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LET THERE BE NO MISTAKE ABOUT WHO WE ARE, WHAT OUR MISSION IS, AND WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED!!!

  • WE are a NATIONAL ORGANIZATION of former and current armed forces members having served, or currently serving, in the Republic of Korea .  We are a stand-alone national organization, not a chapter or subsidiary of any other veterans organization .

  • WE serve no single branch of service, no specific unit location, no single unit, no specific job function, and we do not focus on any selected years above all others.

  • WE will never retreat from our mission or desert our brothers and sisters.  We make no specific promises, but we do promise to do our best on every initiative.  We are not in competition with other veteran organizations, in fact, we believe this to be counter productive.  We openly support all veteran organizations of any war or operation, any branch, any gender, any ethnicity, or any religious background.

  • WE lead the fight during the cease-fire period to end almost half a century of lack of respect and lack of proper recognition by the Pentagon and the UN for historically hostile and dangerous service begun 28 July 1954.

  • We initiated, implemented, and coordinated the plan that led to the successful passing of Bills in Congress to award of the Korea Defense Service Medal and Korea Defense Combat Recognition.  We are the organization of record with Congress.  No other veterans organization can truthfully make this claim.  We uncovered the award to U.S. Military Personnel of the ROK Service Medal by the Republic of Korea.

  • We are Occupation Force veterans whose service is "UNKNOWN" to most Americans.

  • We are Korean War veterans who served in the "FORGOTTEN WAR".

  • We are Cease-fire veterans whose true service history is "LOST", "COVERED UP", "DENIED", or "UNRECORDED."

  • We are Occupation Forces, Korean War, and Cease-fire veterans dedicated to our fallen brothers and sisters from every era.

  • We are Cease-fire veterans deployed to a combat zone under a state-of-war along the most heavily fortified border in the world with constant imminent danger for a longer duty tour than any operation prior to the War on Terrorism.

  • We are Cease-fire veterans who are recipients of more hostile acts than any deployment prior to the War on Terrorism except for Vietnam .

  • We are Cease-fire veterans who are recipients of more KIA, WIA, and POW than any operation prior to the War on Terrorism except for Vietnam .

  • We are Cease-fire veterans who were caught in a double-standard regarding campaign/service medal awards and combat recognition for 51 years of the cease-fire period.

  • We are all loyal Americans who are proud of our service to Our Nation.

  • We are all loyal Americans who are proud to have served in defense of the Republic of Korea and in the cause of Freedom as part of the United Nations Command during the 50 plus years of United Nations efforts to bring a final end to the war and reunify the Koreas as a free and democratic people.

1) The mission is to bring respect, recognition and prestige to every member of the Armed Forces previously or currently stationed on occupation duty or in defense of the Republic of Korea since the end of World War II.

2) To honor and perpetuate the memory of U.S. Armed Forces members who have distinguished themselves by their service and supreme sacrifice during the Occupation, War, and prolonged Korea cease-fire, and to bring public awareness to their deeds.

3) To do our part in bringing home our POW/MIA's.


4) To consolidate and broaden the invisible bonds of comradeship fused by service during war, and service under constant imminent danger without recognition, and to preserve those bonds common to Korea service veterans.

5) We have committed to focusing on this One Mission, uniting as One Team, and speaking with One Voice.

If You believe in this . . . JOIN US!


  • The Organization shall not engage in any partisan political activities, or give political sway.

  • No political favors or remuneration shall accrue to the benefit of any individual member.

  • The Organization will not solicit monies, or budget monies, for any lobbying organization or activities under any conditions whatsoever.

  • The Organization shall not engage in any profit making activities, and no favors, profits or earnings shall accrue to its benefit

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"The deployment to South Korea cannot be viewed the same as deployments to Europe or the Far East after the hostilities ended in those theaters.  The hostilities in Europe and the Pacific ended in unconditional surrender by enemy forces.  The troops remained as occupation forces which gradually came to an end.  The continued deployment after occupation was the result of strategic placement to ensure peace and protection to countries allied against the former Soviet Union.  They were a Cold War force.  "The Cold War is Over!"  "The Cold War is Over but Korea deployment remains!"  Why is Korea different!!!  U.S. troops in defense of the Korean Peninsula were never just a Cold War force.  Their fate was to "Stand the Line" as a containment force maintaining a "Hot War" cease-fire during Cold War times.  These troops remain in a country which has never had the benefit of unconditional, or conditional, surrender by the aggressor force.  The accord of July 27, 1953 was an "Armistice".  By definition, an armistice is a "temporary" suspension of hostilities by agreement. They (D.P.R.K. and UN Command) have only agreed to a "cease-fire", a truce in hostilities, to allow talks and negotiation regarding a real end to hostilities, and to possible reunification.  Today, the Koreas are still technically at war and by extension so is the U.S.!  The United States is one of the belligerents in this war and is a signatory to the Armistice which negates any neutral peacekeeping activity.  They operate as a containment and defense force.  It is evident that this is a different situation than the others!  "After a failure in Geneva in 1954 to settle the issues, the Eighth Army forces remained to help man the "cease-fire" line, alert for any new breach of the "de facto" peace."  The breaches by North Korea of the cease-fire agreement  have been huge in numbers bringing fear, death, wounds and destruction to U.S. troops and supplies.  There is no evidence this will change.  Imminent danger persists for troops stationed in defense of R.O.K, especially in the western sector.  For much too long, the government, and the people, have considered the Korean War, that  "FORGOTTEN WAR", as over.  It is NOT OVER and NOT FORGOTTEN!  The "Forgotten War" continues . . .

"Lt. Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor, Eighth Army Command, told troops after the "Armistice Agreement" was signed on July 27, 1953, the armistice did not mean that the war was over; it was a "suspension of hostilities – an interruption of the shooting."

Several years ago three American servicemen were taken prisoner by Serbian nationals. They were on a routine patrol in a country outside the hostile borders of Serbia/Kosovo. They received six (6) medals without ever putting up a fight.  We see no difference between a patrol along the Korean DMZ (which proved to be very hostile) and a patrol in Macedonia; yet, soldiers stationed along the DMZ in Korea received no medals, ribbons, or other award for their service as other deployments did.  Thankfully Congress has made right this situation by awarding the Korea Defense Service Medal after a grassroots campaign led by the Korea Defense Veterans of America begun in 1999.  The Korea tour is still considered a hardship tour.   Every soldier, sailor, airmen, or marine deployed to South Korea as a permanent duty station, or on TDY, is in harms way.  There have been many hostile and aggressive acts against U.S. Troops by the North Korean military during the cease-fire.  Many others occurred at border points manned by South Korean troops.  The more than 1,500 U.S. Armed Forces members killed as a result of their service (not counting fratricide and illnesses) in South Korea since the cease-fire never received 6 medals.  The 87 U.S. Armed Forces members captured and held POW by North Korea (some for a year) never received 6 medals!  

Today, this number of incidents has reached more than 40,480.  The CIA, as noted in the VFW Magazine, dated April 1999, states that North Korea is a threat.  North Korea is considered a Rogue and/or Terrorist nation by most countries.  This is not new information. The threat may currently be even greater because of advanced missile capabilities that have nuclear, chemical and biological capabilities.  Most important is...the threat has always been there!  U.S. Troops deployed in defense of the R.O.K. deserve a long overdue UN and ROK Medal ...THEY EARNED IT!!!


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The KOREA DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL (KDSM) is a new campaign/service medal that became effective on 2 December 2002 when President G.W. Bush signed the National Defense Authorization FY 2003. 

The Korea Defense Veterans of America, a national veterans organization, started the grass roots movement in 1999 to create and award this medal.  A resolution was created and it was used to petition the Defense Department to create and award all former and current armed forces personnel that served in the Republic of Korea between 28 July 1954 and a date to be determined with this earned and deserved medal.  Read (KDSM Resolution, Click Here).  Read (Proposed KDSM description, Click Here)

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and the American Legion created Resolutions No. 459 and No. 68 respectively, at the National level, to award the Korea Defense Service Medal. See below for recognition.

Representative Elton Gallegly (R-CA 24th) submitted House Bill, H.R.1935, THE KOREA DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL ACT on 22 May 2001.  This bill instructed the Secretary of Defense to create and award the KDSM to members of all service branches that served in the R.O.K. FROM 28 July 1954 to a date to be determined by the SECDEF. 

Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) submitted Senate Bill, S.999, a companion bill on 7 June 2001.  This bill also instructed the Secretary of Defense to create and award the KDSM to members of all service branches that served in the R.O.K. from 28 July 1954 to a date to be determined by the SECDEF. 

The Bill text can be read on this web site.  (Read the Bill, Click Here).

Recognition:  The KDVA wishes to thank the following VFW and American Legion Posts and Departments for initiating and supporting resolutions within their respective National organizations and the National organizations:

Tri-Boro Memorial VFW Post 5479, Dunellen, NJ - KDSM Resolution No. 1
VFW Department of New Jersey - KDSM Resolution No. 459
Wallace Chafee VFW Post 1679, Ventura, CA - KDSM Resolution
VFW Department of California - KDSM Resolution No. 464
VFW Department of Michigan - KDSM Resolution No. 469
American Legion Department of Maryland - KDSM Resolution No. 68
Veterans of Foreign Wars National Headquarters (KDSM Resolution)
American Legion National Headquarters (KDSM Resolution)
AMVETS (AFEM Korea 28 Jul 54 - TBD Resolution)

KOREA DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL

RIBBON:  Dark green represents the land of Korea, blue indicates overseas service and commitment to achieving peace.  Gold denotes excellence, white symbolizes idealism and integrity. 

OBVERSE

            Description:  A bronze-color disc bearing a Korean "circle dragon" within an encircling scroll inscribed "Korea Defense Service Medal" with, in base, two sprigs, laurel to dexter side, bamboo to sinister.

            Symbolism:  The four-clawed dragon is a traditional symbol of Korea and represents intelligence and strength of purpose.  The sprig of laurel denotes honorable endeavor and victory, the bamboo refers to Asia.    

REVERSE 

            Description:  A representation of the land mass of Korea surmounted by two swords points up saltirewise within a circlet garnished of five points.

            Symbolism:  The swords placed saltirewise over a map of Korea signify defense of freedom in that country and the readiness to engage in combat to that end.  The circlet enclosing the device recalls the forms of five-petal symbols common in Korean armory.