<P> Currently, the National Defense Service Medal is the oldest service medal in use by the United States Armed Forces . The oldest continuously issued combat medal is the Medal of Honor . </P> <P> The National Defense Service Medal is authorized for the following wars and time periods: </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> War </Th> <Th> From </Th> <Th> To </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Korean War </Td> <Td> June 27, 1950 </Td> <Td> July 27, 1954 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vietnam Conflict </Td> <Td> January 1, 1961 </Td> <Td> August 14, 1974 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Gulf War </Td> <Td> August 2, 1990 </Td> <Td> November 30, 1995 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> War on Terrorism </Td> <Td> September 11, 2001 </Td> <Td> Present </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> War </Th> <Th> From </Th> <Th> To </Th> </Tr>

Armed forces service medal national defense service medal