Medals Replacement Service

  Countless Veterans completed their military service, then went home to resume their lives, unaware of the awards and decorations they were entitled to. For example:

  • In 1947, recipients of the Combat Infantryman Badge or Combat Medical Badge were retroactively awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

  • Shortly before the fall of South Vietnam, that government retroactively awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Citation with Palm to all units subordinate to Military Assistance Command (MACV) during the period 8 February 1962 and 28 March 1973 and to U.S. Army Vietnam and its subordinate units for the period 20 July 1965 to 28 March 1973. This permits all personnel who served in Vietnam to wear the RVN Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.

  • The Korea Defense Service Medal was created in February 2004, and is retroactively awarded to all personnel who served in South Korea for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days since 28 July 1954.

      Every Veteran OR their direct Next Of Kin (a surviving spouse, children, brother, sister, etc) are entitled to a one-time FREE OF CHARGE replacement set of all their awards and decorations. Please note that stocks of replacement medals for awards prior to World War I have been exhausted and are no longer provided. Likewise, foreign awards such as the WWII Belgian and French Croix de Guerre, South Vietnamese medals, etc. are also not provided.

      This is typically a 6 month process as the National Military Personnel Records Center receives approximately 5,000 requests daily, so please plan accordingly if you need the medals for an upcoming birthday, anniversary, etc.   You will need copies of certain service documents, such as an Honorable Discharge (WD Form 53-50 or equivalent for WWII veterans, or the DD-214 and/or DD-215 for post-WWII veterans). Other documents that can be submitted are copies of award citations, Temporary Duty (TDY) orders, etc.

      We are happy to assist you or your family in obtaining your medals - to begin the process, contact our Curator at:

    E-mail: curator@mvmhm.com
    Phone: (937) 318-8820



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