COMBAT ACTION RIBBON	CHINA SERVICE  MEDAL	AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL	ASIATIC/PACIFIC CAMPAIGN.MEDAL
WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL .	NAVY OCCUPATION ASIA MEDAL .	PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION	PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL .	PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE MEDAL

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No. 138-00
(703)695-0192(media)
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 21, 2000
(703)697-5737(public/industry)
RETROACTIVE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON ELIGIBILITY FOR
NAVAL VETERANS FROM 1941 TO 1961 ANNOUNCED

Navy and Marine Corps veterans who served in combat in or after World
War II are now eligible to receive the Combat Action Ribbon (CAR).  Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig has recently authorized this award for those who served in combat, but never received their CAR. "At a time when we are focusing on the contributions of these great Americans, this seems especially fitting," said Danzig.
In order to be eligible for the CAR, veterans must have participated in ground or surface combat after Dec. 6, 1941, but before March 1, 1961, and cannot already have been recognized for the same participation.
Under Public Law 106-65, Danzig can award the CAR to veterans retroactively.  The time period required for submission is being waived in all cases.  Two blocks of time have been designated by Danzig for eligibility of the CAR;

World War II: Dec. 7, 1941 - April 14, 1946,

and Korea: June 27, 1950 - July 27, 1954.

Navy Veterans who served during these periods may write directly to the
Navy Awards Branch for
settlement at:
        Chief of Naval Operations (N09B33)
        2000 Navy Pentagon
        Washington, D.C. 20350-2000
The following information must be provided: Standard Form 180 or cover letter with the following information: full name, social security number, service number (if applicable), period of eligibility, unit assigned at the time, and mailing address.
Copy of Naval Personnel Form 553 or Defense Department (DD) Form 214;
DD-215 (if applicable). Additional substantiating documentation (optional): copies of combat awards; copies of evaluations; muster sheets or orders showing assignment to the unit for the period requested. A special section will handle these requests, but no other awards may be requested in conjunction with the CAR.  Only CAR requests dated after March 15, 2000, and in accordance with the prescribed guidance will be forwarded to the board for decision.  Any prior
requests must be resubmitted. If a veteran cannot provide the required documentation, a request for personal record information must be submitted to the St. Louis Records Center before submitting the request to the Navy Awards
Board. If a veteran desires to address a different period of time, a request to review the period may be sent, with substantiating documentation, to the Navy Board of Decorations and Medals at the above address.
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The Philippine Liberation Medal

is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the U.S. Armed Forces, and recognized guerrilla units by the Philippine Government for service of at  least 30 days in the liberation of the Philippines from October 17, 1944 to September 3, 1945.

Philippine Independence Medal

This medal has been awarded to personnel of the U.S. Armed Forces who were previously awarded either the Philippine Defense Medal or the Philippine Liberation Medal, or both.

The Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

has also been authorized for all personnel who qualified for either the Philippine Defense Medal or the Philippine Liberation Medal.