Getting Your Medals - By: Dave Holdorf

5.) "Devices" are medal or medal ribbon attachments. These include very small stars, leafs, letters, knots, or palms. Three Bronze Stars on the Vietnam Service medal indicates three campaigns, more if you served longer. One Silver Star equals five Bronze Stars. Stars are also used to indicate multiple awards. Knots on Good Conduct medals indicate one for each three years service: bronze 2nd-5th, silver 6th-10th, gold 11th-15th awards. The Good Conduct Medal can be issued after completion of first enlistment, draftees after two years.

All medals listed on your DD-214 form should have been issued to you. If not, you can order them from the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri:

National Personnel Records Center
Medals Section (NRPMA-M)
9700 Page Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63132

Send in your DD-214, your completed DA Form 180

(download from The National Archives: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/standard-form-180.html )

and you will receive them free in about 9 to 12 months from the supply center in Philadelphia. All medals will "normally" have your name inscribed on the back.

All foreign and commemorative medals, devices, service bars and hashes must be purchased from medals companies at your own cost. Most medals are about $20 - 30 for full size, ribbons $1.00 - $2.50., some include the ribbons. Miniature medals and hat pins are available also, some sell tie tacks.

Companies that sell medals, awards, devices, collar insignia, some patches, and display cases are Medals of America, Call to Colors, H. J. Saunders, R.W. Fuller, and other smaller companies. H.J. Saunders appears to have the largest assortment of Unit Crests for sale.

Danang Enterprises sells various small hat pin type items in the form of unit patches, awards, military equipment, location script, POW/MIA, flags, and humorous. These range in price from $4.00 - $5.00. In addition, they offer many other memorabilia items. These types of items can also be found at flea markets.

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