(Not to be confused with Korean Service Medal). Awaiting issue approval by SECDEF Rumsfeld.

Korea Defense Service Medal Act Date:

AFTER 48 YEARS OF WAITING KOREA CEASE-FIRE SERVICE IS FINALLY RECOGNIZED

After 48 years of service in the Republic of Korea, U.S. Armed Forces will finally receive the service medal recognition they earned and deserve for their historically dangerous and hostile duty. Approximately 40,000 troops have served on the peninsula each year since 1954. On 2 DEC 2002, President Bush signed the National Defense Authorization for year 2003 that included the KOREA DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL to be awarded to all armed forces members who served from 28 July 1954 to a date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense. The House and Senate passed the bill in November. This will affect many thousands of former and current servicemen and women. Korea service is the only U.S. military deployment standing the line face-to-face with an enemy without a service medal award.

Representative Elton Gallegly (R-CA 23) was the first Member of Congress to create legislation for the service medal on May 22, 2001. His bill had 243 bipartisan cosponsors that included a majority of members on the House Armed Services Committee. A companion bill introduced in the Senate by Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) on June 7, 2001 with 63 bipartisan cosponsors that also included a majority on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

There has never been a surrender or formal truce agreement officially ending the Korean War in spite of 48 years of negotiation. Only a fragile cease-fire agreement is in place and technically, the countries remain at a state-of-war. Since cease-fire service began in 1954 there have been over 40,400 breaches to the cease-fire agreement by North Korean Forces. At least 1,200 U.S. personnel have died, hundreds wounded, and 87 captured and held prisoner. There are more than 2,300 Republic of Korea casualties. In August 1999 the Korea Defense Veterans of America, headquartered in Dunellen, NJ, initiated the project to bring proper recognition to cease-fire veterans. The KDVA is a national organization of current and former Armed Forces members from all branches of service that have served in Korea between 1945 and the present.

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Congressman

Elton Gallegly

Serving the 23rd District of California

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 2, 2002