Retroactive Dates of U.S. Military Decorations
Last Updated: 28 April 2009
On this page I have attempted to list every U.S. Military Decoration's earliest retroactive date. Also listed are decorations awarded to U.S. Military Personnel for certain foreign service. For campaign medals, I have included the starting and ending eligible award dates. If anyone has additional information on dates or decorations missing from the list, please e-mail me at info@veterantributes.org.
Medal of Honor – 15 April 1861 (USA), 15 April 1861 (USN, USMC, USCG Enlisted), 3 March 1915 (USN, USMC, USCG Officers), 1 November 1965 (USAF Version)
Marine Corps Brevet Medal – 15 April 1861 to 3 March 1915
Distinguished Service Cross – 13 May 1846 (for conversion of awards of the Certificate of Merit to Enlisted Personnel)
Navy Cross – 6 April 1917
Air Force Cross – 6 April 1917 (for awards presented after 1 November 1965 for action that occurred before 1 November 1965)
Certificate of Merit Medal (USA, awards later converted to the Distinguished Service Cross) – 13 May 1846 [disestablished 9 July 1918]
Defense Distinguished Service Medal – 9 July 1970
Army Distinguished Service Medal – 13 May 1846 (for conversion of awards of the Certificate of Merit to Officers)
Navy Distinguished Service Medal – 6 April 1917
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal – 1 November 1965
Department of Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal (USCG) – 1 March 2002
Department of Transportation Distinguished Service Medal (USCG) – 7 December 1992 [disestablished 28 February 2003]
Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal – 4 August 1949
Silver Star – 15 April 1861 (USA), 6 December 1941 (USN)
Department of Transportation Guardian Medal (USCG) – 11 September 2001 [disestablished 28 February 2003]
Defense Superior Service Medal – 6 February 1976
Legion of Merit – 8 September 1939
Distinguished Flying Cross – 17 December 1903
DFC w/V Device (USAF) – 18 September 1947
DFC w/V Device (USN, USMC, USCG) – 4 April 1974
Soldier’s Medal – 2 July 1926
Navy and Marine Corps Medal – 6 December 1941
Airman’s Medal – 6 July 1960
Coast Guard Medal – 4 August 1949
Gold Lifesaving Medal (USCG) – 20 June 1874
Bronze Star Medal – 7 December 1941
Purple Heart – 15 April 1861
Defense Meritorious Service Medal – 3 November 1977
Meritorious Service Medal – 16 January 1969
Air Medal – 8 September 1939
AM w/V Device (USA) – 29 February 1964
AM w/V Device (USN, USMC) – 5 April 1974
Silver Lifesaving Medal (USCG) – 20 June 1874
Aerial Achievement Medal (USAF) – 3 February 1988
Joint Service Commendation Medal – 1 January 1963
Army Commendation Medal – 7 December 1941
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal – 7 December 1941
Air Force Commendation Medal – 24 March 1958
Coast Guard Commendation Medal – 15 August 1947
Joint Service Achievement Medal – 3 August 1983
Army Achievement Medal – 1 August 1981
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal – 1 May 1961
Air Force Achievement Medal – 12 October 1980
Department of Transportation 9-11 Medal – 11 September 2001 to 11 September 2002
Coast Guard Achievement Medal – 1 April 1967
Commandant’s Letter of Commendation – 12 August 1921
Combat Action Ribbon (USN, USMC, USCG) – 6 December 1941
Army Wound Ribbon – 6 September 1917 [disestablished 12 October 1917]
Air Force Combat Action Medal – 11 September 2001
Presidential Unit Citation (USA, USAF) – 7 December 1941
Presidential Unit Citation (USN, USMC) – 16 October 1941
Air Force Gallant Unit Citation – 11 September 2001
Joint Meritorious Unit Award – 23 January 1979
Army Valorous Unit Award – 3 August 1963
Navy Unit Commendation – 6 December 1941
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation – 1 January 1944
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award – 11 September 2001
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation – 17 July 1967
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award – 6 January 1954
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award – 26 August 1969
Army Superior Unit Award – 1 April 1985
Department of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award – 3 November 1994 [disestablished 28 February 2003]
Coast Guard Unit Commendation – 1 January 1963
Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation – 13 November 1973
Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation – 22 December 1993
Navy “E” Ribbon – 1 July 1974
Coast Guard “E” Ribbon – 25 September 1990
Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation – 4 June 1989 to 4 August 1990
Prisoner of War Medal – 5 April 1917
Air Force Combat Readiness Medal – 9 March 1964
Army Good Conduct Medal – 27 August 1940
Reserve Special Commendation Ribbon (USN, USMC) – 1 January 1930 to 7 December 1941
Navy Good Conduct Medal – 21 November 1884
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal – 20 July 1896
Air Force Good Conduct Medal – 1 June 1963
Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal – 12 December 1923
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal – 3 March 1971
Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal – 1 July 1958
Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal – 19 February 1939
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal – 1 April 1964
Coast Guard Reserve Good Conduct Medal – 1 February 1963
Coast Guard Enlisted Person of the Year Ribbon - 1994
Navy Fleet Marine Force Ribbon – 1 September 1984 [disestablished 1 October 2006]
Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon – 21 February 1968
Air Force Recognition Ribbon – 12 October 1980
Civil War Campaign Medal – 15 April 1861 to 9 April 1865 (USA, USN, USMC); to 20 August 1866 (USA, Texas Service)
Indian Campaign Medal – 1865 to 1891
Dewey Medal - 1 May 1898
Sampson Medal - 1 May 1898 to 16 August 1898
Spanish Campaign Medal (USA) – 11 May 1898 to 16 August 1898
Spanish Campaign Medal (USN, USMC) - 1 May 1898 to 16 August 1898
Cardenas Medal of Honor - 11 May 1898
Specially Meritorious Service Medal (USN, USMC) – 1 May 1898 [disestablished 16 August 1898]
West Indies Campaign Medal (USN, USMC) – 1 May 1898 to 16 August 1898
Spanish War Service Medal – 20 April 1898 to 11 April 1899
Army of Cuban Occupation Medal – 18 July 1898 to 20 May 1902
Army of Puerto Rican Occupation Medal – 14 August 1898 to 10 December 1898
Philippine Campaign Medal – 4 February 1899 to 31 December 1913
Philippine Congressional Medal – 21 April 1898 to 4 July 1902
China Campaign Medal (USA) – 20 June 1900 to 27 May 1901
China Relief Expedition Medal (USN) - 24 May 1900 to 17 May 1901
Army of Cuban Pacification Medal – 6 October 1906 to 1 April 1909
Peary Polar Expedition Medal - 6 July 1908 to 1909
Mexican Service Medal – 12 April 1911 to 16 June 1919
1st Nicaraguan Campaign Medal - 29 July 1912 to 14 November 1912
1st Haitian Campaign Medal - 9 July 1915 to 6 December 1915
Dominican Campaign Medal - 5 May 1916 to 4 December 1916
Mexican Border Service Medal – 1 January 1916 to 6 April 1917
World War I Victory Medal – 6 April 1917 to 1 April 1920
Texas Cavalry Congressional Medal - 8 December 1917 to 11 November 1918
Army of Occupation of Germany Medal – 12 November 1918 to 11 July 1923
NC-4 Medal - 8 May 1919 to 27 May 1919
2nd Haitian Campaign Medal - 1 April 1919 to 15 June 1920
2nd Nicaraguan Campaign Medal - 27 August 1926 to 2 January 1933
Yangtze Service Medal - 3 September 1926 to 31 December 1932
1st Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal - 1928 to 1930
Navy Expeditionary Medal - 1874
Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal - 1874
2nd Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal - 1933-1935
China Service Medal – 7 July 1937 to 7 September 1939, 2 September 1947 to 1 April 1957
American Defense Service Medal – 8 September 1939 to 7 December 1941
Women’s Army Corps Service Medal – 10 July 1942 to 2 September 1945
American Campaign Medal – 7 December 1941 to 2 March 1946
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal – 7 December 1941 to 2 March 1946
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal – 7 December 1941 to 8 November 1945
World War II Victory Medal – 7 December 1941 to 31 December 1946
U.S. Antarctic Expedition Medal – 1939 to 1941
Army of Occupation Medal – 9 May 1945 to 5 May 1955 (Germany), 9 May 1945 to 27 July 1955 (Austria), 9 May 1945 to 2 October 1990 (Berlin), 9 May 1945 to 15 September 1947 (Italy), 3 September 1945 to 27 April 1952 (Japan), 3 September 1945 to 29 June 1949 (Korea)
Navy of Occupation Medal - 8 May 1945 to 5 May 1955 (Germany), 8 May 1945 to 25 October 1955 (Austria), 8 May 1945 to 2 October 1990 (Berlin), 8 May 1945 to 15 December 1947 (Italy), 2 September 1945 to 27 April 1952 (Asiatic Pacific), 8 May 1945 to 26 October 1954 (Trieste)
Medal for Humane Action (Berlin Airlift) – 26 June 1948 to 30 September 1949
National Defense Service Medal – 27 June 1950 to 27 July 1954, 1 January 1961 to 14 August 1974, 2 August 1990 to 30 November 1995, 11 September 2001 to Present
Korean Service Medal – 27 June 1950 to 27 July 1954
Antarctica Service Medal – 1 January 1946 to Present
Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal - 1 January 1946 to Present
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal - 1 July 1958
Vietnam Service Medal – 1 July 1958 (for conversion of Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal), 3 July 1965 to 28 March 1973
Southwest Asia Service Medal – 2 August 1990 to 30 November 1995
Kosovo Campaign Medal – 24 March 1999 to Present
Afghanistan Campaign Medal – 11 September 2001 to Present
Iraq Campaign Medal – 19 March 2003 to Present
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal – 11 September 2001 to Present
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal – 11 September 2001 to Present
Korea Defense Service Medal – 28 July 1954 to Present
Armed Forces Service Medal – 1 June 1992
Humanitarian Service Medal – 1 April 1975
Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal – 31 December 1992
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon - 15 August 1974
Army Sea Duty Ribbon – 1 August 1952
Navy Arctic Service Ribbon - 8 May 1986
Naval Reserve Sea Service Ribbon - 15 August 1974
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon - 15 August 1974
Navy Recruiting Service Ribbon - 15 August 1974
Navy Recruit Training Service Ribbon - 1995
Navy Ceremonial Guard Ribbon - 2003
Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon - 1973
Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon - 6 October 1952
Marine Corps Security Guard Ribbon - 28 January 1949
Air and Space Campaign Medal (USAF) – 22 March 1999
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon - 1 September 1980 (retroactive for short tour overseas service before 1980, as long as person was on active duty on or after this date)
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon - 1 September 1980 (retroactive for long tour overseas service before 1980, as long as person was on active duty on or after this date)
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon - 1 October 1999
Air Force Longevity Service Award - 18 September 1947 (also retroactive for all service with the U.S. Army Air Forces, Air Corps, Air Service, etc., before the Air Force was created, as long as person was on active duty on or after this date)
Air Force Military Training Instructor Ribbon - 7 December 1998 (retroactive for Instructor service before 1998, as long as person was on active duty on or after this date)
Air Force Recruiter Ribbon - 21 June 2000 (retroactive for Recruiter service before 2000, as long as person was on active duty on or after this date)
Department of Transportation 9-11 Ribbon - 11 September 2001 to 11 September 2002
Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon - 1 July 1987
Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon - 3 March 1984
Coast Guard Restricted Duty Ribbon - 3 March 1984
Coast Guard Honor Graduate Ribbon - 3 March 1984
Coast Guard Recruiting Service Ribbon - 1 January 1980
Armed Forces Reserve Medal - 25 September 1950
Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon – 10 April 1981
Army Service Ribbon – 10 April 1981
Army Overseas Service Ribbon – 10 April 1981 (retroactive for Overseas Service Performed before 1981, as long as person was on active duty on or after this date)
Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon – 11 July 1984 (retroactive for Overseas Training Performed before 1984, as long as person was on active status with the Reserve Components on or after this date)
Naval Reserve Medal - 12 September 1938 [disestablished 12 September 1958]
Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon - 17 December 1945 [disestablished 18 December 1965]
Air Force NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon - 28 August 1962
Air Force Honor Graduate Ribbon - 3 April 1976
USAF Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon - 28 August 1962
Air Force Training Ribbon - 12 October 1980 (retroactive for training before 1980, as long as person was on active duty on or after this date)
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation – 7 December 1941 to 10 May 1942, 17 October 1944 to 4 July 1945, 1970, 1972
Korean Presidential Unit Citation - 1950 to Present
Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation - August to September 1954, 1 March 1961 to 28 March 1974
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation w/Palm – 1 March 1961 to 28 March 1974
Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation – 1 March 1961 to 28 March 1974
Philippine Defense Ribbon - 8 December 1941 to 15 June 1942
Philippine Liberation Ribbon - 17 October 1944 to 3 September 1945
Philippine Independence Ribbon - 4 July 1946 (also awarded to anyone who earned both the Philippine Defense and Philippine Liberation Ribbons)
United Nations Korean Service Medal - 27 June 1950 to 27 July 1954
United Nations Medal - 30 July 1959
United Nations Truce Supervision Medal (Palestine/Israel) - June 1948 to Present
United Nations Military Observer Group in India Pakistan Medal - January 1949 to Present
United Nations Security Force in West New Guinea Medal - October 1962 to April 1963
United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission Medal - April 1991 to Present
United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara Medal - September 1991 to Present
United Nations Advance Mission in Cambodia Medal - November 1991 to March 1992
United Nations Protection Force Medal (Former Yugoslavia) - March 1992 to December 1995
United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia Medal - March 1992 to September 1993
United Nations Operation in Somalia II Medal - May 1993 to March 1995
United Nations Mission in Haiti Medal - September 1993 to June 1996
United Nations Special Service Medal - 1994
NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia – 1 July 1992 to Present
NATO Medal for Kosovo - 13 October 1998 to Present
NATO Medal (Article 5) - 12 October 2001 to Present
Multinational Force & Observers Medal - 3 August 1981
Inter-American Defense Board Medal - 11 December 1945
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal – 1 March 1961 to 28 March 1973
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) – 17 January 1991 to 28 February 1991
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) – 2 August 1990 to 31 August 1993
Korean War Service Medal - 27 June 1950 to 27 July 1953
Navy Expert Rifleman Medal - 1920
Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal - 1920
Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon - 14 October 1969
Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon - 14 October 1969
Coast Guard Expert Rifleman Medal - Unknown
Coast Guard Expert Pistol Shot Medal - Unknown
Coast Guard Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon - Unknown
Coast Guard Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon - Unknown
