Where can one find information about campaign medals being newly
struck and to be awarded for service in the Iraq war?

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Clarification of Question by nautico-ga on 15 Apr 2003 09:09 PDT

Please do not simply point me to a DOD site about medal awards in
general or to a site where the answer to my question might eventually
appear. What I'm looking for is a site that CURRENTLY describes and
depicts the new Iraq war campaign medals and the criteria for the
awarding of same.

Bob Fliegel, LCDR USN (Ret.)

LCDR Fliegel..

Thanks for your question.  In an Executive Order signed by President
Bush On March 12, 2003, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary
Medal "...shall be awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the
United States who serve or have served in military expeditions to
combat terrorism, as defined by such regulations, on or after
September 11, 2001, and before a terminal date to be prescribed by the
Secretary of Defense."  The order also created the Global War on
Terrorism Service Medal, defined "..he Global War on Terrorism Service
Medal shall be awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United
States who serve or have served in military operations to combat
terrorism, as defined by such regulations, on or after September 11,
2001, and before a terminal date to be prescribed by the Secretary of
Defense."

Notice the key differences being "military operations to comabt
terrorism" for the Service Medal and "military expeditions to combat
terrorism" for the Expeditionary Medal.  Basically, as I am sure you
are aware, the Service Medal will be an "I was there" medal, similar
to the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or the Armed Forces Service
Medal.

You can see the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal at
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2003/200303134b.jpg and the Global
War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal at
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2003/200303134a.jpg

Thanks again for your question and for your service to our country. 
If you need any additional clarification, please let me know prior to
rating my answer.

Regards,

-THV

Search Strategy:
iraq war service medal
"Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal"

United States Army Service Medals Page 2.
http://www2.powercom.net/~rokats/smedals2.html#GWOTEM

PRESIDENT AUTHORIZES TWO NEW MEDALS
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2003/b03152003_bt121-03.html

Establishing the Global War on Terrorism Medals 
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030312-6.html

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Request for Answer Clarification by nautico-ga on 16 Apr 2003 10:49 PDT

Many thanks for your comprehensive response. I remain, however, a
little unclear on the distinction between the two awards. You call the
GWOT Service Medal the "I was there" award, then go on to say it's
analagous to the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or the Armed Forces
Service Medal. I would have thought the GWOT Expeditionary Medal would
be analagous to the AF Expeditionary Medal. Can you clarify please?
Also, can you define the precise difference between the definitions of
"expedition" and "operation" for the purposes of the award criteria?
If one of these two medals is the "I was there" award, is the other
for those who were NOT there? Puzzling. Thanks! Bob.

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Request for Answer Clarification by nautico-ga on 16 Apr 2003 10:57 PDT

DISREGARD my earlier request for further clarification. I now
understand the distinction between the two awards.

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Clarification of Answer by tar_heel_v-ga on 16 Apr 2003 11:08 PDT

LCDR Fliegel..

I am glad you uncovered the differences.  Thanks again for your question.

-THV

Outstanding response!

LCDR Fliegel...

Thanks for the 5-star rating and the very generous tip!  I am glad I
could be of assistance.

Regards,

-THV

You're welcome. Now how might I become a Google Answers researcher like you?!

 -- Bob

LCDR Fliegel,

If you visit the Google Answers FAQ at
http://answers.google.com/answers/faq.html#becomeresearcher you will
see:
"How do I sign up to become a Researcher? 
Because of an overwhelming response by qualified candidates, we are
temporarily not accepting additional applications. Please check back
with us again, as we likely will begin accepting applications again in
the near future."

Hope this helps.

-THV

This just in...you can take a look at the medals, the formal dress
medals and their associated ribbons here.

http://www.usmedals.com/gifts2.php3?start=1&dept=fpTerror

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

Many thanks for that bit of info. You might like to see the article I
wrote on this subject in the St. Augsutine Record:

http://www.staugustine.com/stories/051703/new_1539267.shtml

Bob Fliegel