Vietnam Service

Vietnam Service

Authorized by E.O.11231 (reference (w)).

Awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States serving at any time between July 4, 1965 and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam, its contiguous waters, or airspace, thereover.

Awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States serving at any time between July 4, 1965 and March 28, 1973, in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia, or the airspaces, thereover, and in direct support of operations in Vietnam.
Service members qualified for the AFEM by reasons of service between July 1, 1958 and July 3, 1965, in an area for which the Vietnam Service Medal was authorized subsequently shall remain qualified for that medal. Upon application, any such Service member may be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal instead of the AFEM for such service. However, no Service member shall be entitled to both awards

For that award, Vietnam and the contiguous waters are defined as "from a point on the east coast of Vietnam at the juncture of Vietnam with China southeastward to 21 degrees N. latitude, 108 degrees, 15 minutes E. longitude; thence, southward to 18 degrees N. latitude, 108 degrees, 15 minutes E. longitude; thence southeastward to 17 degrees, 30 minutes N. latitude, 111 degrees E. longitude; thence, southward to 11 degrees N. latitude, 111 degrees E. longitude; thence, southwestward to 7 degrees N. latitude, 105 degrees E. longitude; thence, westward to 7 degrees N. latitude, 103 degrees E. longitude; thence, northward to 9 degrees, 30 minutes N. latitude, 103 degrees E. longitude; thence, northeastward to 10 degrees, 15 minutes N. latitude, 104 degrees, 27 minutes E. longitude; thence, northward to a point on the west coast of Vietnam at the juncture of Vietnam with Cambodia."

Specific

Personnel Eligible. To be eligible a Service member must be as follows:

Attached to or regularly serving for one, or more, days with an organization participating in or directly supporting ground (military) operations.

Attached to or regularly serving for one, or more, days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations. C6.6.1.2.1.3. Actually participate as a crew member in one or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations.

Serve on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days. Those time limitations may be waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations.

Limitation on Medal. The medal shall be awarded only for operations for which no other U.S. campaign medal is approved. No Service member may be issued both the Vietnam Service Medal and the AFEM for service in Vietnam, and furthermore they shall be entitled to no more than one award of the Vietnam Service Medal.

Stars. A bronze service star shall be worn on the suspension and service ribbon of the Vietnam Service Medal for the Service member's participation during the approved campaign periods. Appendix 6 identifies those campaigns that have been approved.

Posthumous Awards. The Vietnam Service Medal may be awarded posthumously.

Vietnam Service products