Gallegly-championed Korea Defense Service Medal approved

November 15, 2002
Santa Paula News
The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a House-Senate compromise National Defense Authorization Act that directs the Department of Defense to issue a Korea Defense Service Medal as championed by Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-Ventura County). The Senate is expected to approve the compromise bill this week and the President is expected to sign it.Last year, Congress approved language that only asked the DOD to consider a medal. But the DOD has consistently refused to issue the medal, leading Gallegly and his allies in the Senate to push for the stronger language this year.Gallegly introduced the Korea Defense Service Medal Act last year, which directs the DOD to award a Korea Defense Service Medal to members of the armed forces who served in Korea after July 1954.“For reasons only understandable to Department of Defense bureaucrats, the department refuses to recognize the dangerous mission our military men and women face on the Korean Peninsula,” Gallegly said. “Even as North Korea continues unprovoked attacks on its South Korean neighbors and admittedly pursues weapons of mass destruction, the DOD continues to insist the mission is not dangerous enough to warrant a service medal.“As we continue to fight terrorism around the world-and recognizing that North Korea continues to be identified as a sponsor of terrorism-it is important to recognize the servicemen and women who have served and fought on the Korean Peninsula over the past 48 years,” Gallegly said. “I am grateful to my colleagues in the House and Senate for recognizing that the DOD will not correct this oversight unless Congress specifically directs them to.”More than 40,000 members of the United States armed forces have served on the Korean Peninsula each year since July 1953. Since then, an estimated 1,200 servicemen and women have died as a direct result of their Korean service.Service medals are given to U.S. military personnel who serve in military operations or campaigns. For example, those who served in Berlin during the Cold War were awarded a service medal. Since the Korean armistice was signed, there have been more than 40,000 breaches of the cease-fire, making it among the more dangerous places to serve.Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-New Mexico) introduced the companion bill in the Senate.In addition to inclusion of the Korean Defense Service Medal, the National Defense Authorization Act includes:
A 4.1 percent military pay raise, with targeted increases up to 6.5 percent for mid-grade and senior noncommissioned officers and mid-grade officers.A reduction in out-of-pocket housing expenses paid by service members from 11.3 to 7.5 percent.The creation of a new payment for all military retirees who were wounded in combat and received the Purple Heart and those retirees who were severely disabled in combat-related incidents. Monthly payments would range from $103 to $2,100 each month, depending upon the level of disability, and would represent a partial to full offset of the reduction in retired pay required by current law on concurrent receipt.More than $15 billion for programs to combat terrorism and defend the homeland against weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles.Authorization of $10 billion for ongoing costs of the War Against Terrorism.Authorization of more than $10 billion to build new military housing and working facilities for military personnel and their families.Authorization of approximately $130 billion to develop, test and build new military weapons and equipment.



Site Search

E-Subscribe

Subscribe

E-SUBSCRIBE
Call 805 525 1890 to receive the entire paper early. $50.00 for one year.

webmaster