How do you go about getting medals you're entitled to and never received?

[Hauptmann]

Hi all,

I have a friend who is a Vietnam Vet. I just learned tonight that he never received his Vietnam Service Medal... only the ribbon. I know this is not that uncommon but I'd love to see him get this medal and any others he might be entitled to. He received an honorable discharge when his service time was over. But he has no idea what, if any other medals or awards he'd be entitled to. He does know that his unit received the Presidential Unit Citation right after he left the service... and it was for service during the time he was with the unit. Would it make sense that he'd be entitled to that? How about the National Defense Service Medal? This is one that came to my mind... and also how about the Good Conduct Medal?

I've no idea how to go about A) finding out what he's entitled to and B) putting in for same. I know he'll have to do it but I'd like to get any information I can to help him to do this.

Hoping one of you may know the correct procedures and any help would be deeply appreciated. He's very proud of his service and very supportive of other Vets and those currently serving. But I'd very much like to see him get any medals or awards he has coming to him.

Many thanks!

Dan

[Laurence Strong]

Try your DoD or the Vetrans Affairs.

[Ed_Haynes]

Better yet, work through his congressman or senator. Even though the elections are over for now, this is just the sort of constitient service they specialise in and often spin into a photo-op. Thanks to my senator, I was able to get my great-grandfather's Civil War campaign medal issued years ago. It came from the Army with a big red "CONGRESSIONAL INTEREST PLEASE EXPEDITE" stamp on the paperwork!

[W McSwiggan]

Hi - depending on your level of pragmatism - another solution is:

Check discharge papers - they will indicate entitlements at time of discharge so unless a retroactive award was made the required information will be there.

Step two - find someone with access to the PX/BX (Active soldier, Retired soldier, reservist) and ask to go buy them. May be able to purchase through catalogs or on line as these are no longer "protected".

I know of personnel who have done this for the great generation or even themselves for mounting purposes rather than mess with their originals.

I personally set a shadow box up for a deceased family member's grandson.

[Mike Dwyer]

Also, if your friend isn't necessarily hung up on getting the medals from the government, you can purchase the medals yourself. It used to be illegal to sell medals, but now it is not. One dealer I've used in the past is http://www.usmedals.com

[Daniel Cole]

Everything should be listed on his DD 214. The easiest way to get them is just go to eBay and purchase. Unless its the MOH all are available. To get them the offical way, go to the Vets webpage (Govt version) and down a doc that is a request for records. Send this off an a little while later they'll show up. I did this for my wife's Aunt who was an Army nurse.

I'll find the name of the doc and web page and post.

Bottm line there are lots of ways as the other posts suggest.

Dan

[Hauptmann]

Hi Gents,

Thanks so much for all the great suggestions and info so far. Will begin to check out a few of these. Not sure how he feels but in my mind I'd love to see him get them through official government channels. Anyone can go and buy them, but somehow in my mind it's important for it all to be official. If he's entitled to them... earned them, then I feel it's something the government should do. He served the country faithfully and with honor and like all such veterans deserves to be honored by his country in this way. Our just buying the medals and such is, again at least in my mind, just not the same.

But my mind is open and I'm willing to help him to the nth degree in an attempt to get whatever it is he's supposed to have. I think he deserves no less and it's the least I can do. He's a great guy and a true gentleman in every sense of the word. I really want to see him receive whatever is due him from his service with whatever official documentation comes with same. It's something he can proudly display and then eventually pass down in his family.

Looking forward to any more info and will get to work on all this right away.

Thanks again. I'll keep everyone posted on how things work out with this.

Dan

[W McSwiggan]

Just one more thought - I understand your desire to do it the "official" way and I've been known to push the system myself on numerous occasions. Problem here is substantiating not the entitlement but that the medal was never issued. You may find that to be borderline onerous and frustrating. (And you might not succeed). At the end of the day ? if you are successful, you will receive exactly the same gong(s) that you would be purchasing at the uniform sales store. If he has been issued medals and has lost them ? a reissue is nearly impossible in my experience so you will again find yourself at the uniform sales store. Just a few learnings from my experience for you to consider.

Regards,

wem

PS they are not nearly as expensive as you might imagine after collecting medals as many here have done. As I recall - $15 or so gets you campaign or more common medals.

Hi Gents,

Thanks so much for all the great suggestions and info so far. Will begin to check out a few of these. Not sure how he feels but in my mind I'd love to see him get them through official government channels. Anyone can go and buy them, but somehow in my mind it's important for it all to be official. If he's entitled to them... earned them, then I feel it's something the government should do. He served the country faithfully and with honor and like all such veterans deserves to be honored by his country in this way. Our just buying the medals and such is, again at least in my mind, just not the same.

But my mind is open and I'm willing to help him to the nth degree in an attempt to get whatever it is he's supposed to have. I think he deserves no less and it's the least I can do. He's a great guy and a true gentleman in every sense of the word. I really want to see him receive whatever is due him from his service with whatever official documentation comes with same. It's something he can proudly display and then eventually pass down in his family.

Looking forward to any more info and will get to work on all this right away.

Thanks again. I'll keep everyone posted on how things work out with this.

Dan

Edited November 23, 2006 by W McSwiggan

[MSgt_mode]

This link is for replacing US Awards and Decorations that you're entitled to: http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-...ecorations.html

Ron

[Doc]

Just one more thought - I understand your desire to do it the "official" way and I've been known to push the system myself on numerous occasions. Problem here is substantiating not the entitlement but that the medal was never issued. You may find that to be borderline onerous and frustrating. (And you might not succeed). At the end of the day ? if you are successful, you will receive exactly the same gong(s) that you would be purchasing at the uniform sales store. If he has been issued medals and has lost them ? a reissue is nearly impossible in my experience so you will again find yourself at the uniform sales store. Just a few learnings from my experience for you to consider.

Regards,

wem

PS they are not nearly as expensive as you might imagine after collecting medals as many here have done. As I recall - $15 or so gets you campaign or more common medals.

Actually, the US government doesn't normally ask if the medals were previously issued. If you have the DD214 saying that you are entitled to them, and tell the government that the medals were lost, are missing, etc., they will reissue them to you-- At least for anything lower than MOH. I got my father's medals replaced that way after they were lost in a move. PX or other purchase sources are still available, but why use them if the government will replace them? Doc