Ribbons and Medals

Combat Action Ribbon
Authorized on February 17, 1969, this ribbon is awarded to members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard for combat action service. The principal requirement is that the personnel must have been in a ground or surface combat fire-fight, or action during which they were under enemy fire, and that their performance under fire must have been satisfactory. SUMNER received this ribbon for combat firefights in Ormoc Bay (December 1944), Lingayen Gulf (January 1945) and Operation Sea Dragon (April to June 1967).

Navy/Marine Corps Meritorious Unit Commendation
Units which are awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation have displayed valorous or meritorious service which would equate to award of the Bronze Star to an individual. This award was first authorized by the Secretary of the Navy in July 1967. SUMNER received the first Commendation for her service in the Vietnam War. The star represents a second Commendation for Sumner's participation with the Sixth Fleet's show of strength during the Jordanian Crisis of 1970.

Navy Expeditionary Medal
The Navy Expeditionary Medal was authorized in August, 1936. It is awarded to units and personnel who have participated in designated actions for which no campaign medal exists. SUMNER received this medal for participation in the Cuban Blockade.

Navy/Marine Corps China Service Medal
The China Service Medal was authorized in August, 1940. The medal was initially awarded for service between July 1927 and September 1939. A second period of eligibility was authorized from September 1945 to April 1957. SUMNER Received this medal while in China during her 1947 WestPac Deployment.

American Campaign Medal
Established on November 6, 1942, the American Campaign Medal was awarded for service in the American Theater as a regularly assigned member of a unit or vessel between December 7,1941 and March 2, 1946. SUMNER received this medal for her service during the period January 26, 1944 to March 2, 1946.

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was authorized on November 6, 1942 for service in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater as a regularly assigned member of a unit or vessel between December 7,1941 and March 2, 1946. SUMNER was awarded this medal for her service during the period January 26, 1944 to March 2, 1946. She is authorized to display two bronze stars on this award. The first for Operations in Leyte Gulf 14-23 November 1944 and the second for Operations in the Lingayen Gulf Landings 4-15 January 1945.

World War II Victory Medal
Authorized by Congress on July 6, 1945, the World War II Victory Medal was awarded to any member of the Armed Forces who served at least one day of active federal service between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946. SUMNER was awarded this medal for her service during the period January 26, 1944 to December 31, 1946.

Navy/Marine Corps Occupation Service Medal
Authorized in January 1948, the Navy Occupation Service Medal was awarded for 30 days of qualifying service between May 9, 1945 and October 2, 1990. SUMNER was awarded this medal for her service in the occupation of Japan beginning in September 1945.

National Defense Service Medal
Awarded to any honorable active duty service during any of the following periods, 1950-54, 1961-74, 1990-95. All Services. Instituted 1953. SUMNER was awarded this medal for the Korean War period and a second award displayed with a bronze star for the Vietnam War Period.

Korean Service Medal
Service in the Korean War was recognized by Executive Order 10179 on November 8, 1950, which established the Korean Service Medal. Qualifying service was either 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days of service between June 27, 1950 and July 27, 1954. SUMNER was awarded this medal for her service during the period June to July1953. She is authorized to display one bronze star for participation in the 1953 Summer-Fall Campaign.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was established on December 4, 1961 to recognize service during conflicts for which no other medal is authorized. Specific operations are designated as eligible for the AFEM. Qualifying service is 30 days continuous or 60 days nonconsecutive service in direct support of the operation. SUMNER was awarded this medal for participation in the 1962 Cuban Blockade and then she received a second award for her participation in the Dominican Republic Crisis of 1965. The second award is displayed with a bronze star.

Vietnam Service Medal
The Vietnam Service Medal was established on July 8, 1965. Personnel eligible for the Vietnam Service Medal must have served between July 3, 1965 and March 28, 1973 and meet qualifying criteria. SUMNER was awarded this medal for her participation in the Vietnam War. She is authorized to display two bronze stars, the first for the Counteroffensive Phase II Campaign from March to May 1967 and the second for the Counteroffensive Phase III Campaign from June to August 1967.

Republic of Philippines Presidential Unit Citation
This emblem was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States for services culminating in the liberation of the Philippine Islands during the Second World War. The conditions were the same as would be required for award of the Presidential Unit Citation of the United States.

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
On 27 July, 1953, the then President of the Republic of Korea, Dr Syngman Rhee, awarded a Presidential Unit Citation to the United States Seventh Fleet for "exceptionally meritorious service to the Republic of Korea during the period July, 1950 through July, 1953". SUMNER was awarded this medal for her service with Task Force 77 in June-July 1953.

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation w/Palm
The Vietnamese Government issued the award to all units subordinate to Military Assistance Command (MACV) during the period 8 February 1962 and 28 March 1973 and to U.S. Army Vietnam and its subordinate units for the period 20 July 1965 to 28 March 1973. This permits all personnel who served in Vietnam to wear the RVN Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation w/Palm.

Republic of Philippines Liberation Medal
Awarded for service in Liberating the Philippines from the Japanese from 17 Oct 1944 to 3 Sept 1945. There are four conditions for which this medal could be awarded. Participation in more than one was recognized by a bronze star. The first was participation in the initial landings on Leyte or the adjoining islands from 17 Oct 1944 to 20 Oct 1944. The other conditions are: participation in any engagement on Leyte or the adjoining islands, participation in any engagement on Philippine Islands other than those mentioned above, and serving in the Philippine islands or on ships in Philippine waters for not less than 30 days during the period indicated. SUMNER was awarded this medal for her participation in the Philippines Campaign from Nov 1944 - Jan 1945. She is authorized two stars, one for operations in the Leyte Islands and one for operations on Luzon.

United Nations Service Medal
The medal was earned for serving one day under United Nations' command in Korea or adjacent areas, including Japan and Okinawa. The medal could also be awarded for an aggregate of thirty days, which need not have been consecutive, spent on official visits of inspection to the qualifying area. The qualifying period was 27 June 1950 to 27 July 1954. SUMNER was awarded this medal for her participation during the Summer of 1953.

Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/Device
Awarded by the Government of the Republic of Vietnam to members of the United States Armed Forces for having served in the Republic of Vietnam for six months during the period 1 March 1961 to 28 March 1973 inclusive. The "60 dev" is the small silver scroll that states "60 - ", indicating that the conflict started in 1960 and continued to a date left open. SUMNER was awarded this medal for her service in the Vietnam War Zone from March to August 1967.


*U.S.S. Allen M. Sumner DD-692*
Ribbons and Medals