Post by matheson31GWB should have been authorized the NSDM as he was on active duty at least
53 weeks for pilot training.
National Defense Service Medal ceased to be authorized 15 Aug. 1974.
Anyone
who entered the service after that date was not authorized to wear it.
Draftees were authorized to wear it, National Guard or Reserves would also
have been authorized (if they did any active service prior to 15 Aug. 1974).
The NDSM was re-authorized for Desert Shield (not sure of the exact date)
two different active duty tours between Oct 1990 and Aug 1991 I was
authorized two additional service stars.
Les Matheson
F-4C(WW)/D/E/G(WW), AC-130A, MC-130E WSO/EWO (ret)
USAF Rules:
This medal was authorized by Executive Order 10448, April 22, 1953, and
amended by Executive Order 11256, Jan. 11, 1966. It is awarded for honorable
active military service as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States
including the Coast Guard, between June 27, 1950 and July 27, 1954, (Korean
War Period), between January 1, 1961 and August 14, 1974, (Vietnam War
Period), between 2 August 1990 to 30 November 1995 (Operations DESERT
SHIELD/STORM Period), and currently from 11 September 2001 to a date to be
determined (Terrorism Attacks on the US).
The medal was designed by the Army of Heraldic Section. The obverse shows
the American bald eagle, perched on a sword and palm. Above this , in a
semicircle, is the inscription "National Defense." The reverse shows a
shield, as it appears in the Great Scal of the United States; it is half
encircled below with an oak leaf to left an laurel spray to the right,
knotted in the center.
The ribbon has a wide yellow stripe in the center, flanked by narrow stripes
of red, white, blue, white, wide red stripes.
Authorized Device: Service Star, 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.
Tex