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44-506: The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is issued as a bronze medal, 1 1 ⁄ 4 inches in diameter. The obverse side of the medal consists of an eagle, with wings addorsed and inverted (representing the strength of the United States Armed Forces), standing on a sword loosened in its scabbard, and super- imposed on a radiant compass rose of eight points, (representing the readiness to serve wherever needed) all within

88-584: A campaign star or battle star depending on which award the star is authorized for and the manner in which the device is used for the award. "Battle star" is also the term used to refer to decorations issued by the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean War to individual ships, recognizing a vessel's participation in a particular battle or operation. Service stars, campaign stars, and battle stars are worn with one point of

132-725: A combatant commander can initiate a request for a battle star, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the approving authority, which since January 2016 has been eliminated by the Department of Defense for the GWOT-SM. Only one award of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and one award of the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal may be authorized for any individual. No service stars were authorized for

176-582: A massive explosion destroyed Challenger , killing all seven astronauts on board. Simpson took part in the ensuing search and rescue effort, and subsequently received the Coast Guard Unit Commendation with Operational "O" for her participation. Beginning January 1988, Simpson ' s first overseas deployment was to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Earnest Will , to escort reflagged Kuwaiti oil tankers during

220-513: Is also authorized for several United Nations actions, such as peacekeeping efforts in Somalia . The medal is also authorized for NATO peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia . The AFEM has been issued for numerous operations in the Persian Gulf , most notably Operation Earnest Will , which began in 1987 and lasted until the eve of Operation Desert Shield . Following

264-555: Is always to be worn with at least one campaign star. Since February 26, 2004, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOT-SM) are authorized to be awarded with bronze and silver battle stars for personnel who were engaged in specific battles in combat under circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy action. However, though authorized for wear, no battle stars have been approved for wear. Only

308-634: Is an Oliver Hazard Perry -class guided missile frigate of the United States Navy , named for Rear Admiral Rodger W. Simpson . Simpson was laid down at Bath Iron Works , Bath, Maine , on 27 February 1984, launched on 31 August 1984 sponsored by Mrs. Grace Fowles-Simpson widow of Rodger W. Simpson and commissioned on 21 September 1985 in Newport, Rhode Island . The ship was delivered 13 September 1985. Bath Iron Works plans called for delivery to occur 9 August 1985, but that date slipped due to an extended strike at BIW that began 30 June 1985. Simpson

352-666: Is approved, where a foreign armed opposition or imminent threat of hostile action was encountered. Since its original conception in 1961, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal has been awarded for United States participation in over forty five designated military campaigns. The first campaign of the AFEM was the Cuban Missile Crisis and the award was issued for military service between October 1962 and June 1963. Following this original issuance,

396-524: Is authorized for U.S. Navy service members assigned to Marine Corps units that participate in combat during the assignment. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal may be authorized for three categories of operations: U.S. military operations; U.S. military operations in direct support of the United Nations; and U.S. operations of assistance for friendly foreign nations. The medal shall be awarded only for operations for which no other U.S. campaign medal

440-519: Is authorized for participation in subsequent U.S. military operations authorized for award of the AFEM (only one award is authorized for each designated U.S. military operation). A silver service star is worn in lieu of five bronze service stars. The Arrowhead device is authorized for United States Army , United States Air Force , and United States Space Force personnel who are awarded the medal through participation in an airborne or amphibious assault. The Fleet Marine Force Combat Operation Insignia

484-558: Is unrelated to the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and is presented for duty performed on U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force deployments. Service star A service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star 3 ⁄ 16 inch (4.8 mm) in diameter that is authorized to be worn by members of the eight uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons to denote an additional award or service period. The service star may also be referred to as

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528-511: Is worn on the ribbon. For example, when a member is authorized to wear the Iraq Campaign Medal, the potential addition of bronze and silver service stars for the seven designated Iraq Campaign phases would be: For many of these awards, service stars are earned by participation in campaign phases and all eligible periods for the award fall within those defined phases. In these cases, the campaign medal cannot be earned alone, and

572-642: The Adriatic Sea and supported Operation Continue Hope off Somalia . Simpson returned to homeport in February 1994. In May 1994, Simpson was one of the ships enforcing United Nations sanctions on Haiti . Simpson deployed to the Caribbean Sea for counter drug operations in late 1994 and again in February 1995. In November 1995, Simpson deployed to the Mediterranean joining

616-554: The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for the deployment. 20 February 1990, Simpson rescued 22 crew members from Surf City , a reflagged Kuwaiti tanker carrying $ 9 million in naphtha and gas oil. Surf City was transiting near the Iranian island of Abu Musa when it exploded, killing two and forcing the crew to abandon ship. According to Central Command, Simpson was not escorting the tanker, but

660-593: The Iran–Iraq War . On 18 April 1988, Simpson took part in Operation Praying Mantis , the U.S. response to the mining of the frigate Samuel B. Roberts , which had hit an Iranian M-08 mine on 14 April 1988. On 18 April, Simpson , along with Wainwright and Bagley , destroyed Iranian naval and intelligence facilities on the oil platform Sirri in the Persian Gulf. Later that day,

704-620: The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal . In the modern era, service members who were authorized one of these medals are occasionally permitted to choose between receipt of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or the service specific expeditionary medal. The AFEM and the Navy/Marine Expeditionary Medal cannot be bestowed simultaneously for the same action. The Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon . Although similar in name, this award

748-652: The Middle East , but may be reactivated for future campaigns which may not qualify for either the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal). Similar in nature to the AFEM, the GWOTEM is awarded for deploying abroad on or after Sept. 11, 2001 (and a future date to be determined), for service in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) or Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Service stars are also authorized for

792-529: The September 11, 2001 attacks . In July 2002, Simpson responded to Malpelo Island to medevac a wounded Colombian Marine who had received three gunshot wounds. Simpson deployed with Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron (Light) (HSL) 44 , Det. 10 as part of NATO's Standing Naval Forces Atlantic on 22 September 2004 returning 20 December 2004. Simpson visited New York City 12 October 2004 during this deployment. Simpson ' s Mk 13 missile launcher

836-853: The Sixth Fleet Area of Responsibility, participating in Africa Partnership Station 2012, and Operation Active Endeavor . Ports of call included Funchal , Rota , Casablanca , Dakar , Lagos , Accra , Mindelo , Souda Bay , Sicily , Naples and Praia . She returned to Naval Station Mayport on 17 July 2012. On 18 September 2013, Simpson deployed once more to the United States Sixth Fleet Area of Responsibility. Ports of call included Ponta Delgada , Sicily, Bari , Athens , Valletta , Souda Bay and Casablanca. She returned to Naval Station Mayport on 20 March 2014. Simpson ' s final homeport

880-690: The USS Enterprise (CV-6) received 20 battle stars for her combat service in World ;War II, more than any other U.S. vessel during World War II. Similarly, during the Vietnam War and afterwards, the Battle Effectiveness Award ("Battle E") took the place of receiving "battle stars" for superior battle efficiency in place of combat operations. USS Simpson (FFG-56) USS Simpson (FFG-56)

924-615: The United States Sixth Fleet NATO's Standing Naval Force Atlantic . Simpson operated in the Adriatic Sea enforcing UN arms embargo against Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina and participating in Operation Sharp Guard . Simpson returned to Norfolk 8 May 1996. Capt. Gerald F. DeConto, Simpson ' s commanding officer from September 1998 to April 2000, was killed at the Pentagon during

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968-676: The 1973 Arab–Israeli War were also awarded the medal for their involvement in the supply and training of the IDF on the use and deployment of anti-tank weapons. In the 1990s, it was awarded to numerous Naval ships such as USS  Simpson  (FFG-56) who enforced the Dayton Peace Accords and operated in the Adriatic Sea enforcing UN arms embargo against Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina and participating in Operation Sharp Guard and Operation Joint Endeavor up through and during

1012-779: The AFEM was made retroactive to 1958 and issued for actions in Lebanon, Taiwan, Republic of the Congo, Quemoy and Matsu, and for duty in Berlin between 1961 and 1963. During the early years of the Vietnam War , the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was issued for initial operations in South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was intended to replace the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal and Navy Expeditionary Medal , but this never occurred and both services continue to award their service expeditionary medals and

1056-546: The AFEM, though not concurrently for the same action. In 1965, with the creation of the Vietnam Service Medal , the AFEM was discontinued for Vietnam War service. As the Vietnam Service Medal was retroactively authorized, those personnel who had previously received the AFEM were granted the option to exchange the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for the Vietnam Service Medal. In 1968, the AFEM

1100-652: The Amphibious Squadron 5, the USS New Orleans (LPH-11) , USS Denver (LPD-9) , USS Comstock (LSD-45) , and USS Cayuga (LST-1186) . In 2003, with the creation of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal , the AFEM was discontinued for Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. After 18 March 2003, some personnel became eligible for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, as well as the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal . Only one medal may be awarded, however, and individuals or units that deployed to

1144-662: The Bosnian crisis. In 1993, Somalia, ( The Battle of Mogadishu ), also known as the Black Hawk Down Incident, was part of ( Operation Gothic Serpent ). Operation Gothic Serpent was a military operation conducted in Mogadishu, Somalia, by an American force code-named ( Task Force Ranger ) during the Somali Civil War in 1993. The (Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal) was awarded to numerous Naval ships in

1188-418: The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal effective February 9, 2015, retroactive to September, 11, 2001. Each service star represents a deployment in support of an approved GWOT operation. Only one GWOT-EM is awarded for each operation (five bronze service stars are authorized for six approved deployment operations). The GWOT-EM approved operations by inclusive dates are: The Navy Expeditionary Medal and

1232-614: The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary or Service Medal until February 9, 2015, when the Department of Defense authorized service stars for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal retroactive to September 11, 2001. Service stars (were sometimes referred to as campaign stars or battle stars) were also authorized for the World War I Victory Medal , American Defense Service Medal , American Campaign Medal , European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal , and Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal . The specific manner of wear and symbolism of

1276-469: The Gulf for Operation Southern Watch, and then immediately transitioned to Operation Iraqi Freedom , are not eligible for both medals. Beginning in 1992 an effort was begun to phase out the AFEM in favor of campaign specific medals and the newly created Armed Forces Service Medal . The Armed Forces Service Medal was also originally intended to be a replacement for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, however

1320-651: The National Defense Service Medal, the addition of bronze service stars to denote participation in four of the designated wartime conflicts would be shown as (the time span from the end of the Korean War era in 1954 to the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism era in 2001 is 47 years, so it is highly improbable that any individual qualified for all four National Defense Service Medals in each of four eras): Service stars are authorized for certain unit awards (The service ribbon itself indicates

1364-473: The Persian Gulf. At the time, Iraq was refusing to comply with UN weapons inspection and the ships departed the Persian Gulf in early April after inspections resumed. In August 1993 on Simpson ' s fourth deployment she was again assigned to escort Carrier Group Six with America . During the deployment Simpson participated in Operation Deny Flight and Operation Provide Promise in

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1408-939: The circumscription "ARMED FORCES" above and "EXPEDITIONARY SERVICE" below with a sprig of laurel on each side. On the reverse side of the medal is the shield from the United States Coat of Arms above two laurel branches separated by a bullet, all within the circumscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". The ribbon is 1 3 ⁄ 8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 3 ⁄ 32 inch Green, 3 ⁄ 32 inch Golden Yellow, 3 ⁄ 32 inch Spicebrown, 3 ⁄ 32 inch Black, 7 ⁄ 32 inch Bluebird, 1 ⁄ 16 inch Ultramarine Blue, 1 ⁄ 16 inch White, 1 ⁄ 16 inch Scarlet, 7 ⁄ 32 inch Bluebird, 3 ⁄ 32 inch Black, 3 ⁄ 32 inch Spicebrown, 3 ⁄ 32 inch Golden Yellow and 3 ⁄ 32 inch Green. Ribbon devices A bronze service star

1452-538: The close of Desert Storm, and the engagement in peacekeeping and sanction missions against Iraq, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was issued again for several operations such as Operation Northern Watch , Operation Southern Watch , and Operation Vigilant Sentinel. Similar awards of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal: The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (the AFEM is no longer issued for operations in

1496-407: The eastern Pacific for counter narcotics operations returning April 2008. During the deployment Simpson captured 16 metric tons of cocaine. On 29 November 2007, Simpson interdicted a self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) capable of carrying 5–8 metric tons of cocaine. The sub was sunk by its crew, but the crew was captured and turned over to Colombia . On 17 January 2012, Simpson deployed to

1540-449: The first award, with a bronze service star being added to indicate the second and subsequent awards. If ever applicable, a silver service star is worn instead of five bronze stars.) such as the: Campaign stars are authorized for these United States campaign medals (bronze and silver campaign stars are worn to denote participation in a designated campaign or campaign phase or period): For each designated campaign participated in, one star

1584-664: The ships encountered the Iranian Kaman -class (La Combattante II type) missile patrol boat Joshan , which launched a Harpoon missile at the US vessels. Simpson immediately returned missile fire, striking Joshan in her superstructure. Joshan was then sunk by combined gunfire. Simpson was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award and the Combat Action Ribbon for this operation, and

1628-643: The star pointing up on the suspension ribbon of a medal or service ribbon . A silver star is worn instead of five bronze stars. A service star is sometimes mistaken for a Bronze Star (Bronze Star Medal) or Silver Star (Silver Star Medal). The service star is also similar to the gold and silver 5 ⁄ 16 -inch stars that may be authorized to be worn on specific individual decorations of certain services to denote additional decorations. Service stars are authorized for these United States expeditionary medals: Service stars are authorized to denoted additional awards for these United States service medals : For

1672-602: The stars varied from medal to medal. For example, an American Campaign Medal with a bronze service star indicated the service member had participated in an antisubmarine campaign. On other medals, bronze service stars were used on the medal's service ribbon for those recipients of medals in possession of authorized campaign clasps for those medals. Historically, during World War II and the Korean War , commendations called "battle stars" were issued to United States Navy warships for meritorious participation in battle, or for having suffered damage during battle conditions. As an example,

1716-546: The two awards are currently considered separate awards with different award criteria. The primary difference between the two is that the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is normally awarded for combat operations and combat support missions. After the close of the Vietnam War, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was issued for various military operations in Panama, Grenada , and Libya Operation El Dorado Canyon . The medal

1760-684: Was Naval Station Mayport, Florida, with assignment to Destroyer Squadron 14. Simpson was part of the Active Naval Reserve Force, Category A from 2002 until her decommissioning in September 2015. She was the final Oliver Hazard Perry -class frigate in service in the United States Navy. The ship is set to be put up for foreign military sale. When Simpson was decommissioned, it meant the last United States ship still in active service to have sunk an enemy vessel

1804-469: Was awarded for Naval operations in defense of the USS ; Pueblo  (AGER-2) , which was seized by North Korea, as well as for Korean Service, and awarded for Thailand and Cambodia operations in 1973. Because of these awards during the Vietnam War period, some military personnel have been awarded both the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal & the Vietnam Service Medal. Some military advisers involved in

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1848-622: Was homeported at Naval Station Newport until switching to Naval Station Norfolk on 31 March 1994. Simpson moved to Naval Station Mayport in July 2001. On 28 January 1986, the NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida, launched Space Shuttle mission STS-51L utilizing the orbiter vehicle Challenger at 1138 EST. Escaping propellant combustion products cut into the craft's solid rocket booster , however, and 73 seconds after launch

1892-520: Was monitoring its progress from 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) away and responded immediately to rescue the crew. The fire was so intense that US ships could not approach it and Surf City burned for two weeks. At the time, the fire was feared to be the result of an attack or a mine, but the NTSB later determined it to be an accident. In March 1992, during Simpson 's third deployment, Simpson and Normandy escorted America and two supply ships into

1936-513: Was removed sometime in 2005 prior to her next deployment. On 3 January 2006, Simpson deployed with HSL-42 , Det. 9, joining Standing NRF Maritime Group 1 and participated in a number of international naval exercises in the North Sea , Norwegian Sea and Eastern Mediterranean Sea returning to Mayport 24 June 2006. On 5 October 2007, Simpson deployed with HSL-46 , Det. 7 and U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 405, to

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