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I am wondering if anyone can tell me what the standards are for receiving the Korean Defense medal. My curiosity stems from the fact that I served in Korea from 1980-82 and didn't know if there was some sort of recognition at the time. Is there anyone out there who can help me with this?
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Korea
Korea
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
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Charles, make a records correction request and they award you the KDSM and correct your DD214. The correction form is actually a DD215. Here is the link to do it...... You qualify, easily.........
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. 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 crew member flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the area 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.
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/
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. 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 crew member flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the area 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.
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/
Start Your Military Service Record (DD Form 214) Request
How to Request Military Service Records, Military Personnel Files, Veterans Records, Discharge Papers, Separation Documents, DD214, or Prove Military Service
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There is a catch: if you wear the KDSM for a tour in Korea, then you can't wear the Overseas Ribbon for that same tour. The KDSM can only be awarded once and is not authorized any devices, however, so if you have served two tours in Korea, you wear the OSR for any other tour than the first.
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SFC Stephen Carden
The neest edition of AR 600-8-22 that I could find, dated December 2006, does not make any distinction between the OSR and the KDSM being earned for the same tour. Therefore, if it is not specifically proscribed by regulation, it must be OK.
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SFC Stephen Carden
Who says you can't learn something new every day? I gotta go out and buy another OSR.
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SGT Thomas Lucken
Spent 13 years on 3 tours in Korea by 2000!!!!!! :-) Of course the last tour was 9 years as a Army Contractor...... :-)
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You have to have served in the country for 30 consecutive days in order to receive it. As long as you have documentation that says you were there, then you have earned it. You need to get your dd-214 amended to reflect that. Get with your local VFW service officer to help you out. Oh and it is retro active to 1954.
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TSgt David Ballentine
Is this for any particular years service in the country or during time of service?
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TSgt Scott Hurley
TSgt Ballentine, you have only need to be in country for 30 consecutive days or a total of, its either 30 or 60, non-consecutive days. In any given time frame. And the award is retro active to 1954. So the time frame is 1954- Present and future.
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LTC Paul Labrador
Or until we get a Korean Campaign Medal because Kim Jong Un got pissed at Seth Rogen and James Franco for making fun of him and reinvades the South.... ;o)
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