Executive Orders
Executive Order 10448--Establishing the National Defense Service Medal
Source: The provisions of Executive Order 10448 of Apr. 22, 1953, appear at 18 FR 2391, 3 CFR, 1949-1953 Comp., p. 935, unless otherwise noted.
By virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States and as Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows:
1. There is hereby established the National Defense Service Medal, with suitable appurtenances. Under such regulations as the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, or the Secretary of Transportation with regard to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, may severally prescribe, and subject to the provisions of this Order, the National Defense Service Medal shall be awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served during any period after June 26, 1950, and before July 28, 1954, or who served during any period after December 31, 1960, which the Secretary of Defense designates as being a period for which active military service merits special recognition.1
[Para. 1 amended by EO 11265 of Jan. 11, 1966, 31 FR 425, 3 CFR, 1966-1970 Comp., p. 532; EO 11382 of Nov. 28, 1967, 32 FR 16247, 3 CFR, 1966-1970 Comp., p. 691]
2. The regulations prescribed by the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force pursuant to paragraph 1 hereof shall be uniform so far as practicable and shall be approved by the Secretary of Defense. The regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Transportation pursuant to paragraph 1 hereof shall, so far as practicable, be uniform with the regulations prescribed for the other armed forces.
[Para. 2 amended by EO 11382 of Nov. 28, 1967, 32 FR 16247, 3 CFR, 1966-1970 Comp., p. 691]
3. Those persons entitled to wear the National Defense Service Medal for service after June 26, 1950, and before July 28, 1954, or for service during any designated period after December 31, 1960, are also entitled to wear a bronze star on their National Defense Service Medal ribbon for each additional period of active duty designated by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to paragraph 1 as being a period for which active military service merits special recognition.
[Para. 3 amended by EO 11265 of Jan. 11, 1966, 31 FR 425, 3 CFR, 1966-1970 Comp., p. 532]
4. The National Defense Service Medal may be awarded posthumously.
1Editorial note: The Secretary of Defense designated the period for which active military service establishes eligibility for award of the National Defense Service Medal as any period after December 31, 1960, and before August 15, 1974 (Department of Defense Directive No. 1348.7).