August 14, 2017 
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National Defense medal and ribbon
from the Air Force's Personnel Center

BACKGROUND

This medal was authorized by Executive Order 10448, 
April 22, 1953, and amended by Executive Order 11256, 
Jan. 11, 1966.

CRITERIA

It is awarded for honorable active military service as 
a member of the armed forces of the United States 
including the Coast Guard, during the following periods:

-June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1954 - Korean War timeframe
-Jan. 1, 1961 to Aug. 14, 1974 - Vietnam War timeframe
-Aug. 2, 1990 to Nov. 30, 1995 - Operations DESERT SHIELD 
 and DESERT STORM timeframe
-Sept. 11, 2001 to a date to be determined - Terrorism 
 attacks on the U.S./Global War on Terrorism 

-Service members who earned the medal during the first 
qualifying period, and who again became entitled to the 
medal, wear a bronze star on the ribbon to denote the 
second award of the medal.