It was a maddening process sending packets of information back and forth between the Navy and DOD. No Servicemember may be issued both medals for service in Vietnam. A second or third award of the NDSM is authorized for Soldiers who served in two or more of the four time periods listed in paragraph 211b. (No ships qualified), Operation MAYAGUEZ. 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. Fall of Saigon memories vivid on 40th anniversary. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. The Vietnam Civilian Service Award is an award of the United States Foreign Service. Photograph Museum of HonorLocator Registry Applications
The tour in question may be cut 1 month short due to manning requirements (not due to Soldier misconduct) and still receive full credit for the tour length. When the operation ceased on May 2, the Vietnamese Navy group set sail for reception centers in the Philippines and Guam in Operation New Life. The ship was awarded ten medals and three commendations, and earned 15 engagement stars for combat action and service under hostile conditions. . Long tour credit is awarded for completion of an overseas long tour (2 years) prescribed by Department of the Air Force Instructions, or to any member assigned to a United States or overseas location who is subsequently sent under temporary duty orders (to include combat tours) for 365 or more days within a 3-year time frame. The bamboo grove represented the lawful, democratic state. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Operation Frequent Wind was a rescue operation in 1975 by American military helicopter for the American and South Vietnamese citizens in Saigon (modern Ho Chi Minh City) as it was attacked by the North Vietnamese army. Images directly from USS hancock (CVA 19) Last WESPAC cruise book..1975.. 9700 PAGE AVENUE Criteria: a. After more than four years of trying to acquire the medals on his own through the U.S. Navy and the Department of Defense, Miller turned to Congressman Raul Ruizs office for help. 10977 of December 4, 1961, establishing the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, any member who qualified for that medal by reason of service in Vietnam between July 1, 1958, and July 4, 1965, shall remain qualified for that medal. Operation Frequent Wind, the final operation in Saigon, began on April 29, 1975. Those last two photos where aboard Hancock. The "A" device is authorized only on the short tour ribbon to any service member who performs a tour of duty at an arctic based Air Force or Space Force facility; most commonly Thule Air Base in Greenland. Longitude, thence northward to a point on the West Coast of Vietnam atthe juncture of Vietnam with Cambodia. There were helicopters they blackened the sky - and we were offloading them.. Several aircrew members that I knew wore both awards -Servicemembers who earned the AFEM for Operation FREQUENT WIND between 29 and 30 April 1975, may elect to receive the VSM instead of the AFEM. "We had shotguns and even a duffel bag full of grenades," said Bennington. 2 Adjacent water areas in which U.S. ships are operating, or providing direct support of operations. Sec. Vietnam and contiguous waters, as used herein, is defined as an area which includes Vietnam and the water adjacent thereto within the following specified limits: from a point on the East Coast of Vietnam at the juncture of Vietnam with China southeastward to 21 degrees north latitude, 108 degrees, 15 minutes longitude; then southward to 18 degrees, north latitude, 108 degrees, 15 minutes east longitude; then southeastward to 17 degrees, 30 minutes north latitude, 111 degrees east longitude; then southward to 11 degrees north latitude, 111 degrees east longitude; then southwestward to 7 degrees north latitude, 105 degrees east longitude; then westward to 7 degrees north latitude, 103 degrees east longitude; then northward to 9 degrees, 30 minutes north latitude, 103 degrees east longitude; then northeastward to 10 degrees, 15 minutes north latitude, 104 degrees, 27 minutes east longitude; then northward to a point on the West Coast of Vietnam at the juncture of Vietnam with Cambodia. We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. Approximately 7,000 people were rescued and the operation was an overwhelming success (Summers 1995). c. Beg, borrow or steal a VCOG. How To Apply For This Display Recognition and/or Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Display Recognition, Vietnam SERVICE Medal Display Recognition, Accessing The Worldwide Military Personnel Database, http://www.americanwarlibrary.com/htomr.htm, Go To Issue Regulations for Other Medals and Badges. All personnel who participated in Operation Frequent Wind (the evacuation of Saigon) are now automatically authorized the Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. Also automatically authorized is the Humanitarian Service Medal. There are different versions of the Overseas Service Ribbons for the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, and the U.S. Coast Guard. 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. Well, what had happened I got out in 75 and Congress didnt approve a lot of these ribbons until the late 70s, early 80s.. Upon request (unit personnel officer) any such individual may be awarded the VSM instead of the AFEM. JavaScript is disabled. We located a number of references to photographs and documents primarily held by our colleagues at the National Archives at . The Vietnam Service Medal is authorized to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, limited to specific persons on an individual bases for service Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air spaces thereover and in direct support of operations in Vietnam. Awarded to members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard (when the Coast Guard or units thereof operate under the control of the Navy) in the grade of captain/colonel and junior thereto, who have actively participated in ground or surface combat. Chambers, ordered the crew to drop UH-1 Huey helicopters worth about $10 million overboard to clear the deck. The Humanitarian Service Medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves by meritorious direct participation in any significant military act or operation of a humanitarian nature approved by the Department of Defense. The ribbon is awarded to any member of the Navy or Marine Corps who completes one year of consecutive or cumulative duty at a permanent overseas duty station. (No ships) (6) Operation MAYAGUEZ. Commanders are authorized to process requests for personnel under his/her cognizance. (This does not include ALL personnel who served in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia during the Vietnam War.). It was carried out on 29-30 April 1975, during the last days of the Vietnam War. Nobody was armed on the ship, so I grabbed a .45., Miller ran up to the deck where a helicopter had landed on the fantail and I knew they were Vietnamese, but I didnt know if they were north or south. 20 August 1982 to I August 1984. Also automatically authorized is the Humanitarian Service Medal. The bamboo grove was taken from the flag of the President of Vietnam, who at the beginning of the war was Ngo Ninh Diem (1901-1963). The application was timely filed. thank you for your efforts. 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. Total: 172 heroes honored View a collection of Operation Frequent Wind related videos to commemorate this historic event. Did participants in Operation Frequent Wind qualify for 23 Aug 1958 - 1 Jun 1963 . Wow.. You must log in or register to reply here. The decision to evacuate the entire US presence by helicopter under Operation Frequent Wind was made late morning, 29 April 1975, Saigon time. While returning to Japan from Saigon, his unit was diverted to recapture the USS Mayaguez that had been seized by the Cambodians. At the end of his career, he was manager of postal operations for the offices from Temecula to Calexico. Once the final 11 Marines were . 9700 PAGE AVENUE
(U.S. Marines in Japan Homepage, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) (No ships qualified), Operation FREQUENT WIND. THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. You are using an out of date browser. Initially, the Vietnam Service Medal was authorized for qualifying service between 01 July 1958 and 28 March 1973. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. Copyright 2011 FOX19. Requests addressed to NPRC must include the following personal information: full name, ssn, service/serial number, branch of service, date of birth, and period of service. ST. LOUIS MO 63132. In such instances, the AFEM will be deleted from the list of authorized medals in personnel records. In the last week of April 1975, approximately 70,000 South Vietnamese were evacuated, most by boat. If the next few weeks see every American and our. 4. (4) Serve on TDY for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days in Vietnam or contiguous areas, except that time limit may be waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations. Sec. The Fall of Saigon (the capture of the capital of Vietnam) by the Peoples Army of Vietnam and the Viet Cong on April 30, 1975, marked the formal end of the Vietnam War and the start of the reunification of Vietnam under the Socialist Republic. It was carried out on 29-30 April 1975, during the last days of the Vietnam War. (No ships qualified), Lebanon. operation frequent wind awards. (a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of the military department concerned shall, upon the application of an individual who is an eligible Vietnam evacuation veteran, award that individual the Vietnam Service Medal, notwithstanding any otherwise applicable requirements for the award of that medal. There are a total of 17 campaign stars authorized for the Vietnam Service Medal. The operation consisted of taking on fleeing refugees from South Vietnam on . Active Duty recipients
The initial decision to depart Saigon was made to evacuate the Defense Attach's office by fixed-wing aircraft. 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. (a) Vietnam Service Medal is awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States, serving at any time between 4 July 1965 and 28 March 1973, in the area defined under the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) for Vietnam. Operation Eagle Pull (11 Apr_75. 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). 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. Total evacuation helicopter sorties from the US Defense Attach compound numbered 122. ", We went back (to Vietnam). The program featured the Fairfield Police Color Guard, Fairfield Mayor Ron D'Epifanio, and others. However, this exemption was rescinded by General Norton A. Schwartz in April 2011 and Airmen will no longer qualify for the award if they arrive in a hostile environment on or after 1 July 2011.[8]. Source: The provisions of Executive Order 11231 of July 8, 1965, appear at 30 FR 8665, 3 CFR, 1964-1965 Comp., p. 325, unless otherwise noted. everybodys screaming and the props hit and this prop went about six feet off the deck didnt hit anybody. WEST VIRGINIA FLOOD (4-22 NOV 85) 40. (c) Served at a normal post of duty (as contrasted to occupying the status of an inspector, (d) Aboard a vessel other than in a passenger status and furnished a certificate by the homeport. The AFEM will be awarded only for operations for which no other U.S. campaign medal is approved. (2) Be attached to or regularly serve for 1 or more days aboard a Naval vessel directly supporting military operations. One days service is credited for the first sortie flown on any day. Midway's commanding officer, Captain L.C. The planning for Operation Frequent Wind started long before the operation started..in March 1975. the Original intent was to evacuate about 1250 American and a similar number of other country nationals. References to photographs and documents primarily held by our colleagues at the National at. $ 10 million overboard to clear the deck didnt hit anybody, Captain L.C, ordered crew..., & quot ; said Bennington before proceeding service Award is an Award of the War. 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foreign service awards for operation frequent wind