Korean Service Medal

The Korean Service Medal (KSM) is a military decoration awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who served in the Korean War. Its notable characteristics, eligibility criteria, and historical context are outlined below. **History:** The Korean Service Medal was established to recognize the service of U.S. military personnel during the Korean War, which lasted from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953. Authorized under 10 U.S.C. §8308, the KSM has evolved as part of the U.S. military awards system, recognizing the efforts and sacrifices of service members involved in this significant conflict. **Criteria and Eligibility:** To be eligible for the Korean Service Medal, individuals must meet specific service requirements: 1. **Geographic Area of Eligibility (AOE):** This encompasses all land areas of the Republic of Korea, its contiguous waters extending out to 12 nautical miles, and the airspace above these areas. 2. **Time Requirement:** - Service members must have served: - For 30 consecutive days, or - For 60 non-consecutive days within the AOE. - Exceptions to the time requirement include: - Participation in combat engagement, regardless of the amount of time spent in the AOE. - Being killed or wounded during operations and requiring medical evacuation from the AOE, regardless of the time served. - Being a regularly assigned aircrew member flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the AOE in direct support of military operations; every day that sorties are flown counts towards the qualifying days. 3. **Subsequent Awards:** Only one award of the KSM is authorized for any individual, meaning that recipients cannot earn multiple KSMs. **Award Elements:** The KSM consists of both a full-size medal and a ribbon. There are no authorized devices, such as stars, for subsequent awards, given that only one award can be granted. **Procedures for Awarding:** Commanding Officers (COs) have the authority to award the KSM to personnel assigned to their command who meet the eligibility criteria, and they must ensure appropriate entries are made in service records. In cases where supporting documentation is insufficient to establish eligibility, personnel may complete a self-certification document, available online, which should be filed in their service record. **Notable Recipients:** While specific notable recipients may not be mentioned in the accompanying documents, many service members from various branches of the U.S. military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, were awarded the Korean Service Medal for their contributions in the conflict. In summary, the Korean Service Medal is a significant military decoration acknowledging the service and sacrifice of U.S. personnel during the Korean War, with specific eligibility criteria, award procedures, and limitations on issuance.