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Three medals were awarded for service in the 1990-1991 Gulf War:
- Southwest Asia Service Medal — For service in Southwest Asia and contiguous waters or air space thereover from Aug. 2, 1990, until a date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense.
- Kuwait Liberation Medal — Awarded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for direct participation in Operation Desert Storm between Jan. 17, 1991, and Feb. 28, 1991.
- Kuwait Liberation Medal — In addition to the Kuwait Liberation Medal previously accepted from the government of Saudi Arabia, the U.S. government has also accepted the Kuwait Liberation Medal (K) from the government of Kuwait for participation in Desert Storm / Desert Shield from Aug. 2, 1990, to August 31, 1993.
How to Obtain Service Medals
Still on active duty or in the active reserve? Contact you personnel officer.
Discharged or retired? You may write to:
National Personnel Records Center
Attn: Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
State your request and provide a copy (NEVER an original) of the following forms:
- your orders to Desert Shield / Desert Storm and
- your release from active duty (DD Form 214, "Report of Separation").
If you don't have these forms, provide the following information:
- Full name under which service was performed,
- Service number and/or Social Security number,
- Branch of service,
- Dates of service,
- Date and place of birth,
- Grade or rank at time of separation/retirement, and
- Signature and date of request
Family members may only request medals and awards of living veterans by obtaining their signed authorizations. For deceased veterans, requests will be accepted from next-of-kin.
To request information from military service records, the National Personnel Records Center recommends you use the Standard Form 180, "Request Pertaining to Military Records." By law, records can only be released to an individual or his/her next of kin.
Please visit the National Archives for more information or view the Service guidance below.
| Service |
Guidance |
| U.S. Army |
Department of the Army (DA) publishes General Orders on approved awards for units, including those serving in Desert Shield / Desert Storm, on a yearly basis. Determinations on some awards are still pending. The DA General Orders are distributed to every Army installation and maintained in their MOS libraries. Veterans may also contact any installation's personnel officer.
Veterans who have been discharged or retired and need copies of their records can call the Army Reserve Personnel Center at 314-538-4261. A recorded message advises you that all requests must be made in writing. (Note: the recorded message also explains what to do if you are calling about a medical emergency.)
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| U.S. Air Force |
Air Force veterans can also write to:
Air Force Personnel Center/DPA
550 C Street West, Suite 1
Randolph AFB, TX 78150-4703
For additional information contact the USAF Personnel Center.
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| U.S. Navy |
For questions concerning policy on awards and decorations, call the SECNAV Awards Board at (202) 685-6530.
The telephone number for the Navy Liaison Office, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, MO, is 314-538-3071, ext. 882.
A veteran in inactive reserves (meaning that you are still affiliated with the Navy) can request a copy of his or her record by writing to:
Naval Reserve Personnel Center
Service Record Maintenance Center
New Orleans, LA 70149-7800
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| U.S. Marine Corps |
For questions concerning policy on awards and decorations, call the SECNAV Awards Board at (202) 685-6530.
A veteran in inactive reserves (meaning that you are still affiliated with the Marine Corps) can request a copy of his or her record by writing to:
Marine Corps Reserve Support Command
15303 Andrews Rd. (Code PMD)
Kansas City, MO 64147
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Last Updated: July 11, 2023