| Vietnam Service Medal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Service medal |
| Awarded for | Service in geographical theater areas of Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia from 4 July 1965 through 28 March 1973 and the evacuation of Saigon (USN, USMC, and USAF) from 29–30 April 1975. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was issued for initial operations in South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 July 1958 through 3 July 1965, and may be exchanged for the VSM. |
| Presented by | the U.S. Department of Defense |
| Eligibility | Members of the U.S. Armed Forces |
| Campaign(s) | Vietnam War |
| Status | Obsolete |
| Established | 8 July 1965 – Executive Order 11231 28 November 1967 – Amended, E.O. 11382 2 February 2003 – Amended, E.O. 13286 |
| First awarded | 4 July 1965 Retroactive to 1 July 1958 |
| Last awarded | 30 April 1975 |
  Service ribbon and campaign streamer | |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
| Next (lower) | Southwest Asia Service Medal |
| Related | Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal Vietnam Civilian Service Award Merchant Marine Vietnam Service Medal |
The Vietnam Service Medal was 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 by all members of the U.S. Armed Forces provided they meet the award requirements.
The distinctive design has been attributed to both sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones, a former employee of the Army Institute of Heraldry[1] and Mercedes Lee who created the design.[2]
- ^ "Vietnam Service Medal". Naval History and Heritage Command. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
- ^ "Vietnam Service Medal". The Institute of Heraldry: Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2013.