At the time none of this meant much ! It still
really doesn't mean much ! but I did it ! & I had a great time
in the process.
Air Force
Commendation Medal (1)
Good Conduct Medal (2)
National Defense Service Medal (3)
Vietnam Service Medal (4) Republic of Vietnam
Campaign Medal (5)
![]()
(1) A mid-level award presented for sustained acts of heroism or
meritorious service. Awarded by local
commanders, allowing for a
broad interpretation of the criteria for which the
medal may be awarded.
Trust Me, I didn't get this for heroism, !! And
whatever meritorious service fell under the broad interpretation rule
:-)
(2) Awarded to any enlisted member of the United States military
(except U.S. Air Force personnel after 2006)
who completes three consecutive years of "honorable and faithful service."
The 97th Air Force Uniform
Board met in October 2005 and made the decision to
discontinue the medal with the rationale that good
conduct of Airmen is the expected standard, not an exceptional occurrence worthy
of recognition.
On 8 February 2006, the Board announced that effective immediately new medals
will no longer be issued,
but previously awarded medals that are a matter of record may still be worn.
I was such a good boy !!
(3) Awarded to anyone who serves on active duty in the United States military
during a various designated time period.
I must have been there on the right day !!
I qualify for both of these , I was on the ground
for more than 6 months
(4) Awarded to any service member who served more than thirty consecutive days,
or 60 non-consecutive days,
in the Republic of Vietnam between the dates of 1961-11-15 and 1973-03-28, and
from 29 April 1975 to 30 April 1975 .
For those service members who supported Vietnam operations from another country
(such as Thailand), the Vietnam
Service Medal may be authorized if such activity was in direct support of
Vietnam combat operations and if such combat
support exceeded 30–60 days. For the United States Navy, vessels operating in
Vietnamese waters qualify for the
Vietnam Service Medal provided that the naval vessel was engaged in direct
support of Vietnam combat operations.
The U.S. Air Force also grants the Vietnam Service Medal for 30–60 days of
flight missions in Vietnamese air space,
even if the home base of the flight mission was not within the Republic of
Vietnam.
(5) A military award of South Vietnam established in 1966. Awarded to any member
of the United States military who
completed at least six months of duty in the Republic of Vietnam between the
dates of March 1, 1961 and March 28, 1973.
The decoration may also be awarded to any service member who, while serving
outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam,
provided direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces for a
period exceeding six months. In such cases, a
service member must have been awarded either the Vietnam Service Medal or the
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (for
service in a Vietnam campaign) to be eligible. For those U.S. service members
who were wounded by an enemy force, captured
by the enemy in the line of duty, or killed in action, the Vietnam Campaign
Medal is automatically awarded regardless of total time
served in Vietnam.