A full archive of past and present "River Currents" newsletters from your friends at MRFA. It was presented to employees of the U.S. State Department, USAID and USIA assigned to diplomatic and consular facilities in Vietnam, or other civilian service in the airspace or territorial waters of Vietnam, greater than a year. This effort consisted of: 444 USAF/USMC helicopter sorties; 204 TACAIR sorties; 24 AH-1J (Cobra) combat escort sorties; 8 AC-130 gunship sorties; 5 EC-130 (ABCCC) sorties; 44 KC-135 tanker sorties; and 2 HC-130 search and rescue support sorties. In such instances, the AFEM will be deleted from the list of authorized medals in personnel records. )hn g*FqNdpKB$3[pE\Wu^!q8g:VZuhtZat)-"$kuL8R&A2pNmX%ADb0pzn\Ga XBj| ~a2 )!`CdY6i=M0$ fgA/L&M52k;4M;'g444?2wtC!2 The AFEM will be awarded only for operations for which no other U.S. campaign medal is approved. 1l~ G0 Dominican Republic. Unit awards, medals and ribbons, and information on applying for and obtaining your medals and ribbons. Several aircrew members that I knew wore both awards Personnel eligible for the award of the Purple Heart are not necessarily qualified for the Combat Action Ribbon unless the wound was received while under enemy fire in one of the above scenarios. Graco Industries, P.O. Unit awards were often granted after a veteran left the service and in many cases recognition of the unit awards never made its way into the veterans DD-214. The deteriorating situation at the Defense Attach location required the Embassy to become a major site. It is not authorized for Soldiers who met the criteria in a one-time period, left active duty, and returned during the same period of eligibility (see chap 6 for service stars). As gunners mate, Miller was in charge of the ships armory and was mount captain on one of the ships 3-inch, 50-caliber cannons. Personnel in riverine and coastal operations, assaults, patrols, sweeps, ambushes, convoys, amphibious landings, and similar activities who have participated in fire fights are eligible. Operation Frequent Wind was the final phase in the evacuation of American civilians and "at-risk" Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam prior to the takeover of the city by the North Vietnamese Army It was carried out on 29-30 April 1975, during the last days of the Vietnam War. Click HERE for information regarding the new Commemorative Vietnam Combatant-Craft Crewman Insignia (VCCC). X"(h0 The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was awarded for Operation Frequent Wind, http://honours.homestead.com/usafexp.html, Combat Action Ribbon was awarded for Operation FREQUENT WIND. Many times personnel were transferred from one unit to another and this information may not necessarily be reflected in your service record. (2) With Gold Star To a unit which is cited before a Corps. We had the pilots take the helos, and theyd put it into a bank and then jump out and the helo would crash in the water and then our boats would go pick em up.. To justify this award, the unit must have performed service as a unit of a character comparable to that which would merit the award of the Silver Star Medal or a Legion of Merit to an individual. H.J. FAIRFIELD, OH (FOX19) - Kenneth Ford of Fairfield served in the United States Marine Corps for 3 years in the 1970s, deployed to both Vietnam and Cambodia. Click on unit logos above for eligibility. Upon submission of evidence to their commanding officer, personnel who earned the Combat Infantryman Badge or Combat Medical Badge while a member of the U.S. Army may be authorized to wear the Combat Action Ribbon. This group is here so that those of us US Navy folks who participated in the evacuation of Saigon, aka Operation Frequent Wind, can amass and share thoughts, ides, and feelings about that "war. If there is no link for a citation for a particular award, it means we need it so that it can be typed and added to this site. Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal optional conversion to the Vietnam After a long delay, Kenneth, who goes by Mike, received seven service medals on Saturday. The decoration is awarded to officers and men for service aboard merchant vessels flying the American flag in Vietnam waters between July 4, 1965 and August 15, 1973. With his revised DD-214 in hand, he was able to finally, formally join the local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter, something he had tried to do years ago. Be sure to print at least (2) documents so you will have one for your file. Here are the items we suggest you include in your request: 1. endobj To justify this award, the unit mush have performed service of a character comparable to that which would merit the award of the Bronze Star Medal, or achievement of like caliber in a non-combat situation, to an individual. In Operation Frequent Wind on April 29, Thomaston 's crew helped to evacuate 811 Vietnamese, Americans, and other refugees from Vietnam, where her flight deck had makeshift tents to house the. Navy Awards and Decorations - The Mobile Riverine Force Association (2) 1 January 1961 and 14 August 1974 (Vietnam) During the periods listed in paragraph 211b(1) and (2) for Korea and Vietnam, Servicemembers in the following categories will not be eligible for the NDSM: (1) Members of the ARNG and USAR on short tours of duty to fulfill training obligations under an inactive duty training program. The Combat Action Ribbon will not be awarded to personnel for aerial combat since the Strike/Flight Air Medal provides recognition for aerial combat exposure; however, a pilot or crewmember forced to escape or evade after being forced down could be eligible for the award. Additional sorties flown on the same day receive no further credit. However, no Servicemember may be issued both medals for service in Vietnam. This means it is up to the veteran to now apply for the awards he may not have previously received. 1 Considering the dates prescribed in the legislation, the following combat periods, which were approved under prior direction, are approved to consider awarding of the CAR: World War II 07 December 1941 through 14 April 1946, Korean War 27 June 1950 through 27 July 1954. "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, For he today that sheds his blood with me, shall be my brother." To read a description of each Named Campaign visit THIS website. - William Shakespeare, Henry V, Navy Cross recipients, Distinguished Service Cross recipients, and Medal of Honor recipients from the Navy Mobile Riverine Force and Army 9th Infantry Division. An award will not be made to a unit for action of one or more of its component parts, unless such unit performed as a total team in a manner justifying the award. The decision to evacuate the entire US presence by helicopter under Operation Frequent Wind was made late morning, 29 April 1975, Saigon time. 15 May 1975. I remember I was in the armory that night and they called us to general quarters and they also called the flight crew. Vietnam Service Medal - Wikipedia U.S. Marines in Vietnam: 1973-1975 The Bitter End | eHISTORY No further grandfather qualification requests will be considered. Please note, that the Department Defense determines who is entitled to receive a medal, and under what circumstances. Personnel who served for a minimum of 6 months as OIC, patrol officer (commissioned or enlisted), river section leader, boat officer, or petty officer in charge (POIC) of the following craft are eligible to wear the insignia: Patrol Boat River (PBR) See THIS PAGE for a list of Navy Unit Awards, and links to citations that we have on hand. Four decades later, Salinas veteran awarded medal for service in Naval Unit Commendation (NUC) Ribbon Synopsis: Awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps which has distinguished itself by outstanding heroism is action against the enemy, but not sufficient to justify the award of the Presidential Unit Citation; or to any such unit which has distinguished itself by extremely meritorious service not involving combat but in support of military operations, rendering the unit outstanding compared to other units performing similar service. Personnel in Riverine and coastal operations, assaults, patrols, sweeps, ambushes, convoys, amphibious landings, and similar activities who have participated in fire fights are eligible. `*^&"^n Dx"~ JMYGO4le,Wx0|Wz rY~:36fMCE-uXReov7zCIYiG The Vietnam Civilian Service Award is an award of the United States Foreign Service. Normal performance of duty or in a large number of combat missions does not in itself justify the award. Governing Directive: NAVPERS 15665I, U. S. Navy Uniform Regulations, 1. b. RVN Gallantry Cross Unit Citation takes precedence over the RVN Civil Actions Unit Citation and is beneath all United States unit citations, the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, and Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation. I go, 'Thats not the point. To qualify for award of the Vietnam Service Medal an individual must meet one of the following qualifications: (1) Be attached to or regularly serve for 1 or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting military operations. An award will not be made to a unit for actions of one or more of its component parts, unless such unit performed as a total team in a manner justifying the award. We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. People were sleeping on the main deck and everything. It is awarded to all Servicemembers of the Armed Forces of the United States serving in Vietnam and its contiguous waters or airspace there over, after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973. You will also receive a transmittal letter telling what medals and ribbons the Navy is including in the package as well as a list of awards for which you may be eligible but for which the Navy does not provide the actual award because it was issued by a foreign government. 8] Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase V 1 July 1 November 1968 4. endstream endobj 101 0 obj <>stream Campaign Stars are authorized for Ain-country personnel@ for periods as indicated below: 16605 Forest Green Terrace Included below is a list of possible suppliers. Operation Frequent Wind concluded more than two decades of U.S. involvement in Vietnam. They said that they could run the country from that ship with the technology they had, Miller said. The Vietnam campaigns are as follows (after the 2010 Consolidation of the various branches): The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) was established by EO 10977, dated 4 December 1961, as amended by EO 10977, 3 May 2000, and may be awarded to Servicemembers of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after 1 July 1958. Note: 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 (VSM) for each of the following campaigns. Authorization: SECNAV Notice 1650 of 17 July 1967. This precludes wear of the Vietnamese Fourragere which represents additional unit awards of the RVN Gallantry Cross. Wearing Small Craft Insignia. hb```e``c`d` BL,g7K{M9t[ ' Z:5D3eDNe@` , n1$d'a w}8D*@ # H*2P t^.C0B&r&p1xc#|^@^. P USS Coral Sea CVA-43 Association - Ship's Awards The Anniversary of Operation Frequent Wind - USS Midway Museum 6) Tet Counteroffensive 30 January 1 April 1968 A. To qualify for award of the Vietnam Service Medal an individual must meet one of the following qualifications: (1) Be attached to or regularly serve for 1 or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting military operations. Caption: Operation Frequent Wind, April 29, 1975 A Vietnamese Air Force HU-1 Huey Helicopter is deliberately ditched near USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), as one of the ship's boats stands by to pick up. PDF Campaigns and Expeditions Which Qualify for Veterans' Preference The palm for this award measures 9/16 inch in length with a 1/8 inch stem and four front leaves attached like a branch. The (2) RVN awards below are Ribbon Only awards The Medal is issued when citing an individual. More than 40 years after U.S. Navy veteran James Miller helped evacuate civilian and military refugees from Da Nang and Saigon during the Vietnam War, the Indio resident will finally receive five medals for his service during those frenzied days in the combat zone. She was formally accepted into the Navy on 15 April 1944. The program featured the Fairfield Police Color Guard, Fairfield Mayor Ron D'Epifanio, and others. Can you imagine?. The Vietnam Service Medal may be awarded posthumously. Do they qualify for Combat Action? When I checked the link above regarding the AFEM I noticed that it was also awarded for operation Eagle Pull. Copyright 2022 Vietnam War History Foundation - All Rights Reserved. 4) Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase II 1 July 1966 31 May 1967 sCbE@DK%Dx `3C-vAl' wIG;KkUAP~P'j_ZZu$=./K%ZK A._%}~__.1_UZW]Wuk/UWZ?_TuBu j0A:,vbfVop(28`( c}f!WT'UA`(jIR5* This fixed-wing evacuation was determined impossible when hostile artillery and rocket fire closed the air base at Tan Son Nhut. Awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States serving at anytime between 03Jul1965 and 28Mar1973 in the area defined under the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) for Vietnam. April 29, 1975 - Operation Frequent Wind 1) Go to the NDAWS website VietnamEvacuation:OperationFREQUENTWIND DanielL. The association does not endorse the goods or services provided by the suppliers listed below. The stem of the palm is to the wearers right., Click HERE for the above quote provided by the Naval Personnel Command (Under 5319. Medals of America, 1929 Fairview Road, Fountain Inn, SC 29644, (864) 862-6425 or (800) 308-0849, Fax number (800) 407-8640 Operations. 2 Per reference (b) above, paragraph 14 (Page 2-20) of said reference states: (1). *,Tqn;iVvhGGq[YEI1|Xj+#Q>4T Armored Troop Carrier (ATC) The ship was outfitted with the most sophisticated electronics systems of its time. Send the form to: Bureau of Naval Personnel Liaison Office Room 5409, 9700 Page Avenue St. Louis, MO 63132-5100 To obtain information about unit awards earned, contact the Chief of Naval Operations, Awards and Special Projects Branch at the address below. Miller recalled the beginning of what was known as"Operation Frequent Wind. A couple of words of caution: The Navy wears all unit ribbons on the left breast in a main ribbon cluster. Operation FREQUENT WIND - 29 April - 30 April 1975. The ship then returned to San Diego for a year where the Blue Ridge was outfitted with surface-to-air missiles, and then returned overseas in early 1975. b. Your help is needed! this award? No individual will be eligible for both the AFEM and a campaign medal awarded during a single tour in the designated operation. 20 December 1989 - 31 January 1990. Join us for our 2017 reunion by making a reservation today! The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) (N86) authorized the Small Craft Insignia for junior officers and senior petty officers who had served as officer in charge (OIC) of Riverine or Coastal Craft, under combat conditions, in the Republic of Vietnam. Refugees arrive aboard USS Midway.29 April 1975. bdpopeye Mi Field Marshall MI.Net Member TAARB Joined Jul 12, 2006 Miller's biggest problem wasthat his DD-214 -- a document known as aCertificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty issued by the U.S. Department of Defense -- did not include his overseas service. Become a member of MRFA! Operation Frequent Wind Service Replacement Certificate RIVPATFLOT FIVE 11) Vietnam Summer Fall 1969 9 June 31 October 1969 We welcome content contributions! Servicemembers must be bona fide members of a unit participating in or be engaged in the direct support of the operation for 30 consecutive days in the area of operations (or for the full period when an operation is less than 30 days duration) or for 60 nonconsecutive days provided this support involved entering the area of operations or and meets one or more of the following criteria: (1) Be engaged in actual combat, or duty, which is equally as hazardous as combat duty, during the operation with armed opposition, regardless of time in the area. In those instances, however, where a single unit received duplicate Vietnamese unit awards during the same period only one will be recorded in official military personnel and historical records. If you served at least 1 day in any period it warrants campaign. (Evacuation operations, Saigon) 29 and 30 April 1975. HM = Humanitarian Service Medal. 14) Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase VII 1 July 1970 30 June 1971 POWs will not be accorded credit for the time. (No ships qualified), Operation MAYAGUEZ. (No ships qualified), Operation FREQUENT WIND. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) is a military award of the United States military, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John Kennedy. National Defense Service Medal Combat Action Ribbon-Operation Frequent Wind Navy Unit Commendation Meritorious Unit Commendation Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with one Bronze star-. Copyright 2011 FOX19. 7th Motor Transport Battalion "Roughrider" convoy from Da Nang to An Hoa. Naval Special Warfare Group, Vietnam The aircraft carrier USS HANCOCK CV-19, the third vessel of the United States Navy named in honor of the famed statesman, John Hancock, was launched on January 24, 1944, at the Bethlehem Steel Company in Quincy, MA. Click on the units you served with to see eligibility for U.S. issued unit action awards After the war, Miller returned to the valley and eventually became postmaster for the cities of Thermal, Coachella, Indio and Palm Springs. 12 OClock High Inc., 265 N.E. Operation Frequent Wind - Navy ST. LOUIS MO 63132. a. endobj Thanks for posting all of this information. The Vietnam Service Medal was established by EO 11231, 8 July 1965, as amended by EO 13286, 2 February 2003. [{J[ E[vWk m0_2Nx)e$=`@6L $DUf"#;# A(bm;[gO)eRD; 1kv6( r SbapK@R, Yh Z#$RT2#;5g3 W8v'Pav*`/=KFDJuZfC#P=%a& The package you receive in a less than ceremonious way contains items which may be important for you to bring a little greater sense of closure to a chapter in your life for which you can be proud. Vets Supply Line, 10650 County Road 81, Suite 131, Maple Grove, MN 55369, (612) 425-0911 Fax number (612) 425-2577 Order Line (800) 864-5062 ACDDav~o^]{OO1l;:M&xA jBW~^=?NO0OO_z_Vt?'_OL ^~S}{"4J_:?A}z"_o7{W_#'oUVE_[tEWp*/VKv~}KuLIK~uM?nBA mtm+]~j miX[][WI}. Special Warfare Craft (SWCL) A. Operation Frequent Wind and Vietnam Service Medal
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