United Nations Korea Service Mini MedalUnited Nations Service Medal (Korea)
Service: All Services
Instituted: 1951
Devices: None
Criteria: Service on behalf of the United Nations in Korea between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954.
Notes: Above date denotes when award was authorized for wear by U.S. Armed Forces personnel
If veteran served in Korea for at least 30 days between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1953, he is also entitled to the Korea War Service Medal.
For service on behalf of the United Nations in Korea during the Korean Conflict. The United Nations Service Medal is classified as a foreign service award. It was authorized by the United Nations General Assembly on December 12, 1950 and the Department of Defense approved it for United States Armed Forces on November 27, 1951. The medal was awarded to any member of the United States Armed Forces for service in support of the United Nations Command during the period from June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1954. Individuals who were awarded the Korean Service Medal automatically established eligibility for this decoration.
The United Nations Service Medal was designed by the United Nations. The medal is a circular bronze disc containing the United Nations emblem (a polar projection of the world taken from the North Pole, encircled by two olive branches). The reverse of the medal has the raised inscription, “FOR SERVICE IN DEFENCE OF THE PRINCIPLES OF THE CHARTER OF THE UNITED NATIONS” set in five lines. The medal is suspended permanently from a bar, similar to British medals, with the raised inscription “KOREA.” The ribbon passes through the bar and has narrow stripes of alternating light blue (“United Nations Blue”) and white. For further information on United Nations medals, see United Nations Medals and Missions by Lawrence H. Borts, Medals of America Press, 1998.