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| Korean War Service Medal | |
|---|---|
 1954 Korean War Service Medal(6.25 Incident Participation Medal) | |
| Type | Service medal |
| Eligibility | All United Nations military forces that served during the Korean War |
| Status | Current |
 Service ribbon (1950-present) | |
| Related | Korean Service Medal Korean Defense Service Medal (U.S.) United Nations Service Medal Korea Medal (British Commonwealth) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation (South Korea) |
The Korean War Service Medal (KWSM), also known as the Republic of Korea War Service Medal (ROKWSM), is a military award of South Korea which was first authorized in December 1950.
History & criteria
Originally and technically known as the 6.25 Incident Participation Medal (Presidential decree #390), the enameled 5-pointed star version of the Korean War Service Medal was first authorized to South Korean troops who had participated in the initial counter-assaults against North Korean aggression in June 1950. On September 15, 1951, President Syngman Rhee referred to and authorized the commander-chief of the United Nations Command to confer the award of the "Korean War Medal" and "Korean War Ribbon" ("Korean War Service Medal"), "to the brave and valiant members of the United Nations Command who have been, and are now, combating the communist aggressor in Korea."
On April 14, 1954, the South Korean government authorized the change to the "Crossed Bullets" design (Presidential decree #892) of the Korean War Service Medal for all United Nations troops who had fought in the Korean War between the dates of June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953.
Foreign nation acceptance
United States
While a number of countries accepted the medal, at the time of the Korean War Service Medal's presentation to U.N. troops the United States of America declined to award the medal to U.S. soldiers. This was based on regulations of the time which curtailed the acceptance and wear of foreign decorations on U.S. military uniforms. Although subsequently some veterans attempted to have the award accepted, the Korean War Service Medal faded into history and was not heard of again until 1996. At that time the Army noted that it could find no record that the Korean Government ever offered the medal to the Department of Defense. This was technically true since the original offer was made to the United Nations Command. The Army took the position that unless the Korean Government resurrected their original offer, it was "not in a position to officially recognize or approve acceptance of the medal."
In 1999, the South Korean government proposed the medal be reactivated and retroactively awarded to all Korean and U.N. veterans who had served in the Korean War. Planned presentations of the award were scheduled for June 2000, on the 50th anniversary of the Korean War.
On August 20, 1999, Francis M. Rush Jr., Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army authorized the Korean War Service Medal for distribution and wear by service members of the United States military. The task of issuing the medal was assigned to Randolph Air Force Base while the National Personnel Records Center was responsible for providing documentation to verify eligibility and updating military records to show receipt of the award. While the 50th anniversary of the Korean War blue boxes for the medal say in English, "Korean War Service Medal", the reverse side of the medal is inscribed in Korean, "6.25 Incident Participation Medal".
New Zealand
On April 23, 2001, the Korean War Service Medal was authorized for distribution and wear by service members of the British Commonwealth forces including the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF).
See also
- List of Korea-related topics
- List of military decorations
- Awards and decorations of the United States military
References
- 6.25 Incident Participation Medal
- Ministry of Defense for the Republic of Korea letter, p 1, authorizing the Korean War Medal (Korean War Service Medal), dated September 15, 1951
- P 2, authorization of the Korean War Medal and Korean War Ribbon (Korean War Service Medal)
- P 3, authorization of the Korean War Medal (Korean War Service Medal)
- "Korean Service Medal". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
{{cite web}}: External link in|publisher= - "Foreign Campaign Medals Awarded to New Zealanders The Korean War Service Medals". Medals Awarded to New Zealand Military Personnel. New Zealand Defence Force. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
{{cite web}}: External link in|work=