The Korean Service Medal (KSM) is a military award for service in the United States Armed Forces and was established November 8, 1950, by executive order of President Harry Truman. The Korean Service Medal is the primary US military award for service or participation in operations in the Korean area between June 27, 1950, and July 27, 1954. Medal devices Service stars The United States Department of Defense declared thirteen official campaigns of the Korean War, all of which are annotated by service stars on the Korean Service Medal. Some campaigns apply to all branches of the US military, while others are branch specific. The Korean Service Medal is authorized a 3/16" bronze or silver (indicates five campaigns) service star to denote participation in any of the following campaigns: North Korean Aggression (USMC, Navy): June 27 to November 2, 1950 United Nations Defensive (Army, USAF): June 27 to September 15, 1950 Inchon Landing (USMC, Navy): September 13 to 17, 1950 United Nations Offensive (Army, USAF): September 16 to November 2, 1950 Chinese Communist Forces Intervention (Army, USAF): November 3, 1950, to January 24, 1951 Communist China Aggression (USMC, Navy): November 3, 1950, to January 24, 1951 First United Nations Counteroffensive (USMC, Army, Navy, USAF): January 25 to April 21, 1951 Chinese Communist Forces Spring Offensive (USMC, Army, Navy, USAF): April 22 to July 8, 1951 United Nations Summer-Fall Offensive (USMC, Army, Navy, USAF): July 9 to November 27, 1951 Second Korean Winter (USMC, Army, Navy, USAF): November 28, 1951, to April 30, 1952 Korean Defense Summer-Fall, 1952 (USMC, Army, Navy, USAF): May 1 to November 30, 1952 Third Korean Winter (USMC, Army, Navy, USAF): December 1, 1952, to April 30, 1953 Korea, Summer 1953 (USMC, Army, Navy, USAF): May 1 to July 27, 1953 Arrowhead device An arrowhead device is authorized for US Army or Air Force personnel to denote participation in each of the following: Amphibious landing at Inchon Airborne attacks on Sukch'on-Such'on and Musan Fleet Marine Force combat operation insignia The Fleet Marine Force Combat Operation Insignia is authorized for US Navy personnel who served with the Marine Corps at any time during the Korean War. History Although the Korean War Armistice ended combat operations in Korea on 27 July 1953, the Korean Service Medal was issued until June 1954 due to the tense nature of the occupation and garrison duty immediately after the armistice, as well as