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National Defense Service Medal

President Dwight Eisenhower created the National Defense Service Medal as an addition to the hallowed medals of America, in 1953. These US military medals were intended to honor any service person who served honorably during a designated time period after a National Emergency had been declared by the United States government. These military ribbons and medals have been awarded to service persons who have performed active duty in a number of engagements between June of 1950 and July of 1954. The conflicts included are the Korean War, between January of 1961 and August of 1974; the Vietnam War, between August of 1990 and November of 1995; the Gulf War for its entire call-up and deployment period; and for all service rendered after September 11 of 2001 in the War on Terrorism, including all Iraq and Afghanistan service.

Military members who have received National Defense Service Medals and have served in more than one eligible campaign are authorized to wear Service Star devices to denote additional issues of these military awards. These military medals and ribbons are worn below the Navy Occupation Service Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal, and above the Korean Service Medal in the general order of precedence that has been established to govern the proper display of all military decorations.



The National Defense Service Medal is generally available as Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard decorations, and can be worn as traditional full size military medals, mini medals, military ribbons and lapel pins. While traditionalist may still prefer to purchase the traditional slide-on full size military medals, mini-medals, and slide-on military ribbons; the newer thin mini-medals, and ultra thin military ribbons commercial suppliers now provide have become extremely popular among up and coming military personnel who know how important it is to their career advancement to always maximize the neatness and smartness of their uniform appearance.