and the U.S. military in accordance with DoD 1348 C7. Six months of service in support of South Vietnamese military operations was the general U.S. requirement for the award. Appearance The Vietnam Service Medal is a rounded bronze shaped medal, 1 inches in diameter with a green, yellow, and red suspension ribbon. The obverse side of the medal consists of a figure of an oriental dragon (representing the subversive nature of the conflict) behind a grove of bamboo trees located above the inscription "REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM SERVICE". On the reverse, a crossbow (representing the ancient weapon of Vietnam) facing upwards with a ready to be fired lighted torch of the Statue of Liberty, above an arched inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". The service ribbon of the medal is 1 inches wide and consists of the following vertical stripes: three narrow ( inch) strips of red with wider ( inch) stripes of yellow in the center, flanked by even wider ( inch) stripes of yellow on each side and narrow -inch stripes of primitive green on the ends. The yellow (yellow is traditionally the imperial color of Vietnam) with red stripes (the red represents the three ancient Vietnamese empires of Tonkin, Annam, and Cochin China) resembles the former flag of South Vietnam. The green border on each side alludes to the jungle of that country. Ribbon devices The Vietnam Service Medal is authorized three devices for wear on the suspension and service ribbon of the medal: Arrowhead device: assigned or attached member of a U.S. Army or Air Force unit with direct combat assault credit for a parachute jump, helicopter assault landing, combat glider landing, or amphibious assault landing. FMF combat operation insignia: for Naval personnel assigned to a Marine Corps unit during Marine Corps combat operations. Service star (campaign star): for participation in or support of operations in the seventeen designated campaigns of the Vietnam War, a inch bronze service star is authorized for wear on the Vietnam Service Medal suspension and service ribbon for each of the campaigns from 15 March 1962 to 28 January 1973; a inch bronze star is also authorized for Operation Frequent Wind, 29–30 April 1975, for Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force personnel. A inch silver star is authorized in lieu of five bronze stars. One inch bronze service star is authorized for each campaign under the following conditions: 1. Assigned or attached to