Merchant Marine Korean Service Medal

BACK DEVICE(s) none

Description:

1. Authorized by Public Law 100-324 in 1988.
2. Established on May 20, 1968, the Merchant Marine Vietnam Service Medal honors Merchant Marine mariners who carried out service onboard merchant ships running American colors in Vietnamese waters between the dates of July 4, 1965 and August 15, 1973.
3. The award was originally issued as a ribbon only, with the medal added in 1992.

Background:

1. The Medal
   Obverse
   The obverse displays a dragon's head which appears in the center encircled with a rope. The dragon  is traditionally associated with Vietnam.  Behind the encircled dragon is an anchor symbolizing maritime service. The shoreline denotes service in the coastal waters adjacent to Vietnam. Across the top, in an arc, is the word "VIETNAM". Below th anchor, in a counter arc, is the word "SERVICE".
   Reverse
   The reverse bears the words "UNITED STATES" in an arc around the top and the words "MERCHANT MARINE" in a counter arc across the bottom. In the center is the Mariner's Shield and anchor, from the United States Maritime Service Seal.
   Ribbon
   The ribbon and drape are one and three-eighths inches wide with stripes as follows 3/32" Corsaire Blue, 13/32" Golden Yellow, 1/16" Scarlet, 1/16" Golden Yellow, 1/16" Scarlet, 1/16" Golden Yellow, 1/16" Scarlet, 13/32" Golden Yellow, 3/32" Corsaire Blue.

2. An alternate design for the obverse had shown lettering for “Vietnam Service” in a Wonton font.  it was deemed inappropriate for the medal and was changed to a serif font. The font that was in question, was considered potentially culturally offensive, altough it was often used to imitate brushstrokes of an exotic East, and contemporary Vietnam often used it for Western-type letters in print and script.

3. Information from
   Medal, Vietnam Service, U.S. Merchant Marine MIL-DTL-3943/215C 08 March 2022
   Ribbon, Vietnam Service, U.S. Merchant Marine MIL-DTL-11589/351F 07 January 2020