Updating your Service Record to reflect Service in Vietnam
and to receive a Vietnam Service Medal (VSM)

Updated: January 25, 2023

Information provided by: Jim "Heavy" Hoey

Anyone who served on the USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7) during the 1975 Westpac and participated in Operation Frequent Wind (29 - 30 April 1975)
can now swap their Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) for a Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) directly due to The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 1 07-31 4 -December 2, 2002), Section 542.

Link to document: http://www.dod.mil/dodgc/olc/docs/2003NDAA.pdf

Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) Information is as follows:

The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) is a military award which was created in
1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The medal is issued to recognize military service during the Vietnam War and is authorized to service members in every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Vietnam Service Medal is presented to any service member who served more than thirty consecutive days, or 60 non-consecutive days, in the Republic of Vietnam between the dates of 1961-11-15 and 1973-03-28, and from 29 April 1975 to 30 April 1975 . For those service members who supported Vietnam operations from another country (such as Thailand), the Vietnam Service Medal may be authorized if such activity was in direct support of Vietnam combat operations and if such combat support exceeded 30 - 60 days.

The Department of Defense established thirty military campaigns during the Vietnam War. For those service members participating in one or more campaigns, a service star is worn on the Vietnam Service Medal. Silver service stars are issued in lieu of five bronze. Some campaigns apply to all of the military services while others are specific to a particular branch of the U.S. Armed Forces (the United States Marine Corps is considered part of the Navy and is eligible only for Navy campaigns). The exception to this rule is Operation Frequent Wind.

The following are the established combat campaigns authorized for service stars to the Vietnam Service Medal: Operation Frequent Wind (USMC, USAF, and Navy): From 29 April 1975 to 30 April 1975.

If you served on USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7) during the 1975 Westpac you may be missing many awards, citations, and medals that you may not even know you were entitled to receive.

It took the Navy, the Department of Defense and Congress more than 28 years (1975 to 2003) to finally settle on what awards the crew was eligible to receive, but they closed the books with The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 1 07-31 4 -December 2, 2002), Section 542.
Link to document: http://www.dod.mil/dodgc/olc/docs/2003NDAA.pdf

Congress finally gave appropriate recognition to the sailors and marines who took part in the last Vietnam operation. Up until the law was enacted, service members who served on board were entitled to an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) for each of the operations listed.

The new law changed that and authorized the service member to convert “one” of the AFEMs for the Vietnam Service medal (VSM).

All that is required is for the service member to contact the Naval Personnel Command in writing as per Letter (example) below on the next page:














** Example Letter**
Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) Request Letter:
Date:
From:
Your Full Name
SSN (Last 4)
Current Address
(Office Phone)
(Home Phone)
Email Address

To:
Navy Personnel Command
(PERS-312A/53)
5720 Integrity Drive
Millington, TN 38055-3120
ATTN: Corrections Dept.
(901) 874-3418
(901) 874-2930
FAX: (901) 874-2001

Subject: Request to Convert Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) Awarded for "Operation Frequent Wind" to a Vietnam Service Medal (VSM)

National Personnel Records Center,

1. The purpose of this letter is to request the subject action be taken in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003. Section 542 of the act authorized service members who received the AFEM for Operation Frequent Wind dates; April 29 – 30, 1975 (Evacuation of Saigon, South Vietnam) the option to convert it to the Vietnam Service Medal. I elect to do the conversion at this time.

2. Attached are the following documents:

a. DD-214 documenting Naval Service from___________ to____________.

b. List of AFEMs received:

1st Award (Medal)
Cambodia Evacuation Eagle Pull (April 11 to 13, 1975)
(2nd Award – (1) Bronze Star)
Vietnam Evacuation Frequent Wind (April 29 to 30, 1975)

(3rd Award – (1) Bronze Star
Mayaguez Operation (May 15, 1975)

3. Eligibility for award is documented by:

a. Original DD-214, Block 12. (f) Foreign and or Sea Service:
Years, Months and Days.


Respectfully,


Your Signature (Must be signed)








NAVY AND MARINE CORPS AWARD MANUAL
OPNAV NOTE 1650.1H identifies the below listed awards, citations, and medals: http://www.navyfitrep.com/downloadbupersinst1610.html

The USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7) was awarded the following:

1.) National Defense Service Medal

2.) Armed Forces Expeditionary (AFEM):
** Operation Eagle Pull
** Operation Frequent Wind
(Requesting by letter to be Converted to the VSM)
** SS Mayaguez Rescue and Recovery

3.) Sea Service Deployment Ribbon

4.) Humanitarian Service Medal (One for each separate operation)

5.) Navy Unit Commendation

6.) Meritorious Unit Commendation

7.) Vietnam Service Medal







**Additional Information from Internet Searches**

http://www.dod.mil/dodgc/olc/docs/2003NDAA.pdf

http://www.navalhistory.org/2010/04/29/operation-frequent-wind-april-29-30-1975

BOB STUMP NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2003 Vietnam Service Medal (VSM)




SEC. 542. OPTION TO CONVERT AWARD OF ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL AWARDED FOR OPERATION FREQUENT WIND TO VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the military department
Concerned shall, upon the application of an individual who is an Eligible Vietnam evacuation veteran, award that individual the Vietnam Service Medal, notwithstanding any otherwise applicable Requirements for the award of that medal. Any such award shall have Applicability.

PUBLIC LAW 107–314—DEC. 2, 2002 116 STAT. 2549 Be made in lieu of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal awarded The individual for participation in Operation Frequent Wind.

(b) ELIGIBLE VIETNAM EVACUATION VETERAN.—for purposes
Of this section, the term ‘‘eligible Vietnam evacuation veteran’’
Means a member or former member of the Armed Forces who
Was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for participation In military operations designated as Operation Frequent Wind Arising from the evacuation of Vietnam on April 29 and 30, 1975.

All of this documentation was put together by me Jim Hoey. I was an E-1 (OSSA) to E-5 (OS2) on the Wilson from February 1974 to August 1977.

 

 Top of page