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The National Defense Service Medal was authorized by Executive Order 10448, 22 April 1953, and amended by Executive Order 11256, 11 January 1966. It is awarded for honorable active military service as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States including the Coast Guard, between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954, (Korean War Period), between 1 January 1961 and 14 August 1974, (Vietnam War Period), between 2 August 1990 to 30 November 1995 (Operations DESERT SHIELD/STORM Period), and currently from 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined in support of the Global War on Terrorism.