On Aug. 20, 1999, the Defense Department approved the acceptance and wear of the medal. Approximately 1.8 million U.S. veterans of the Korean War are eligible to receive it. Next of kin to eligible deceased veterans can also apply for the medal. To wear this medal on U.S. military uniforms, U.S. military personnel must have: served between the outbreak of hostilities, June 25, 1950, and the date the armistice was signed, July 27, 1953; been on permanent assignment or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days, and performed their duty within the territorial limits of Korea, in the waters immediately adjacent thereto or in aerial flight over Korea participating in actual combat operations or in support of combat operations. The ROK specifies the eligibility period and criteria. Only the ROK-provided medal is approved by the U.S. government to meet the U.S. criteria for wear on the military uniform. To apply, veterans must provide a copy of their discharge paper, commonly known as a "DD-214," or a corrected version of that document, a "DD-215." National Guard members must provide their statement of service equivalent, "NGB Form 22." Additional information on how to apply for or request the medal can be found by contacting the Air Force Personnel Center, Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (CST) at (800) 558-1404, or the Awards and Decorations Section (210) 565-2432/2520/2516, fax (210) 565-3118, or by writing to HQ AFPC/DPPPRA, 550 C Street West, Suite 12, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas 78150-4714. Because the order of precedence for non-U.S. service medals and ribbons is determined by date of approval, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal should be worn after the Kuwait Liberation Medal, which was the last foreign medal approved for wear by U.S. military personnel. For the majority of Korean War veterans the medal will be worn after the United Nations Medal, or the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal if they served during that conflict. KOREAN CONFLICT 50TH ANNIVERSARY – For those Korean veterans who want to review history and for those who are just interested in the history of that conflict can go to: http://dorea50.army.mil/history/factsheets.html

VA SETS RULES FOR PURPLE HEART RECIPIENTS – Veterans awarded the Purple Heart for combat wounds will find it easier to get medical care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Under new VA rules, Purple Heart veterans now have a higher priority for health-care services than before. Also they don?t have to make out-of-pocket payments, technically known as ?co-payments,? for either inpatient or outpatient VA medical services. ?VA has always recognized and appreciated the contributions of those who hold the Purple Heart,? said Dr. Thomas L. Garthwaite, VA?s Under Secretary for Health. ?Now, we are according those veterans a priority befitting their service to this nation.? The new rules authorize VA to reimburse Purple Heart recipients for any medical co-payments made to VA for care given after November 29, 1999. Purple Heart recipients are still responsible for making co-payments of $2 for each 30-day supply of prescription medicine given to outpatients for conditions that are not related to military service.? ?We urge Purple Heart recipients who have medical conditions they believe are related to their military service to contact VA for help in filing a claim,? said Joe Thompson, VA?s Under Secretary for Benefits. By itself, the Purple Heart doesn?t qualify veterans for VA disability compensation. That requires a separate screening process. Nor does the Purple Heart affect eligibility for long-term nursing care. VA?s new eligibility rules for Purple Heart recipients were approved last year by Congress in the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act. The change affects the seven-step priority system that Congress set up for VA health care. It moves Purple Heart recipients who were in VA?s priority groups 4 through 7 into priority group 3. Purple Heart recipients who qualify for priority groups 1 or 2 by virtue of service-connected disabilities will stay in those higher groups. Anyone claiming benefits as a Purple Heart recipient must prove that they have been awarded the decoration. VA will accept the following as proof. Defense Department Form 214, discharge papers, military personnel records, orders or award certificates. The Purple Heart is the nation?s oldest military medal. George Washington presented the first medals in 1783. PURPLE HEART RECIPIENTS – (Continued) Today, there are approximately 600,000 living veterans who were wounded in combat and received the medal, according to the Military Order of the Purple Heart.