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Korea
Defense Service Medal
(KDSM)
DoD
Announces Korean Defense Service Medal
The
Defense Department announced today the creation of the Korean Defense
Service Medal (KDSM). The KDSM is a service medal to give special
recognition for the sacrifices and contributions made by members of the
U.S.
armed forces who have served or are serving in the
Republic
of
Korea
.
Public Law
107-314 legislated the creation of a new medal to recognize military
service in the
Republic
of
Korea
and the surrounding waters.
Members of
the armed forces authorized the KDSM must have served in support of the
defense of the
Republic
of
Korea
. The area of eligibility encompasses all land area of the
Republic
of
Korea
, and the contiguous water out to 12 nautical miles, and all air spaces
above the land and water areas.
The KDSM
period of eligibility is
July 28, 1954
, to a future date to be determined by the secretary of defense.
Your tour must have begun on or after 28 July 1954.
Service members must have been assigned, attached, or
mobilized to units operating in the area of eligibility and have been
physically deployed in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive or 60
non-consecutive days or meet one of the following criteria:
Be engaged
in actual combat during an armed engagement, regardless of the time in
the area of eligibility.
Is wounded
or injured in the line of duty and requires medical evacuation from the
area of eligibility.
While
participating as a regularly assigned air crewmember flying sorties
into, out of, within, or over the are of eligibility in support of
military operations. Each day that one or more sorties are flown
in accordance with these criteria shall count as one day toward the 30
or 60-day requirement.
Personnel
who serve in operations and exercises conducted in the area of
eligibility are considered eligible for the award as long as the
basic time criteria is met. Due to the extensive time period for
KDSM eligibility, the nonconsecutive service period for eligibility
remains cumulative throughout the entire period.
The KDSM
may be awarded posthumously, and only one award of the KDSM is
authorized for any individual.
# # #
Applications can now be
submitted by veterans and retirees to the records facility in St. Louis,
MO. The
procedure to apply will be the same as for any other medal request.
You must complete Form SF-180 (click
here) requesting your medal and requesting your records be
updated. Include your Form DD-214 and documentation showing Korea
service after 27 July 1954. Mail SF-180 and DD-214 to the National
Personnel Record Center in St. Louis, MO. The address is on your
SF-180 form.
PROBLEMS
VERIFYING KOREA SERVICE
Cease-fire Veterans
that are not able to prove their Korea service
due to Army records keeping practices during your
service period have
several options to obtain documents that can help with the verification
process. These options are:
1) Request a copy of your
Department of Army Form DA20 from the National Personnel Record Center (NPRC)
in St. Louis, MO. It is a list of all duty assignments with dates of
service.
2) Contact the NPRC to have a search conducted of your units Morning
Reports. This report shows those unit members that are not present
for duty for a 24 hour period or longer. Examples might be
attendance at a school, participation in activities to earn a badge, 3 day
pass/liberty, R&R, patient in hospital, TDY assignment, etc.
Request dates you know would
place your name on this report. This search will cost you
money
because you must either do the physical search yourself or hire someone to
search for you. The NPRC has college students available to do your
search.
3) Request a copy of your unit
roster from the NPRC.
4) Request your complete
medical records. These should have your Korea service documented.
These must be requested from your Veterans Administration Regional Office,
and you must have filed a claim with the VA. Ask for your C File.
5) If you know someone that
deployed to Korea with you, or returned home with you, that might have a
copy of the original orders, get a copy. Your name should also
appear on these orders.
6) If you know someone that
went on R&R with you that might have a copy of the original orders,
get a copy. Your name should also appear on these orders.
7) Use documents showing
promotions, badges or commendations received while stationed in
Korea.
8) Copies of meal cards,
passes, a drivers license, security identification, R&R ID card, etc. showing
your name, unit, service number, date and address (post office number)
have a good
chance
of verifying service.
9) Letters sent home by you,
or sent to you, showing your name, service number and APO No. might be
accepted as a last resort.
Note: Photographs will
not be accepted.
Information compiled
and produced by N.E. Tredway
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