a. Authorization. E.O. 11231 of 8 July 1965.
b. Vietnam Service Medal Eligibility Requirements
(1) General
(a) Vietnam Service Medal is awarded to all members of the Armed Forces
of the United States, serving at any time between 4 July 1965
and 28 March 1973, in the area defined under the Armed Forces
Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) for Vietnam.
(b) Vietnam Service Medal is awarded to all members of the Armed Forces
of the United States in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air
space thereof, between 4 July 1965 and 28 March 1973, and
serving in direct support of operations in Vietnam.
(c) Members qualified for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM), by reason
of service between 1 July 1958 and 3 July 1965, inclusive, in an
area for which the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) was subsequently
authorized, shall remain qualified for the Armed Forces Expeditioanry Medal (AFEM). Upon
application, any such member may elect the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) in lieu of the
Armed Forces Expeditioanry Medal (AFEM) for such service. However, no person shall be entitled to
both awards for service in an area for which the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) has been
authorized.
(d) Public Law 107-314 of 2 December 2002
stipulates that personnel who were awarded the Armed Forces Expeditioanry Medal (AFEM) for their
participation in Operation FREQUENT WIND, during the period 29
to 30 April 1975, may elect the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) in lieu of the Armed Forces Expeditioanry Medal (AFEM) for such
service. However, no person shall be entitled to both awards
for the same service.
(2) Personnel Eligible. Only personnel attached to
ships or units, and who actually participated in the given
operation, are eligible for the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). This includes personnel attached to a squadron or unit embarked in a ship during the
period for which that ship is eligible. Members of rear
echelons, transients, observers, and personnel assigned for
short periods or TAD and training duty are normally not eligible
for the award; however, consideration will be given in those
instances where the local commander certifies a particular and
significant contribution by an individual. Such certification
should be submitted to CNO/CMC, via the commander who exercised
operational control in the area involved.
(a) Shore Duty. Attached to or regularly
serving, for one or more days, with an organization
participating in or directly supporting military operations.
(b) Sea Duty. Attached to or regularly
serving, for one or more days, aboard a naval vessel directly
supporting military operations.
(c) Air Duty. Actual participation as a crew
member in one or more aerial flights, directly supporting
military operations.
(d) Temporary Duty. Service for 30
consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, except that the time
limit may be waived for personnel participating in actual combat
operations.
(3) Eligible Ships and Units. Ships and units
present in the area merely for training purposes are not
eligible for the award. Squadrons or units embarked in a ship,
during the period for which that ship is listed as eligible, are
eligible for the medal.
(4) Limitations. The medal shall be ,awarded only
for operations for which no other U.S. campaign medal is
approved. No person may be issued both the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) for
service in Vietnam, and no person shall be entitled to more than
one award of the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM).
c. Engagement Stars. A 3/16 inch bronze star is
authorized for wear on the suspension ribbon and ribbon bar of
the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) for each of the following campaigns:
I. Vietnam Advisory Campaign 15 Mar 62 to 07 Mar 65
11. Vietnam Defense Campaign 08 Mar 65 to 24 Dec 65
111. Vietnam Counter-offensive 25 Dec 65 to 30 Jun 66
IV. Vietnam Counter-offensive I1 01 Jul 66 to 31 May 67
V. Vietnam Counter-offensive I11 01 Jun 67 to 29 Jan 68
VI . Tet Counter-offensive 30 Jan 68 to 01 Apr 68
VII .Vietnam Counter-offensive IV 02 Apr 68 to 30 Jun 68
VIII. Vietnam Counter-offensive V 01 Jul 68 to 01 Nov 68
IX. Vietnam Counter-offensive VI 02 Nov 68 to 22 Feb 69
X. Tet 69 Counter-offensive 23 Feb 69 to 08 Jun 69
XI. Vietnam, Summer-Fall 1969 09 Jun 69 to 31 Oct 69
XII. Vietnam, Winter-Spring 1970 01 Nov 69 to 30 Apr 70
XIII. Sanctuary Counter-offensive 01 May 70 to 30 Jun 70
XIV. Vietnam Counter-offensive VII 01 Jul 70 to 30 Jun 71
XV . Consolidation I 01 Jul 71 to 30 Nov 71
XVI . Consolidation I1 01 Dec 71 to 29 Mar 72
XVII . Vietnam Ceasefire Campaign 30 Mar 72 to 28 Jan 73
XVIII. Operation FREQUENT WIND 29 Apr 75 to 30 Apr 75
Authorized Devices: Bronze Star, Silver Star,
Bronze Marine Corps Device(Navy),
Bronze Arrowhead (Army)
Army Infantry Units Vietnam War
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