Korean Service Medal
Encyclopedia
The Korean Service Medal (KSM) is an award
of the United States military and was created in November 1950 by executive order of President Harry Truman. The Korean Service Medal is the primary United States medal for participation in the Korean War
and is awarded to any U.S. service member, who performed duty in the Republic of Korea, between June 27, 1950 and July 27, 1954. The United States Department of Defense
declared thirteen official campaigns of the Korean War, all of which are annotated by service stars on the Korean Service Medal. Some campaigns apply to all branches of the U.S. military, while others are branch specific. Service stars are authorized to the Korean Service Medal for participation in the following campaigns.
For those Army personnel who participated in the amphibious landing at Inchon, as well as airborne attacks on Sukch'on-Such'on and Musan, an arrowhead device
is authorized in addition to campaign service stars. The Fleet Marine Force combat operation insignia is also authorized for Naval personnel who served with the Marine Corps at any time during the Korean War.
Although an armistice ended combat operations in Korea on 27 July 1953, the Korean Service Medal was not issued until June 1954 due to the tense nature of the occupation and garrison duty immediately after the armistice, as well as the high possibility of a renewed attack by North Korea
. After 1954, the Korean Service Medal was no longer issued although the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
was authorized for Korean service in the 1960s. As of 2004, a new medal known as the Korea Defense Service Medal
was authorized for all post-Korean War service in the Republic of Korea.
The color scheme of the ribbon is derived from the Flag of the United Nations
, as it was under the auspices of the United Nations
(United Nations Security Council Resolution 82
) that the war was conducted. The medal itself features a "Korean gateway," most likely an iljumun
.
The United Nations Korea Medal was usually granted along with the Korean Service Medal. Also, a similar award to the Korean Service Medal, known as the Korean War Service Medal
, is a foreign medal of South Korea and is awarded to any United States service member who received the Korean Service Medal. The Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
is also retroactively authorized to any United States Army veteran who served during the Korean War.
It is believed that the Korean Service Medal, along with the other awards that were awarded during the Korean war, may possibly be declared active again due to a guarding conflict currently being held in Korea, henceforth the reasons for the Korea Defense Service Medal
still being currently awarded.
Awards and decorations of the United States military
Awards and decorations of the United States Military are military decorations which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces...
of the United States military and was created in November 1950 by executive order of President Harry Truman. The Korean Service Medal is the primary United States medal for participation in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and is awarded to any U.S. service member, who performed duty in the Republic of Korea, between June 27, 1950 and July 27, 1954. The United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
declared thirteen official campaigns of the Korean War, all of which are annotated by service stars on the Korean Service Medal. Some campaigns apply to all branches of the U.S. military, while others are branch specific. Service stars are authorized to the Korean Service Medal for participation in the following campaigns.
- North Korean Aggression (USMC, Navy): June 27 to November 2, 1950
- United Nations Defensive (Army, USAF): June 27 to September 15, 1950
- Inchon Landing (USMC, Navy): September 13 to 17, 1950
- United Nations Offensive (Army, USAF): September 16 to November 2, 1950
- Chinese Communist Forces Intervention (Army, USAF): November 3, 1950 to January 24, 1951
- Communist China Aggression (USMC, Navy): November 3, 1950 to January 24, 1951
- First United Nations Counteroffensive (USMC, Army, Navy, USAF): January 25 to April 21, 1951
- Chinese Communist Forces Spring Offensive (USMC, Army, Navy, USAF): April 22 to July 8, 1951
- United Nations Summer-Fall Offensive (USMC, Army, Navy, USAF): July 9 to November 27, 1951
- Second Korean Winter (USMC, Army, Navy, USAF): November 28, 1951 to April 30, 1952
- Korean Defense Summer-Fall, 1952 (USMC, Army, Navy, USAF): May 1 to November 30, 1952
- Third Korean Winter (USMC, Army, Navy, USAF): December 1, 1952 to April 30, 1953
- Korea, Summer 1953 (USMC, Army, Navy, USAF): May 1 to July 27, 1953
For those Army personnel who participated in the amphibious landing at Inchon, as well as airborne attacks on Sukch'on-Such'on and Musan, an arrowhead device
Arrowhead device
The Arrowhead device is a decoration of the United States Army which is issued as an attachment to certain service medals. The Arrowhead device is awarded to any service member who participates in an amphibious assault, a combat parachute drop, a helicopter assault landing, or a combat glider...
is authorized in addition to campaign service stars. The Fleet Marine Force combat operation insignia is also authorized for Naval personnel who served with the Marine Corps at any time during the Korean War.
Although an armistice ended combat operations in Korea on 27 July 1953, the Korean Service Medal was not issued until June 1954 due to the tense nature of the occupation and garrison duty immediately after the armistice, as well as the high possibility of a renewed attack by North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. After 1954, the Korean Service Medal was no longer issued although the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is a military award of the United States military, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John Kennedy...
was authorized for Korean service in the 1960s. As of 2004, a new medal known as the Korea Defense Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
The Korea Defense Service Medal is a United States military award that was first created in 2002 when it was signed into law by President George W. Bush. The bill to create the proposal was introduced and championed by Rep. Elton Gallegly and Sen. Ben "Night Horse" Campbell...
was authorized for all post-Korean War service in the Republic of Korea.
The color scheme of the ribbon is derived from the Flag of the United Nations
Flag of the United Nations
The flag of the United Nations was adopted on October 20, 1947, and consists of the official emblem of the United Nations in white on a blue background. The emblem's design is described as:...
, as it was under the auspices of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
(United Nations Security Council Resolution 82
United Nations Security Council Resolution 82
United Nations Security Council Resolution 82 was a measure adopted by the United Nations Security Council on June 25, 1950. The resolution demanded North Korea immediately end its invasion of South Korea, the catalyst for the beginning of the Korean War...
) that the war was conducted. The medal itself features a "Korean gateway," most likely an iljumun
Iljumun
Iljumun is a kind of building functioned as a gate to indicate a Buddhist site in Korea. It is the boundary between the Buddhist temple and human's worldly life. The gate symbolizes the purification and one must left all of their worldly desires before entering the temple...
.
The United Nations Korea Medal was usually granted along with the Korean Service Medal. Also, a similar award to the Korean Service Medal, known as the Korean War Service Medal
Korean War Service Medal
The Korean War Service Medal is a decoration of South Korea which was first authorized in December 1950...
, is a foreign medal of South Korea and is awarded to any United States service member who received the Korean Service Medal. The Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation (Korea)
The Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation is issued by the government of South Korea to both Korean military and foreign units. The last major issuance of the decoration was during the Korean War when the decoration was bestowed to several U.S., U.K., and Commonwealth military units...
is also retroactively authorized to any United States Army veteran who served during the Korean War.
It is believed that the Korean Service Medal, along with the other awards that were awarded during the Korean war, may possibly be declared active again due to a guarding conflict currently being held in Korea, henceforth the reasons for the Korea Defense Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
The Korea Defense Service Medal is a United States military award that was first created in 2002 when it was signed into law by President George W. Bush. The bill to create the proposal was introduced and championed by Rep. Elton Gallegly and Sen. Ben "Night Horse" Campbell...
still being currently awarded.