SwiftVets.com

[e5retired]

According to a DD215 that was submitted or processed on Mar. 12, 2001 it to changed Kerrys DD214 to read that he had four clusters for his Vietnam Service Medal. He was only awarded the ribbon before that.

What would be the justification for this change?

[LewWaters]

That's one thing we'd like to know. Pretty hard to earn 4 campaign stars in a 4 month tour.
_________________
Clark County Conservative

[ASPB]

Pick and Choose Guys,

Counting his Westpac it looks like he's entitled to 4 awards. Jeez I was there a full year and only got 4. Bad Timing I guess.

But that's 4 awards and not 4 devices. 1 medal plus 3 devices is all he can wear.


Advisory 15 March 1962 - 7 March 1965
Defense 8 March 1965 - 24 December 1965
Counteroffensive 25 December 1965 - 30 June 1966
Counteroffensive, Phase II 1 July 1966 - 31 May 1967
Counteroffensive, Phase III 1 June 1967 - 29 January 1968
Tet Counteroffensive 30 January 1968- 1 April 1968
Counteroffensive, Phase IV 2 April 1968 - 30 June 1968
Counteroffensive, Phase V 1 July 1968- 1 November 1968
Counteroffensive, Phase VI 2 November 1968 - 22 February 1969
Tet 69/Counteroffensive 23 February 1969 - 8 June 1969
Summer-Fall 1969 9 June 1969 - 31 October 1969
Winter-Spring 1970 1 November 1969 - 30 April 1970
Sanctuary Counteroffensive 1 May 1970 - 30 June 1970
Counteroffensive, Phase VII 1 July 1970 - 30 June 1971
Consolidation I 1 July 1971 - 30 November 1971
Consolidation II 1 December 1971 - 29 March 1972
Cease-Fire 30 March 1972 - 28 January 1973
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On Sale! Order in lots of 100 now at velero@rcn.com Free for the cost of shipping All profits (if any, especially now) go to Swiftvets. The author of "Sink Kerry Swiftly" ---ASPB

[e5retired]

As I stated the DD215 states the medal and four devices. Could you cut your list to the ones that he should have?


Counting his Westpac it looks like he's entitled to 4 awards. Jeez I was there a full year and only got 4. Bad Timing I guess. :lol:

But that's 4 awards and not 4 devices. 1 medal plus 3 devices is all he can wear.

[ASPB]

Tet Counteroffensive 30 January 1968- 1 April 1968
Counteroffensive, Phase IV 2 April 1968 - 30 June 1968
Counteroffensive, Phase VI 2 November 1968 - 22 February 1969
Tet 69/Counteroffensive 23 February 1969 - 8 June 1969

This assumes that the Gridley was in Vietnam waters at least 1 day of each of the 1st 2 campaigns. I have check that. But it can't be any more than these 4 imho
_________________
On Sale! Order in lots of 100 now at velero@rcn.com Free for the cost of shipping All profits (if any, especially now) go to Swiftvets. The author of "Sink Kerry Swiftly" ---ASPB

[DADESID]

Here are the words from SECNAVINST 1650.1G concerning the VSM:

*******************

Vietnam Service Medal (VSM)

a. Authorization. E.O. 11231 of 08 July 1965.

b. Eligibility Requirements
(1) General

(a) Awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of
the United States serving at anytime between 04Jul65 and 28Mar73
in the area defined under the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
for Vietnam.

(b) 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 AFEM by reason of
service between 1 July 1958 and 3 July 1965 (inclusive) in an
area for which the Vietnam Service Medal was subsequently
authorized shall remain qualified for that medal. Upon
application, any such member may be awarded the Vietnam Service
Medal in lieu of the AFEM for such service. However, no person
shall be entitled to both awards for service in an area for
which the Vietnam Service Medal has been authorized.

(2) Specific

(a) Personnel Eligible

1. Shore Duty. Attached to or regularly serving
for 1 or more days with an organization participating in or
directly supporting military operations.

2. Sea Duty. Attached to or regularly serving
for 1 or more days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting
military operations.

3. Air Duty. Actual participation as a crew
member in 1 or more aerial flights directly supporting military
operations.

4. Temporary Duty. Service for 30 consecutive
or 60 non-consecutive days, except that the time limit may be
waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations.
NOTE. Only personnel who were attached to ships/units and who
actually participated in the given operation, are eligible for
the Vietnam Service Medal. This includes personnel attached to
a squadron or unit embarked in a ship during the period for
which that ship is listed as 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 fleet commander who
exercised operational control in the area involved.

(b) 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 automatically
eligible for the medal.

(c) Limitation of Medals. 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 and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for
service in Vietnam (see Art. 431.16b( concerning election),
and no person shall be entitled to more than one award of the
Vietnam Service Medal.

(d) Stars.
A bronze star 3/16-inch in diameter is
authorized to be worn on the suspension ribbon and ribbon bar of
the Vietnam Service Medal for each of the following campaigns:

I. Vietnam Advisory Campaign........15Mar62 to 07Mar65.
II. Vietnam Defense Campaign.........08Mar65 to 24Dec65.
III. Vietnam Counter-offensive........25Dec65 to 30Jun66.
IV. Vietnam Counter-offensive II.... 01Jul66 to 31May67.
V. Vietnam Counter-offensive III....01Jun67 to 29Jan68.
VI. Tet Counter-offensive............30Jan68 to 01Apr68.
VII. Vietnam Counter-offensive IV....02Apr68 to 30Jun68.
VIII. Vietnam Counter-offensive V.....01Jul68 to 01Nov68.
IX. Vietnam Counter-offensive VI....02Nov68 to 22Feb69.
X. Tet 69 Counter-offensive........23Feb69 to 08Jun69.
XI. Vietnam, Summer-Fall 1969.......09Jun69 to 31Oct69.
XII. Vietnam, Winter-Spring 1970.....01Nov69 to 30Apr70.
XIII. Sanctuary Counter-offensive.....01May70 to 30Jun70.
XIV. Vietnam Counter-offensive VII...01Jul70 to 30Jun71.
XV. Consolidation I.................01Jul71 to 30Nov71.
XVI. Consolidation II................01Dec71 to 29Mar72.
XVII. Vietnam Ceasefire Campaign......30Mar72 to 28Jan73.

***************

A plain reading of the words seems to indicate that a "star device" is authorized for participation during each campaign period.

Nothing says that the ribbon itself is intended to represent a campaign period, at least not that I can see.

In fact, a careful reading suggests that the ONLY time a VSM would be worn with no star devices would be in the case of a member who was originally authorized the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for Vietnam Service during the period 1 July 1958 and 15 Mar 1962, and later opted to receive the VSM in lieu of the AFEM, and had no further Vietnam Service.