Vietnam Service Medal
| Vietnam Service Medal | |
|---|---|
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| Awarded by U.S. Armed Forces | |
| Type | Campaign medal |
| Eligibility | Members of the U.S. Armed Forces |
| Awarded for | Service in geographical theater areas of Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia from 4 July 1965 through 28 March 1973, and 29-30 April 1975 for evacuation of Saigon (USN, USMC, and USAF). From 1 July 1958 through 3 July 1965, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was issued for initial operations in South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, and may be exchanged for the VSM. |
| Campaign(s) | Vietnam War |
| Status | Inactive |
| Statistics | |
| Established | by of 8 July 1965 (as amended by of 28 November 1967 and of 2 February 2003.) |
| First awarded | 4 July 1965 (retroactive to 1 July 1958) |
| Last awarded | 30 April 1975 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
| Next (lower) | Southwest Asia Service Medal |
| Related | Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal |
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The Vietnam Service Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces established on 8 July 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The medal is awarded to recognize service during the Vietnam War and is authorized to all servicemembers of the United States Armed Forces provided they meet the award requirements for Vietnam War service.
The distinctive design has been attributed to both sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones, a former employee of the Army Institute of Heraldry and Mercedes Lee who created the design.
The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) was awarded to all servicemembers of the United States Armed Forces serving in Vietnam and its contiguous waters or airspace thereover, after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973. Servicemembers of the United States Armed Forces in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, or airspace there over, during the same period and serving in direct support of operations in Vietnam are also eligible for the award.
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