Congressman Duncan Hunter (R)


Congressman Duncan Hunter (R)
Vietnam Veteran
Chairman, Armed Forces Committee,




From left to right:  MGySgt John Valdez, Lance Corporal Ken Crouse, Congressman Hunter, MSgt Colin Broussard.  
We presented this plaque on Monday, 28 March 2005 at Congressman Hunter's El Cajon, California office.

The Plaque read:

Congressman Duncan Hunter (R)
For outstanding legislation skills allowing us an option to convert our Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal to the Vietnam Service Medal in the 2003 Defense Authorization Bill. 

With our deepest respect and appreciation,
Fall of Saigon Marines Association


Congressman Duncan Hunter put authorization in the 2003 Defense Authorization Bill allowing us to convert
our Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal to the Vietnam Service Medal   It passed Congress and Senate.  The President
of the United States signed off on the Authorization Bill.   Now the official end of the Vietnam War is officially 7 May 1975.


Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal optional conversion
to the Vietnam Service Medal




MARADMIN 218/04
Paragraph 4

««-----------------------------------------------------»»

Date signed: 05/12/2004 MARADMIN Number: 218/04
R 121214Z MAY 04
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL MARADMIN(uc)
MARADMIN
BT
UNCLASSIFIED
MARADMIN 218/04
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/AWARDS UPDATE//
REF/A/DOC/CMC MMMA/06NOV2003//
REF/B/DOC/OSD/12SEP1996//
NARR/REF A IS NAVMC 2922, MARINE CORPS UNIT AWARDS MANUAL.  REF B IS
DOD 1348.33M, MANUAL OF MILITARY DECORATIONS & AWARDS.//
POC/J. J. ULMER/SGT/HQMC MMMA/-/TEL:703-784-9206
/EMAIL:[email protected]//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THE PURPOSE OF THIS MARADMIN IS TO PROVIDE AN
UPDATE OF AWARDS SINCE THE LAST QUARTERLY UPDATE, MARADMIN 516/03.
2.  THE FOLLOWING UNIT AWARDS ARE AUTHORIZED AND ARE ALREADY
INCORPORATED IN REF A.
              JOINT MERITORIOUS UNIT AWARD (JMUA)
HQ, JOINT TASK FORCE GUANTANAMO, NAVAL BASE        
  GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA                             01NOV02-01NOV03
HQ, COMBINED/JOINT TASK FORCE-180, BAGRAM AIRFIELD,
  AFGHANISTAN                                      31MAY02-01APR03
HQ, US EUROPEAN COMMAND, VAIHINGEN, GERMANY         01JAN00-30JUN03
 (PARTICIPATING UNITS)
   GEORGE C. MARSHALL CENTER FOR SECURITY STUDIES,
    GARMISCH, GE
   JOINT ANALYSIS CENTER, RAF MOLESWORTH, UK
   NATO SCHOOL, OBERAMMERGAU, GE
   PROTECTIVE SERVICES DETACHMENT, VAIHINGEN, GE
   SHAPE SURVEY SECTION, MONS, BE
   SPASAC DIVISION, MONS, BE
   ALL OFFICES OF DEFENSE COOPERATION AND SECURITY
    ASSISTANCE OFFICES.
HQ, SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND, EUROPE, STUTTGART,  
  GERMANY                                          01OCT00-25AUG03
HQ, JOINT TASK FORCE LIBERIA                        25JUL03-15OCT03
CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN OPERATIONS CENTER, CHEYENNE      
  MOUNTAIN AIR FORCE STATION, CO                   28AUG01-27AUG03
HQ, SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND CENTRAL, MACDILL    
  AFB, FL                                          17SEP01-15MAY03
HQ, COALITION FORCES LAND COMPONENT COMMAND,        
  CAMP DOHA, KUWAIT                                11SEP01-15JUN03
JOINT US MILITARY AFFAIRS GROUP-KOREA, YONGSAN,    
  SEOUL, REPUBLIC OF KOREA                         01JAN02-31DEC02
US OFFICE OF DEFENSE REPRESENTATIVE-PAKISTAN,      
  AMERICAN EMBASSY, ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN            26SEP01-01NOV03
THE JOINT STAFF (TO INCLUDE THE OFFICE OF THE      
  CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
  AND DIA/J-2)                                     11SEP01-11SEP03
WHITE HOUSE MILITARY OFFICE (WHMO)                  01JAN00-31JAN01
DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY                     06MAR00-30JUN03
THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY/CENTRAL SECURITY
SERVICE
 (PARTICIPATING UNITS)
   MARINE CRYPTOLOGIC SUPPORT BATTALION
    NSA, FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, MD MCC 800
   COMPANY A, MARINE CRYPTOLOGIC SUPPORT BATTALION
    BUCKLEY AFB, CO MCC 842
   COMPANY B, MARINE CRYPTOLOGIC SUPPORT BATTALION
    NSA, FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, MD MCC 802
   COMPANY D, MARINE CRYPTOLOGIC SUPPORT BATTALION
    GRSOC, FORT GORDON, GA MCC 817
   COMPANY G, MARINE CRYPTOLOGIC SUPPORT BATTALION
    RAF MENWITH HILL, UK MCC 841
   COMPANY H, MARINE CRYPTOLOGIC SUPPORT BATTALION
    MRSOC, LACKLAND AFB, TX MCC 818
   COMPANY I, MARINE CRYPTOLOGIC SUPPORT BATTALION
    KRSOC, KUNIA, HI MCC 819
   COMPANY L, MARINE CRYPTOLOGIC SUPPORT BATTALION
    SUITLAND, MD MCC 831
   SU-1, COMPANY G, MARINE CRYPTOLOGIC SUPPORT BATTALION,
    PSC 819 BOX 13 FPO AE (ROTA SP) MCC 828
   SU-1, COMPANY I, MARINE CRYPTOLOGIC SUPPORT BATTALION,
    NSGA KUNIA, SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI MCC TPT
   SU-2, COMPANY I, MARINE CRYPTOLOGIC SUPPORT BATTALION
    MISAWA, JA MCC 844
   SU-1, COMPANY L, MARINE CRYPTOLOGIC SUPPORT BATTALION
    PENSACOLA, FL MCC 805
   NAVAL SECURITY GROUP DET, CINCLANT FLEET, NORFOLK, VA
    MCC 809
   NSA/CSS REPRESENTATIVE, PACIFIC REPRESENTATIVE FPO AP
    MCC 836
   CRYPTOLOGIC SUPPORT GROUP, 7115 SOUTH BOUNDARY BLVD,
    MACDILL, AFB, FL MCC TGM
NOTE:  PER REFERENCE B.  SERVICE UNITS OR INDIVIDUALS DEPLOYED IN  
SUPPORT OF A JTF, BUT NOT ASSIGNED AND/OR ATTACHED TO THE JTF BY
OFFICIAL ORDERS, ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE JMUA, EVEN IF THEY ARE
UNDER THE OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF THE JTF.
                   MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION
AMPHIBIOUS SQUADRON FOUR, 22D MARINE EXPEDITIONARY  
  UNIT (SPECIAL OPERATIONS CAPABLE), WASP
   AMPHIBIOUS READY GROUP                          22FEB02-30AUG02
UNITED STATES FIFTH FLEET STRIKE FORCE              20APR02-13DEC02
(PARTICIPATING UNITS)
 INTERIM MARINE CORPS SECURITY FORCE COMPANY       20APR02-13DEC02
 MARINE CENTRAL COMMAND COORDINATION ELEMENT      
  BAHRAIN                                          20APR02-13DEC02
 TASK FORCE FIVE ONE                               20APR02-13DEC02
 TASK FORCE FIVE SEVEN                             20APR02-13DEC02
 11TH MEU (SOC)                                    30JUL02-31OCT02
 24TH MEU (SOC)                                    26OCT02-13DEC02
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT,              
  NORTH CAROLINA                                   01OCT01-30SEP02
1ST MARINE AIRCRAFT WING                            09AUG00-06MAY02
(PARTICIPATING UNITS)
  MWHS-1
  MWSS-171
  MWSS-172
  MACG-18
  MTACS-18
  MACS-18
  MACS-4
  MASS-2
  MWCS-18
MARINE ALL WEATHER FIGHTER ATTACK SQUADRON 533      16JAN01-10JUL01
U.S. NAVAL HOSPITAL GUANTANAMO BAY                 23DEC01-1JAN03
                 ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL (AFEM)
PER PERMANENT ORDERS SCO609, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, HQ, SPECIAL
OPERATIONS COMMAND CENTRAL HAS APPROVED THE AFEM FOR THE FOLLOWING
PERSONNEL FOR OPERATIONS IN SOUTHWEST ASIA FROM 31 DECEMBER 1998 TO
17 MARCH 2003:
ALLEN, MARK D.         4864     ARRAZOLA, JOSE L.       5790
BAILEY, TERRY G.       8472     BROWN, MICHAEL H.       4053
COGLIANESE, VINCENT A. 2216     COGLIANESE, JOHN J.     0857      
CRAIS, RYAN E.         7490     CZAJA, BRUCE A.         6065
DEWYEA, THOMAS P.      9067     GILL, ANDREW J.         9315
GRISSOM, KELLY J.      8771     HILL, WILLIAM D.        8875
LEARNED, GEORGE E.     3779     OLSON, TAZ R.           2249      
PRUDHOMME, JAMES       3230     RUSSELL, STANLEY K.     1472
SANCHEZ, SAL           9002     SAUNDERS, THOMAS A.     1913
SCHAD, ANDREA M.       3745     SMIETANSKI, GREGORY S.  6941
THOMAS, CHRISTOPHER S. 2798
                 AIR FORCE OUTSTANDING UNIT AWARD (AFOUA)
MARINE FIGHTER ATTACK SQUADRON (VMFA) 212          01JUN01-31MAY02
363D AIR EXPEDITIONARY WING                        01JUN02-31MAY03
(PARTICIPATING UNITS)
  MARINE TACTICAL ELECTRONIC WARFARE SQUADRON ONE
  MARINE TACTICAL ELECTRONIC WARFARE SQUADRON TWO
  MARINE TACTICAL ELECTRONIC WARFARE SQUADRON FOUR
  MARINE AVIATION LOGISTICS SQUADRON 14
                 CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION
MARINE AVIATION LOGISTICS SQUADRON 31                 AUG01-MAY03
3.  HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL (HSM).  THE HSM IS APPROVED FOR THE
BELOW LISTED HUMANITARIAN RELIEF EFFORT.  A BY-NAME LISTING OF THOSE
PERSONNEL ENTITLED TO THE HSM IS MAINTAINED AT HQMC (MMMA).  ADMIN
OFFICERS MAY CALL DSN 278-9340 OR COMM (703) 784-9340 FOR
VERIFICATION OF ENTITLEMENT.  
US SUPPORT GROUP EAST TIMOR (USGET)                 01MAR01-31DEC02
 (PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY EXTENDED FROM 01FEB02-31DEC02)
JOINT TASK FORCE LIBERIA                            25JUL03-15OCT03
4.  MARINES THAT WERE AWARDED THE ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL
FOR PARTICIPATING IN OPERATION FREQUENT WIND FROM 29-30 APRIL 1975
ARE NOW ENTITLED TO EXCHANGE IT FOR THE VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL PER
SECTION 542 IN PUBLIC LAW 107-314.  OPERATION FREQUENT WIND, 29-30
APRIL 1975, WILL BE REFLECTED AS THE 18TH CAMPAIGN UNDER THE VIETNAM
CAMPAIGN.  
   A.  COMMANDERS ARE AUTHORIZED TO PROCESS REQUESTS FOR PERSONNEL
UNDER HIS/HER COGNIZANCE.
   B.  RETIRED AND FORMER MARINES AFFECTED BY THIS LAW NEED TO
SUBMIT THEIR REQUESTS TO THE NATIONAL PERSONNEL RECORDS CENTER
(NPRC) BY FAX TO (314) 801-9195 OR BY MAIL TO:
       NATIONAL PERSONNEL RECORDS CENTER
       MILITARY PERSONNEL RECORDS
       9700 PAGE AVENUE
       ST. LOUIS MO 63132
REQUESTS ADDRESSED TO NPRC MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING PERSONAL
INFORMATION:  FULL NAME, SSN, SERVICE/SERIAL NUMBER, BRANCH OF
SERVICE, DATE OF BIRTH, AND PERIOD OF SERVICE.

5.  PER REF C, THE FLEET MARINE FORCE (FMF) COMBAT OPERATION
INSIGNIA IS AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR ON TERRORISM EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL FOR
THOSE DISIGNATED NAVY PERSONNEL WHO WERE ATTACHED TO AND OPERATIONG
WITH FMF UNITS, AND TO NAVY PERSONNEL ATTACHED TO NAVY UNITS
OPERATING WITH FMF UNITS AND UNDER FMF OPERATIONAL CONTROL.  THE FMF
COMBAT OPERATIONAL INSIGNIA IS A RESTRICTIVE DEVICE; BEING ATTACHED
TO OPERATIONS WITH A MARINE UNIT IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO ESTABLISH
ELIGIBILTIY FOR THIS INSIGNIA.  THE MARINE UNIT MUST HAVE BEEN
ENGAGED IN ACTUAL COMBAT ACTION DURING THE PERIOD OF THE
INDIVIDUAL'S SERVICE WITH THE UNIT.  QUESTIONS REGARDING ELIGIBILITY
CHAIN OF COMMAND TO THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS (MMMA-3) WHO
HAS THE FINAL AUTHORITY FOR DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY.
6.  DELEGATION AUTHORITY FOR OTHER SERVICES' AWARDS.  AS MARINE
CORPS INVOLVEMENT IN JOINT TASK FORCES (JTF) INCREASE, IT IS
IMPERATIVE THAT COMMANDERS AND INDIVIDUAL MARINES UNDERSTAND THE
DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT AWARDS FROM OTHER SERVICES.
STRICT ADHERENCE TO MARADMIN MESSAGE 248/01 AND MARADMIN MESSAGE
144/03 WILL PREVENT THE REVOCATION OF ERRONEOUSLY AWARDED MEDALS AND
DECORATIONS.
7.  KOREAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL (KDSM).  THE DEFENSE SUPPLY CENTER
IN PHILADELPHIA WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY REQUISITIONS FOR THE KDSM UNTIL
21 AUGUST 2004.
8.  REF A IS NO LONGER DISTRIBUTED, INSTEAD, REF A IS UPDATED AND
MAINTAINED ON THE INTERNET AT THE MILITARY AWARDS BRANCH WEB SITE AT
AWARDS.MANPOWER.USMC.MIL//

 

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Hi Colin,

I spoke with House Armed Services Committee staff last week.  They were very receptive to the idea and are doing some research -- gave them your web site.  We probably won't start working on the Defense Authorization Bill
until June or July and it probably won't get signed into law until September or October of this year.  Will keep you updated along the way.

Vicki
(Chief of Staff)

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Fall of Saigon Marines,

      I just got a call from Congressman Hunter's Office in Washington D.C.   I talked to Vickie ( His Staff Assistant) to clarify why we want the Vietnam Service Medal.   I explained to her that we want the Vietnam Service Medal in lieu of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.    I had to further explain how the military first received an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal when they
first went to Vietnam and later was able to exchange the Medal for a Vietnam Service Medal.

      I also explained that we have two Marines on the Vietnam Wall which the end date is 1975.   I provided her our Web Address. 

      They also wanted to know why the Marine Corps and Department of Defense couldn't authorize this and I explained we already had letters in to both and it has to be authorized by Congress.   

      I explained a lot more to Vickie and had her repeat everything she wrote down and made corrections.    I told her I'm on vacation right now so she can call me for night or day for anything including briefing the Congressional Team either in Washington or over the phone.

      They did want to know what other Congressman/Senators has been talked to and or positive about this.   I need this immediately.   I sent another
letter to Senator Feinstein and she is positive so I used her as a reference.

  Please send me everything you have done to get out medal.   I need names so I can email them to here.

      I think we are getting close with your help.

Semper Fi,
Colin Broussard
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