Posted on Mar 21, 2014
Are combat patches awarded for military service in the Republic of Korea?
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I am curious because I have been told so many different things that I would like to have clarification on this. If someone could point me in the right direction I would gladly look the answer up myself. Also, stupid question, am I entitled to wear a combat patch for the 10th mountain division if the unit I was attached to was never fully deployed while I was in it.
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Combat Patch (SSI-FWTS)
Korea
Combat Patch (SSI-FWTS) Korea
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 31
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The military has put many of us in hostile situations, but does not consider it war based on the politically correct answers. What soldiers are saying about Korea, (including me 86-87), is that war is alway imminent there. The pucker factor is real. When you get told Kim Jon Un is coming across the DMZ at any moment, it’s all out caps. Yes, I had some good times there. But every time I went on duty at the “Turtle Farm” AKA Camp Casey, it was on. By the way, for you brave scholars out there, the Korean War is not over, only an Armistice Agreement is in place. All of us who got out of that “Hell Hole” after 365 days are blessed. Oh by the way, I did not serve for a combat patch or chest full of medals, I just served.
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SPC Cesar Freytes
SFC Campbell your damn right the pucker factor is real, when you arrive in country and told that your just a speed bump that's an alarm clock, I did 2 tours with JSA at camp Bonifas on the Z, and countless alerts at camp Hovey not knowing if this one was the big one and if so will the Chinese join the North like they did in the 50s. By the way not to get political and I'm not revealing my political thoughts because its nobody's business but is it only me getting disturbed about our President praising North Korea after so many sacrifice's. I don't want to hear the standard face news crap I SAW HIM SAY IT WITH MY OWN EYES and I was sober for once. When full blown fighting starts there we are going to remember what high intensity war really is. My father served there in the 50s.
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
SrA John Monette - , Yes, a UN Chapter 7 Police Action. A more Recent one is Kuwait's Desert Storm.
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A lot of the great discussion here is also why DoA came up with the Korean Defense Service Medal in lieu of the overseas tour ribbon. It distinguishes the fact that Korea is a hot spot not just an overseas posting.
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SSG Stephen Kimball
It was my understanding you earned credit for overseas service and Korea Defense Medal. My DD 214 reflects this
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Keep trying I received my CIB and was'nt even looking for it, I mean I submitted the paper work to the army and buddy statements that proved wHat we did really happened but there must have been some evidence in my 201 file because initially they denied me so I gave up and then after years I receive it in the mail? go figure but that's the army.
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CPL Calvin Harwick
I received mine in Korea in 1951 from the company commander when the regulations to receive one was 30 days in an actual combat zone in an infantry unit during actual combat.Did the qualifications change to appease the the "new army"
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CPL Calvin Harwick - There hasn't been a 30 day requirement since Vietnam, but you still have to be an 11B, serving in an Infantry line company and have been in a fire fight. They still awarded soldiers that got into fire fights on the DMZ in Korea, which used to happen at fairly regular intervals, the CIB until 1984.
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SGM Bobby Griffith
Served 13 months in 1969/70 in A Trp, 4/7 Cav, 2ID. Back then we received $65 Hostile Fire Pay per month when we performed 5 missions in the DMZ in the pay period.
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CW4 Craig Urban
My uncle Matt Urban from Buffalo new York was awarded the medal of honor buy Jimmy Carter 20 years after the end of WW2. LTC Matt Louis Urban. Called the ghost by the Germans. I was born in Buffalo (Cuba) new York.
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SSG Maurice P.
I never was in or stationed in Korea but i always thought that if you were on the DMZ for 30 days or more you qualified for the Vfw now that could all be b.s but back in the day that was my impression....
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
SSG Maurice P. , unless there were hostilities involved that may be a special case. I was stationed north of the Imjin river for 365 and we were not awarded veteran status or VFW membership.
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SSG Robert Poorman
Gentlemen, this is from the VFW about eligibility
ELIGIBILITY
The fundamental difference between our organization and other veterans organizations, and one in which we take great pride, is our eligibility qualifications.
VFW welcomes all who meet our eligibility criteria. It's through service to this country that all our membership has earned their elite status.
If you have received a campaign medal for overseas service; have served 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in Korea; or have ever received hostile fire or imminent danger pay, then you're eligible to join our ranks.
http://www.vfw.org/Join/Eligibility/
ELIGIBILITY
The fundamental difference between our organization and other veterans organizations, and one in which we take great pride, is our eligibility qualifications.
VFW welcomes all who meet our eligibility criteria. It's through service to this country that all our membership has earned their elite status.
If you have received a campaign medal for overseas service; have served 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in Korea; or have ever received hostile fire or imminent danger pay, then you're eligible to join our ranks.
http://www.vfw.org/Join/Eligibility/
VFW membership eligibility information.
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Actually now you do qualify for the CIB if you served on the DMZ, Korea. Under AR 600-8-22 pages 98 and 99. Its qualifying wars, conflicts and operations on Korea DMZ 4 Jan 1969 to 31 March 1994.
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1SG (Join to see)
For the award of the CIB for the DMZ stated above, it appears you still have to meet the requirements, not just been assigned to the DMZ, **unless there is a message stating otherwise**:
Essentially: Infantry, assigned Infantry unit, satisfactorily performing Infantry duties, unit engaged in ground combat, you were present and participated in the ground combat. 600-8-22, 8-6.a.(1)-(3)
To request the award of the CIB:
Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), paragraph 8-6, provides that Army veterans and service members who served in Korea on or after 28 July 1953 and meet the criteria for award of the CIB outlined in paragraph 8–6c, may submit an application (to include supporting documentation) for award of the CIB to the Commander, U.S. Army Human Resources Command (USAHRC), Attention: AHRC-PDP-A, 1600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Fort Knox, KY 40122.
Supporting documents are orders, awards, certificates, NCOERS, your statement, buddy statement, CDR statement, etc.
Do NOT try a correction of military records before you have tried HRC due to the requirement to first exhaust administrative remedies. Ref: BOARD DATE: 13 March 2012, DOCKET NUMBER: AR [login to see] 0.
Essentially: Infantry, assigned Infantry unit, satisfactorily performing Infantry duties, unit engaged in ground combat, you were present and participated in the ground combat. 600-8-22, 8-6.a.(1)-(3)
To request the award of the CIB:
Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), paragraph 8-6, provides that Army veterans and service members who served in Korea on or after 28 July 1953 and meet the criteria for award of the CIB outlined in paragraph 8–6c, may submit an application (to include supporting documentation) for award of the CIB to the Commander, U.S. Army Human Resources Command (USAHRC), Attention: AHRC-PDP-A, 1600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Fort Knox, KY 40122.
Supporting documents are orders, awards, certificates, NCOERS, your statement, buddy statement, CDR statement, etc.
Do NOT try a correction of military records before you have tried HRC due to the requirement to first exhaust administrative remedies. Ref: BOARD DATE: 13 March 2012, DOCKET NUMBER: AR [login to see] 0.
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The answer depends on when you served there:
AR 670-1 25 May 2017
I highly recommend you read the beginning of this paragraph 19-17 as it explains what qualifies as Combat zone.
19–17. Shoulder sleeve insignia–former wartime service
(2) Korea: between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954, both dates inclusive. Also between 1 April 1968 and 31 August 1973, for those personnel who were awarded the Purple Heart, combat infantryman badge, combat medical badge, or who qualified for at least one month of hostile fire pay for service in a hostile fire area in Korea.
(7) Korea: 23 November 1984, for Soldiers who participated directly in the firefight with North Korean guards at the Joint Security Area, Panmunjom, Korea.
Also found this (read entire page; not that much):
https://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/special-pay/combat-zone-tax-exclusions.html
AR 670-1 25 May 2017
I highly recommend you read the beginning of this paragraph 19-17 as it explains what qualifies as Combat zone.
19–17. Shoulder sleeve insignia–former wartime service
(2) Korea: between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954, both dates inclusive. Also between 1 April 1968 and 31 August 1973, for those personnel who were awarded the Purple Heart, combat infantryman badge, combat medical badge, or who qualified for at least one month of hostile fire pay for service in a hostile fire area in Korea.
(7) Korea: 23 November 1984, for Soldiers who participated directly in the firefight with North Korean guards at the Joint Security Area, Panmunjom, Korea.
Also found this (read entire page; not that much):
https://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/special-pay/combat-zone-tax-exclusions.html
If you are a military member who serves in a combat zone you can exclude certain pay from your income when figuring your taxes.
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We currently have a Kiowa unit here deployed for 9 months and they do not get a combat patch. The next unit is about to relieve them and will be here for 9 months. Korea is becoming a rotation deployment for a few different combat units over the next few years. They are authorized to wear the KDSM which requires you to do 30 days consecutive or 60 days unconsecutive. I have been here a year and there is a lot of talk about 9 month rotational units coming to perform specific duties.
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I understand stand a combat patch is authorized for Korean service from April 1968 to August 1973 if the soldier received hostile fire pay at least one month. To receive hostile fire pay we needed to be on an operation north of the Imjin for at least five days or 3 overnights in a month
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Spent a year there, 1985 to 1986. Do not know the answer to original question. If anyone gets a solid answer I would love to know. Don't really care about being able to the wear the patch as I retired a long time ago. Just curious in my old age.
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