I was reading on wikipedia that the US arrowhead device was authorized for the Korean Service Medal "For those service members who participated in the amphibious landing at Inchon, as well as airborne attacks on Sukch'on-Such'on and Musan". The local vet I know who was in the 7th ID and landed at Inchon does not have an arrowhead on his ribbons, and I don't know if he knows he is eligible for it. Does anyone here have or know of a Korean vet with an arrowhead on his KSM? Thanks!
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I've never seen an arrowhead on a Korean Service Medal. I wonder if it was authorized some time after the war such that many of the guys who could wear it were no longer in the service? -
That's a good possibility. Maybe by the time it was authorized, very few vets went through the trouble of adding it to their ribbon. After hearing Fred's story about landing at Inchon and almost immediately being in contact with the North Koreans, I wondered if the arrowhead was authorized. From Army Reg AR 600-8-22, page 67, "The arrowhead device is authorized for wear on the KSM to denote participation in a combat parachute jump, helicopter assault landing, combat glider landing, or amphibious assault landing, while assigned or attached as a member of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission."Comment
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I can't recall seeing one being worn associated with a Marine or 7th I.D. for Inchon though you certainly see it being worn by members of 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team on ribbons before the ceasefire. I have an original 187th Khaki shirt bearing an Army good conduct ribbon, Korean Service with arrowhead and silver campaign star and U.N. service medal so I assume the owner had been in for a while before or after his Korean service. My guess would be that like W.W.2 a lot of the entitlements for an individuals awards seem to have only really been worked out after they had left theatre to return to the U.S. or another overseas garrison, for many leaving theatres meant their release from active service shortly after so it didn't make much difference as by then they could be civilians again and details didn't always get chased up.Comment
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Originally posted by shadwell1944 View Post
As an aside...the arrowhead device only applies to the Army. It is not authorized for USN and USMC personnel. I have a group given to me by a friend that jumped into Tocumen Int'l airport w/ the Rangers during Just Cause. He was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal w/ an arrowhead. Its the only one I've ever seen.Comment
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arrowhead
be advised there were no helicopter or glider assaults during the Korean war. The 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team made two combat jumps during the Korean war. One in Novermber 1950 (I believe) and the second on 23 March 1951 at Munsan-ni, Korea. I participated in the second combat jump and yes, we were awarded the bronze arrowhead for the Korean service medal. However, no one wore ribbons in Korea. After rotating to Japan ribbons were acquired to include a bronze arrowhead on the KSM. While in Japan in 1951 I had a picture taken and I note that there is a bronze arrowhead on my KSM. Also note, even if more then one assault is made only ONE bronze arrowhead may be worn on a ribbon. Further, one may note one or more bronze campaign star(s) on a parachute badge. Each star alludes to a combat jump. Just for your information.Comment
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Thanks for confirming that some guys did indeed wear arrowheads on their KSMs! And thank you for your service!
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I have several 187th Ike jackets and one has a Bronze arrowhead device on the KSM ribbon, and the para wings has 1 battle star. This individual participated in both jumps with the 187th in Korea
Leigh...,Comment
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I'd love to see a photo of that Ike if you can post one!
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