MilitaryRibbons.net Blog
Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation
July 31st 2009 - 5:56 am
The Vietnam Civil Actions Medal was first established in 1964. This military medal is also known as the Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation, and it is a military award of South Vietnam. Awarded to any member of the Vietnamese military who achieved outstanding civic service to the state or who participated in civil service actions of significant benefit. There are two cases in which the Vietnam Civil Actions Medal is awarded; with the first class intended for commissioned officers and the second for enlisted personnel. It was not possible to upgrade one class to another or to wear both classes simultaneously.
The military medal "Vietnam Civil Actions Medal" is a unit award referred to as the Civil Actions Unit Award with Palm or as the Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation with Civil Actions Colors. This unit award was awarded to all members of a military command who had participated in civic actions with such a degree that would normally warrant the presentation of the Vietnam Civil Actions Medal. Appearing as the ribbon for the Vietnam Civil Actions Medal (First Class), the unit award was enclosed in a gold frame with a centered bronze palm. Since the two military medals were considered separate awards, regulations did permit the simultaneous presentation and display of both the full sized medal and unit award.The Vietnam Civil Actions Medal was one of the more commonly bestowed Vietnam medals presented to the forces of foreign militaries. The Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation was most often presented to units of the Marine Corps, in the United States Armed Forces, which had served in local police actions to suppress civil unrest in specific areas of South Vietnam. The Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross were other commonly awarded Vietnam military medals, received by members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Vietnam Civil Action Medal in now an obsolete award, since the awarding nation, the Republic of Vietnam, no longer exist. The only way the award would be available is through private dealers of military insignia. Although this ribbon is obsolete, and no longer awarded, any individual that was awarded this military decoration is still entitled to wear it on their respective uniform.Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
July 29th 2009 - 1:30 pm
Awarded to any member of the United States military who served in the Pacific Theater from December 7, 1941 to March 2, 1945, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was a military award of the Second World War and was established on November 6, 1942 and issued by president Franklin D. Roosevelt.
This military award was first issued as a military ribbon in 1941. A full-size military medal was not presented until 1947. The first recipient to be presented the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was a General of the Army by the name of Douglas MacArthur. The equivalent of this award for the European Theater was known as the "European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal." The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was worn after the American Campaign Medal and before the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.
This decoration was awarded to personnel for service within the Asiatic-Pacific Theater (December 7, 1941 to March 2, 1945) under any of the following conditions: taking part in a permanent assignment, assisting in a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 days or 60 days not consecutive, or in active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat medal or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that he actually participated in combat.
The Secretary of War approved this ribbon design on November 24, 1942. The yellow ribbon had white and red on each side to represent Japanese colors. The center blue, white, and red stripes are taken from the American Defense Service Medal and refer to the continuance of the American Defense after Pearl Harbor.
The designer, Mr. Thomas Hudson Jones, submitted the design for this medal to the Commission of Fine Arts on May 22, 1947, and he also the designer of several other military medals. Mr. A. A. Weinman designed the reverse side of the medallion and it is the same design as used on the reverse of the European-African-Middle Eastern and American Campaign Medal.
Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation
July 28th 2009 - 10:32 am
Established by the Coast Guard, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security and the Institute of Heraldry, The Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation was designed for this and any future award of the Coast Guard Puc for Hurricane Katrina. This military ribbon is worn with a specially designed Hurricane device attached.
Presented by President Bush, at the Commandants Change of Command Ceremony on May 25, 2006, this military award was given for meritorious achievement and outstanding performance in action from August 29 to September 13, 2005, in preparation for, and response and recovery to the devastation incurred by Hurricane Katrina. The response to Hurricane Katrina was an all-hand effort, therefore the Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation ribbon was awarded to the following: all Coast Guard Active Duty, Reserve, Auxiliary, and Civilian personnel who were affiliated with the Coast Guard at any time during that period.
This military ribbon may be awarded to either members of the United States Navy or Coast Guard, depending on which service the Coast Guard was supporting when the citation action was performed.
Coast Guard Personnel are reminded that they are not authorized to wear the Navy Puc (horizontal stripes in blue, yellow, and red) to signify receipt of the Puc for Hurricane Katrina operations.
Five Critical Years in Military History
July 27th 2009 - 3:15 pm
The American Campaign Medal is a military medal that is authorized for wear by all branches of the U.S. Armed forces. This military medal was established per Executive Order 9265, dated 6 November 1942, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The American Campaign Medal was awarded to personnel for service within the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946 under any of the following conditions.- While on permanent assignment outside the continental limits of the United States during the applicable time periods.
- The service member must have permanently been assigned as a member of a crew of a vessel sailing ocean waters for a period of 30 days or 60 non-consecutive days.
- Permanently assigned as a member of an operating crew of an airplane actually making regular and frequent flights over ocean waters for a period of 30 days.
- The recipient must have been outside the continental limits of the United States in a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 days not consecutive.
- In active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that he actually participated in combat.
- Within the continental limits of the United States for an aggregate period of one year.
The China Service Medal
July 26th 2009 - 11:31 am
This military decoration is one of a few foreign military medals that is not awarded in all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Established on August 23, 1940 the China Service Medal was awarded to United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel. This military medal instituted in 1940 featured a gold ribbon with narrow red edge stripes. The China Service Medal which is similar to the China Campaign Medal, was issued in 1901 by the United States Army. This military ribbon consists of a gold background with a red stripe inside each edge. These colors were selected because they are popular Asian colors and represent the geographic area of operations for which this medal was awarded.
To commemorate the services performed by the personnel of the Navy and Marine Corps during operations in China from 7 July 1937 to 7 September 1939, this military medal will be issued to the officers and enlisted men who participated in the following operations.
-Served ashore in China, or who have been attached to any of the vessels that operated in support of China between the dates of July 7, 1937, and September 7, 1939. -Served ashore in China or may have been attached to any of the vessels that operate in support of China between the dates of September 2, 1945 and April 1, 1957. -Also credited for eligibility for the medal "China Service Medal" are personnel who performed military services in the Asiatic-Pacific area between September 2, 1945 and March 2, 1946. (unless the individual was eligible for the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal based on services performed prior tp September 9, 1945. If a service member had performed duty during both periods of eligibility a bronze service star is permitted to be worn. The China Service Medal is considered to be obsolete and is no longer issued by the United States Navy in the modern age. Personnel awarded the China Service Medal for service during both periods of eligibility were authorized to wear a bronze star on the ribbon.A Military Ribbon that requires “Action in Combat”
July 20th 2009 - 8:32 am
This military ribbon "The Combat Action Ribbon"of the United Sates Marine Corps. is awarded to those who have actively participated in ground or surface combat while serving in the Navy or Marine Corp. in any grade including and below that of a Captain in the Navy (or Colonel in the Marine Corps),. When operating under the control of the Navy this ribbon is also awarded to members of the United States Coast Guard. Being one of the few military ribbons that has strict warfare criteria, a recipient must display satisfactory performance under enemy fire, while actively participating in a ground or surface engagement, to receive this award. Also personnel in Riverine and coastal operations, assaults, patrols, sweeps, ambushes, convoys, amphibious landings, and similar activities who have participated in firefights are eligible. Personnel eligible for the award of the Purple Heart are not necessarily qualified for the Combat Action Ribbon unless the wound was received while under enemy fire in one of the above scenarios. If awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge or Combat Medical Badge personnel may be authorized to wear the Combat Action Ribbon upon application to the Department of the Navy. The United States Army, as of May 2005, has developed a new decoration known as the Combat Action Badge; it is considered the direct Army equivalent to the Combat Action Ribbon. For retired, deceased, or discharged personnel, retroactive awards of the Combat Action Ribbon are controlled by the National Personnel Records Center. Gold and silver award stars are presented as additional dcorations of the Combat Action Ribbon. This military decoration is available in the following styles: Military ribbon (service ribbon), and Lapel Pin. This military ribbon is also available as a thin military ribbon, or as the traditional slide-on military ribbon.
A MILITARY MEDAL THAT IS NO LONGER AWARDED
July 16th 2009 - 1:05 pm
The Vietnam Civil Actions Medal was first established in 1964. This military medal is also known as the Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation, and it is a military award of South Vietnam. Awarded to any member of the Vietnamese military who achieved outstanding civic service to the state or who participated in civil service actions of significant benefit. There are two cases in which the Vietnam Civil Actions Medal is awarded; with the first class intended for commissioned officers and the second for enlisted personnel. It was not possible to upgrade one class to another or to wear both classes simultaneously. The military medal "Vietnam Civil Actions Medal" is a unit award referred to as the Civil Actions Unit Award with Palm or as the Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation with Civil Actions Colors. This unit award was awarded to all members of a military command who had participated in civic actions with such a degree that would normally warrant the presentation of the Vietnam Civil Actions Medal. Appearing as the ribbon for the Vietnam Civil Actions Medal (First Class), the unit award was enclosed in a gold frame with a centered bronze palm. Since the two military medals were considered separate awards, regulations did permit the simultaneous presentation and display of both the full sized medal and unit award.The Vietnam Civil Actions Medal was one of the more commonly bestowed Vietnam medals presented to the forces of foreign militaries. The Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation was most often presented to units of the Marine Corps, in the United States Armed Forces, which had served in local police actions to suppress civil unrest in specific areas of South Vietnam. The Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Gallentry Cross were other commonly awarded Vietnam Medals, received by members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Vietnam Civil Action Medal in now an obsolete award, since the awarding nation, the Republic of Vietnam, no longer exist. The only way the award would be available is through private dealers of military insignia. Although this ribbon is obsolete, and no longer awarded, any individual that was awarded this military decoration is still entitled to wear it on their respective uniform.
For Service in World War II
July 14th 2009 - 5:51 pm
Created by an act of Congress in July 1945, the "World War II Victory Medal" is a medal of the United States military. The WWII Victory Medal is one of several military medals/military ribbons awarded for a specific war time period. This medal commemorates military service during World War II and is awarded to any member of the United States military, along with members of the armed forces of the Government of the Philippine Islands, who served on active duty, or as a reservist, between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946. First issued as a ribbon, this military medal was referred to as the "Victory Ribbon." A full medal had been established by 1946, which was referred to as the World War II Victory Medal. The medal "The World War II Victory Medal" was designed by Mr. Thomas H. Jones and approved by the Secretary of War on 5 February 1946. For the issuance of the medal "The World War II Victory Medal" there is no minimum service time limit. There has been reports by The National Personnel Records Center, of cases in which the award is received by service members for only a few days of service. There are also cases of service members who had enlisted in 1946, (as the Second World War ended on September 2, 1945 ) , receiving the decoration without having been a veteran of World War II. President Harry S Truman did not declare an official end of hostilities until the last day of 1946. This military decoration is available in the following styles: Full-Size Military Medal, Mini- Medal, Military Ribbon, (Service Ribbon), and Lapel Pin. This military medal is also available as a thin military medal/thin military ribbon, or as the traditional slide-on military medal or ribbon.
FOR TEN YEARS OF SERVICE
July 10th 2009 - 4:32 pm
There are numerous military ribbons and military medals that are awarded to the members of our national guard and reserve forces. Many of these awards are specific to the state that the national guard or reserve unit is from. The Armed Forces Reserve Medal is a military decoration that is awarded to members of any of these units that have performed service to the United states according to the awarding criteria for this decoration. The qualifying criteria for the awarding of the Armed Forces Reserve Medal is that a service member must complete a total of ten years service as a member of a Reserve or National Guard component of the United States military. This service may be cumulative, provided that the combined ten years of service was performed over a period of twelve consecutive years. Voluntary recalls to active duty are not counted within the ten years of service nor is service within the inactive reserves.
The Armed Forces Reserve Medal was authorized by President Truman on 25 September 1950, and was first awarded in 1953. Prior to 1995, the initial award of the Armed Forces Reserve Medal was presented without a device with the second and subsequent awards denoted by the hourglass device. The modern Armed Forces Reserve Medal is presented with a bronze hourglass device upon its initial issuance for ten years of reserve service. Subsequent awards of this military medal are annotated by upgrading the hourglass device to silver and gold. A fourth award of the Armed Forces Reserve Medal is denoted by a bronze and gold hourglass device worn simultaneously.
The Armed Forces Reserve Medal is also awarded to any member of the Reserve or National Guard who is involuntarily mobilized, or volunteers for federal active duty during any such mobilization. In such cases, the ten year period criterion is waived and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal is presented regardless of time in service. The Mobilization device, or "M" device, is awarded as an attachment to the Armed Forces Reserve Medal in all such cases of mobilization to active duty. Subsequent mobilizations result in the award of an award numeral device ("2", "3", etc.) worn in connection with the "M" device. This military medal or military ribbon in addition to being awarded to all units of the U.S. National Guard or Resreve forces is also awarded to both enlisted members and officers of these units. The armed Forces Reserve medal is available as a full-size military medal, mini-medal, military ribbon(service ribbon), and as a lapel pin.For Service in Vietnam
July 5th 2009 - 6:18 am
The Vietnam Service Medal is one of a select number of military medals that designates a period of wartime service that a service member has gone through. This prestigious military medal was awarded to the men and women that served our great nation in a time when much controversy and unrest was in the air concerning our involvement in Vietnam. The Vietnam Service Medal was established July 8th, 1965 and was awarded for service between the dates of July3rd 1965 through March 28th 1973. It is awarded to all members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving in Vietnam and contiguous waters or airspace there over. Members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving in direct support of operations in Vietnam, but stationed in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia, or the airspace there over, during the same period are also eligible for this award. To qualify for the Vietnam Service Medal an individual must meet one of several qualifications. The service member qualifies for this award if they are attached to or regularly serves for one or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting military operations. You can qualify if you are attached to or regularly serve for one or more days aboard a Naval vessel directly supporting military operations. The third qualifying criterion is if you actually participate as a crewmember in one or more aerial flights into airspace above Vietnam and contiguous waters directly supporting military operations. The final qualifying criteria for a service member to receive the Vietnam Service Medal is if a service member is 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. Individuals qualified for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for reason of service in Vietnam between I July 1958 and 3 July 1965 (inclusive) shall remain qualified for that medal. Upon request (unit personnel officer) any such individual may be awarded the VSM instead of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. In such instances, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal will be deleted from the list of authorized medals in personnel records. No person will be entitled to both of these military medals for service in the Vietnam War. The Vietnam Service Medal can only be awarded to a service member one time, and may also be awarded posthumously. The awarding of an additional device or devices denotes subsequent awards for tours of duty. The small bronze star is used to denote an additional tour of duty in support of the Vietnam wartime efforts. The Vietnam Service Medal is awarded as a military medal (full-size, mini-medal), as a military ribbon (service ribbon), and as a lapel pin.