Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 02/02/2004

Dear Sgt. Shaft,
It might be noted that the 29th draft of the 1st Marine Air Wing was extended from 12 months to 15 months because the ceasefire treaty, which was signed July 27th 1953, the one-year gap should include we Marines who stood in while Headquarters USMC made up their mind on troop strength. We got home in March of 1954. We should also be entitled to the Korean War Service Medal. Make our gripe known to the Brass, the Police Action Marines

Have been forgotten long enough,
Jim D. Maryland

Dear Jim,
I have contacted the powers that be at HQ USMC and by now you should have received the following response:

I have been asked to reply to your e-mail in regards to the Korean War Service Medal.

Based on the information you provided, your service in Korea would entitle you to the Korean Service Medal. The qualification dates for the Korean Service Medal are as follows:

September 13, 1950 to July 27, 1953 qualifies for the Korean Service Medal with campaign stars

July 28, 1953 to July 27, 1954 qualifies for the Korean Service Medal with no campaign stars

The Korean Defense Service Medal has a commencement date after the closure of the Korean Service Medal. More information on this award is found at the link below:

http://www.imjinscout.com/Echoes_KDSM.html

To obtain the Korean Service Medal and a complete set of replacement award it is suggested that you contact the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri, which is where your records are maintained and request verification/issuance of this and all of the awards you earned in service. The following is their address and web site, which is the request form: http://vetrecs.archives.gov  

National Personnel Records Center
Attn: PERS-313E
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132

It has been a pleasure to be of assistance and hope this has answered your questions.

Steve Mackey
Head, Military Awards Branch Personnel Management Division
Manpower and Reserve Affairs Headquarters,
United States Marine Corps

Shaft Kudos
Congratulations to good buddy Mac McKinney who recently received the Department of Defense's Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the highest honor awarded to a civilian outside of the federal government.

McKinney, known as the "dean of military legislative advocates," enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps in 1942 and retired in 1971. He served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam, and retired from the Corps as a Sergeant Major. He co-founded The Military Coalition (TMC in 1985 - a consortium that has grown to include 35 major military and veterans organizations representing more than 5.5 million members - and has served as its co-chairman, coordinator and administrator. In his nearly 32 years working with Congress, the White House and appropriate Federal agencies on behalf of enlisted service members and veterans, McKinney has assisted in the founding of the Exchange Club of Capitol Hill, serving as its president in 1990-91; the Capitol Hill Marines, as its senior vice commandant; and the Gang of 30. "Mr. McKinney played a decisive role in winning enactment of every significant legislative initiative affecting compensation and benefits for active, Reserve, Guard, and retired service members during this 18-year period [December 1985 to August 2003]," read the Distinguished Public Service Award citation. "Recognized as the preeminent expert in his field, Mr. McKinney worked tirelessly to ensure that service members' compensation and benefits were consistent with the demands and sacrifices associated with military service. Leading the combined efforts of military and veterans' associations, Mr. McKinney exerted positive, enduring influence of extraordinary benefit to service members."

In his presentation of the award , Charles Abell, Principle Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, stated to those in attendance

"You all need a beacon. You need a light to guide your activities and to shine out on the fleet, and I think Mack's that kind of guy "He's an institution. He's got a strong commitment to military personnel and he's got a special place in his heart for the enlisted force. Mack's a determined advocate for benefits and personnel policies that benefit the force and the fleet. You can learn from Mack; a mentor, teacher, a trusted counsel to most in this room and many on Capitol Hill and around this city."

McKinney has been married to the former Rosemarie Swinford of Lansing, Mich., for 50 years (as of August 8, 2003), has three children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

In his acceptance of the award, he remarked “ When I was a young Marine an old gunnery sergeant told me that you're in the Marine Corps for one reason: As you advance in grade, you take care of the people that you have under you and make sure that is your primary mission. I felt the same way when I got out of the Marine Corps - [I wanted] to work on behalf of the very people that I served with," said McKinney in his typical modest fashion. "And it's only right that I can stand before this august group and say thank you for the support that you've given the men and women of our services over the years. Thank you so much."

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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