The Freeper Canteen Looks At
The Global War On Terror
Expeditionary Medal
Bush Establishes Medals for Global War on Terror
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 13, 2003 -- President Bush has issued an executive order establishing two military awards for actions in the global war on terrorism.
The president signed the order March 12 establishing the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
A White House spokesman said the medals recognize the "sacrifices and contributions" military members make in the global war on terror.
The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal will be awarded to service members who serve in military expeditions to combat terrorism on or after Sept. 11, 2001. Operation Enduring Freedom is the prime operation the medal may be awarded for. Personnel assigned to operations in Afghanistan and the Philippines are examples of service members who will receive the award.
The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal will be awarded to service members who serve in military operations to combat terrorism on or after Sept. 11, 2001. Operation Noble Eagle is an example of the type of operation the medal may be awarded for.
The awards do not take the place of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, established Dec. 4, 1961, or the Armed Forces Service Medal, established Jan. 11, 1996.
"Any member who qualified for those medals by reason of service in operations to combat terrorism between September 11, 2001, and a terminal date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense, shall remain qualified for those medals," the executive order reads. "Upon application, any such member may be awarded either the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal or the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal in lieu of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or the Armed Forces Service Medal."
No one may be awarded more than one of the four medals for service in the same approved expedition or operation to combat terrorism. No one is entitled to more than one award of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal or the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
The medals may be awarded posthumously.
DoD and military service officials, including the Coast Guard, are working on provisions to award the medals.
Related Sites of Interest:
DoD News Release: President Authorizes Two New Medals
AFRTS TV Report: President authorizes two new military medals for Global War on Terrorism
Official White House Statement
Originally posted here!
Maj. Gen. Eric T. Olson presents the Global War on Terrorism Service and Expeditionary medals, along with a 25th Infantry Division Combat patch,
to Spc. Karey Duhaney on Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. Olson is commander of the 25th Infantry Division and also of the Combined Joint Task Force 76.
Duhaney is assigned to the division's 125th Signal Battalion.
U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Terry Anderson, CJTF-76 Public Affairs
Tropic Lightning Soldiers Receive Combat Patch
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan, Oct. 4, 2004 — One of the most decorated infantry divisions in the United States Army added another story to their history during a ceremony here Oct. 1st.
The "Tropic Lightning" Soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division staff, along with Coalition troops, received their Shoulder Sleeve Insignia for Former Wartime Service, or combat patch, during the ceremony. The significance of the 25th Infantry Division's combat patch ceremony was not lost on Division and Combined Joint Task Force 76 Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Ashe.
"This is the first time in 30 years that Tropic Lightning Soldiers are combat vets, serving in one of the most highly decorated divisions in the Army," Ashe said. "And for the ceremony to take place on the division's 63rd birthday, that's a great big deal for all our veterans. Showing the world everyday that our division has top-notch Soldiers."
25th Infantry Division units have held separate combat infantry badge, combat medical badge, and combat patch ceremonies at locations around Afghanistan. Ashe said not every division in the Army holds combat patch ceremonies, and his reason for holding one is simple.
"I have a saying called the 5 to 7 month slump," Ashe said. "You're happy that you're halfway through but you look ahead and you still see 6 months left. The main reason we're doing this ceremony is to honor our troops and to give them a positive experience in the middle of a deployment."
Ashe, along with CJTF-76 and 25th Infantry Division commander, Maj. Gen. Eric T. Olson, handed out combat patches and Global War on Terrorism Service and Expeditionary medals to troops in front of Bagram Air Field's Joint Operations Center.
In a speech during the ceremony, Olson said the patch and medals symbolize more than just another item to sew on the uniform.
""With this combat patch ceremony here today, we are forever bonded to that past and have a visible statement of shared commitment, value and hardship," Olson said.
"Our division's victories in Afghanistan and in Iraq are the victories of all Soldiers and all units of the Army, not just those few who participated in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom."
This is the first combat patch in a 20-year Army career for 1st Sgt. Charles Sasser, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 25th Infantry Division. He's a ranger-qualified infantryman who has served in Egypt on Multinational Force and Observer duty. Sasser said receiving the Tropic Lightning combat patch is the culmination of two decades of service to America.
"It really means a lot to me personally and professionally," Sasser said. "But I'm not finished. I'll stay in the Army until they ask me to leave."
Maj. Gen. Eric T. Olson presents the Global War on Terrorism Service and Expeditionary medals, along with a 25th
Infantry Division Combat patch, to Spc. Karey Duhaney on Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. Olson is commander of
the 25th Infantry Division and also of the Combined Joint Task Force 76. Duhaney is assigned to the division's
125th Signal Battalion. U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Terry Anderson, CJTF-76 Public Affairs
Story from Defend America.
Thank you, to all our military members protecting and defending the United States today. Thank you to those who have gone before, to make our country what it is today. Thank you to our Allies, who stand by our side in this endeavor. Your sacrifices are not taken for granted, neither are they forgotten.
Here we are at the beginning of a new week. For many people, Monday represents the start of another monotonous cycle of work. Maybe it's a mountain of washing and ironing, an endless quota of parts from a machine, the same dull routine on the assembly line, or the tedium of sitting at a computer.