USS/USNS Hassayampa AO-145/T-AO 145

Authorized on February 17, 1969, this ribbon is awarded to members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard for combat action service. The principal requirement is that the personnel must have been in a ground or surface combat fire-fight or action during which they were under enemy fire, and that their performance under fire must have been satisfactory.

Please see:  SECNAVINST 1650.1G, Chapter 2 - MILITARY DECORATIONS, p. 2-30 (bottom)
click here          neds_daps_dla_mil_Directives_1650_two.pdf

For a complete report, please see:  OPNAV NOTICE 1650; N09b1; 9 Mar 01
click here          navy_awards_file.pdf

Authorized by the Secretary of Defense on June 10, 1981, this award was originally called the Department of Defense Meritorious Unit Award. It is awarded in the name of the Secretary of Defense to Joint Activities (all services) for meritorious achievement or service, superior to that which is normally expected, for actions in the following situations: combat with an armed enemy of the United States, or during a declared national emergency, or under extraordinary circumstances that involve national interests.

Established by the Secretary of the Navy on December 18, 1944 and awarded by the Secretary with the approval of the President, this Unit commendation is conferred on any ship, aircraft, detachment, or other unit of the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps which, subsequent to December 6, 1941, distinguished itself by outstanding heroism in action against the enemy, but not sufficient to warrant award of the Presidential Unit Citation. It is also awarded for extremely meritorious service not involving combat but in support of military operations which were outstanding when compared to other units performing similar service.

Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation

Authorized by SECNAVNOTE 1650, on July 17, 1967, and awarded by the Secretary to any unit of the US Navy or Marine Corps which distinguished itself by either valorous or meritorious achievement considered outstanding when compared to other units performing similar service, but not sufficient to justify award of the Navy Unit Commendation. Awarded for combat or non-combat services.

A Secretary of the Navy recommendation in June of 1976 established this award to replace the Battle Efficiency Award (the letter "E") which had been worn sewn to the sleeve of the uniform. It is authorized to be worn by all crew members of ships and aviation squadrons winning the fleet-wide eighteen month competitive cycle which has exercises testing all phases of battle readiness. The Battle Efficiency Award, called the Navy Battle "E", in addition to the ribbon, consists of a cloth insignia and a battle pennant to be displayed by the ship or unit winning the award.

Authorized on August 15, 1936, and awarded to officers and enlisted men for service in expeditions and circumstances meriting special recognition for which no other medal is awarded.

Authorized on April 22, 1953 and amended on January 11, 1966, this medal was awarded for honorable active military service as a member of the United States Armed Forces, including the Coast Guard, between June 27, 1950 and July 27, 1954 (Korean War period) and between January 1, 1961 and August 14, 1974, (Vietnam War Period). It has most recently been awarded to active duty military members for service during the Persian Gulf War period.

Authorized on December 4, 1961, and awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after July 1, 1958 participated in US military operations, US operations in direct support of the United Nations, or US operations of assistance for friendly or foreign nations or in danger from hostile actions.

Authorized on July 19, 1965 and awarded to all service members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, between July 4, 1965 and March 28, 1973, served in Vietnam and the contiguous waters, and airspace, in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia or airspace in direct support of military operations in Vietnam. Personnel previously awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for services between July 1958 and July 1963 could exchange these medals for the Vietnam Service Medal.

Awarded for service in the Southwest Asia area during the period from 02 August 1990 to 11 April 1992.

Authorized on January 19, 1977, this is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after April 1, 1975, distinguished themselves by meritorious direct participation in a significant military act or operation of humanitarian nature, or who have rendered a service to mankind. Operations which merit consideration for the Medal include: disaster, flood, tornado, and earthquake relief work, or rescue operations anywhere in the world.

Awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States for valorous achievement in combat during the Vietnam conflict, March 1, 1961 through March 28, 1973.

Awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who have served for a six-month period in Vietnam, its surrounding waters or in air support against an armed enemy in Vietnam between March 1, 1961 and March 28, 1973. The time limit is waived if the recipient was killed, wounded or captured at any time before the limit.

In August of 1995, the Secretary of Defense accepted an offer by the Government of Kuwait to award the Kuwait Liberation Medal to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who participated in Desert Shield/Desert Storm between Aug. 2, 1990 and Aug. 31, 1993. Service members must have participated in one or more of the following areas: Arabian Gulf; Red Sea; Gulf of Oman; that portion of the Arabian Sea north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees east longitude; the Gulf of Aden; or the total land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

These eligibility periods and locations have been specified by the government of Kuwait and may not be waived. In addition to those requirements, Navy members must meet one or more of the following conditions:

been attached to or regularly serving for one or more days with an organization participating in ground/shore operations; or

been attached to or regularly serving for one or more days on board a naval vessel directly supporting military operations; or

been actually participating as a crew member in one or more aerial flights supporting military operations in areas designated above; or

been serving on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days during the period Aug. 2, 1990, to Aug. 31, 1993, in any of the three capacities listed above. This time limit can be waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations.