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Kuwait Liberation Of Kuwait Medal |
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The Kuwait Liberation Medal is the name of two military decorations given by the
Emirate of Kuwait and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to members of Coalition military
forces (including the United States military) who served during the Persian Gulf
War. The two decorations are typically referred to as the Kuwait Liberation Medal
(Saudi Arabia) and the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait).
Description
A Bronze medal with enamel, 1 9/16 inches in diameter suspended from a bar by
a wreath. The obverse bears the Coat of Arms of the State of Kuwait. The Coat of
Arms consists of the shield of the flag design in color superimposed on a falcon
with wings displayed. The falcon supports a disk containing a sailing ship with the
full name of the State written at the top of the disk. At the top of the medal is the
inscription "1991 LIBERATION MEDAL" in Arabic letters. The reverse side is the
map of Kuwait on a rayed background.
The ribbon is the pattern of the flag of the State of Kuwait and consists of three
equal stripes 29/64 inch each of the following colors: Old Glory Red 67156; White
67101; and Irish Green 67189. A black trapezium is at the top of the ribbon drape
and service ribbon.
Awarded to members of the Military Coalition who served in support of Operation
Desert Shield or Desert Storm in one or more of the following areas between 2
August 1990 and 31 August 1993: Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of
Aden, that portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of 10 degrees North latitude
and west of 68 degrees East longitude, as well as the total land areas of Iraq,
Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. To be
eligible, a service member must have been:
(1) attached to or regularly serving for one or more days with an organization
participating in ground/shore (military) operations;
(2) attached to or regularly serving for one or more days aboard a naval vessel
directly supporting military operations;
(3) actually participating as a crew member in one or more aerial flights directly
supporting military operations in the areas designated above;
(4) serving on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days.
These time limitations may be waived for members participating in actual combat
operations.
The Government of Kuwait offered the Kuwait Liberation Medal to members of the
Armed Forces of the United States by letter dated 16 July 1994. The medal was
accepted by Secretary of Defense William J. Perry per memorandum dated 16
March 1995.
A nation of seafarers and ship builders, Kuwait chose as their coat of arms, the
traditional dhow. Falconry is the sport of Kings in the Persian Gulf, and the falcon
in the arms is seen as a symbol of Kuwaiti prowess. The official symbolism of the
colors is black symbolizes battlefields, white is for deeds, green is for the
meadows, and red is for the blood of Kuwait enemies.
The Kuwait version of the Kuwait Liberation Medal is considered junior in
precedence to the Saudi Arabian version of the medal.
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