002
first_award=
last_award=
total=
posthumous=
recipients=Ron Paul Jamie Farr
individual=
higher=Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
same=
lower=Armed Forces Service Medal
related=Korean Service Medal
Korean War Service Medal

United Nations Service Medal


caption2=

The Korea Defense Service Medal is a United States military decoration that was first created in 2002 when it was signed into law by President George W. Bush. The bill to create the proposal was introduced and championed by Rep. Elton Gallegly and Sen. Ben "Night Horse" Campbell. In 2004, the Institute of Heraldry approved the final design of the decoration and the medal became authorized for distribution.

The Korea Defense Service Medal (KDSM) is authorized for those members of the U.S. military who have served duty in the Republic of Korea to uphold the armistice between South and North Korea. To qualify for the KDSM, a service member must have served at least thirty consecutive days in the Korean theater. The medal is also granted for 60 non-consecutive days of service which includes reservists on annual training in Korea.

Exceptions are made for the 30/60 days time requirement if a service member participated in a combat armed engagement, was wounded or injured in the line of duty requiring medical evacuation, or participated as a regularly assigned aircrew member in flying sorties which totaled more than 30 days of duty in Korean airspace. In such cases, the KDSM is authorized regardless of time served in theater.

The Korea Defense Service Medal is retroactive to the end of the Korean War and is granted to any service performed after July 28, 1954. The National Personnel Records Center is responsible for verifying entitlement of the KDSM to discharged members of the military who served in Korea prior to the creation of the KDSM.

As an official Department of Defense exception to policy, service members may be entitled to both the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the KDSM for participation in operations in Korea during the same timeframe between 1 October, 1966 - 30 June, 1974

Only one award of the Korea Defense Service Medal is authorized, regardless of the amount of time served in the Korean theater. For service members who were awarded an Overseas Service Ribbon for Korean service, both decorations may be worn simultaneously.

ee also

*List of Korea-related topics
*Military of South Korea

External links

* [http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2004/nr20040209-0334.html DoD News: DoD Announces Korean Defense Service Medal]