ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY
The Liberation of Kuwait Medal was established by King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia on 23-10-1411 H.
ACCEPTANCE BY THE UNITED STATES
Acceptance and wear of this medal were authorized by Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum, "Acceptance of Foreign Awards in the Recognition of Active Service in time of Combat Operations," (Kuwait Liberation Medal-SA), dated March 16, 1995.
EFFECTIVE DATES
The effective dates for award of this medal are January 17 and February 28, 1991.
CRITERIA
The medal is awarded to members of the Coalition Forces who participated in Operation Desert Storm and the liberation of Kuwait. For U.S. military personnel to qualify, they must have served in support of Operation Desert Storm between January 17 and February 28, 1991, in one or more of the following areas:
- The Persian Gulf
- The Red Sea
- That portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees east longitude
- The Gulf of Aden
- The total areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates
- Been attached to or regularly serving for one or more days with an organization participating in ground and/or shore operations;
- Been attached to or regularly serving for one or more days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations;
- Actually participated as a crew member in one or more aerial flights supporting military operations in the areas designated above; or,
- Served on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days during the qualifying period. Note: That time limitation may be waived for personnel who actually participated in combat operations.
The medal was designed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
ORDER OF PRECEDENCE
The Liberation of Kuwait Medal follows the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal in precedence.
DEVICES
The ribbon bar to the medal bears a gilt device consisting of crossed swords (point up) superimposed over a palm tree. This device is taken from the Royal Cypher. The device is not used on the suspension ribbon to the actual medal.
DESCRIPTION AND SYMBOLISM
Obverse
A silver star of fifteen rounded points (with shorter rounded points between them) is surmounted by a gilt medallion which contains a wreath tied at its based an a crown at its top. In the center of the gilt medallion is a silver representation of the Earth, over which is superimposed a gilt representation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Above the gilt medallion are the crossed swords and palm tree taken from the Royal Cypher. Beneath the gilt medallion is a swallow-tailed scroll with its ends folded back and point upward so they follow the contour of the gilt medallion. On the scroll are the words, LIBERATION OF KUWAIT in English, and the same inscription above it in Arabic.
Reverse
The reverse of the medal is blank.
Ribbon
The ribbon consists of a central stripe of green five-eighths of an inch wide, bordered on either side by a white stripe three-sixteenths of an inch wide, a black strip one-sixteenths of an inch wide, and red edge stripes five sixteenths of an inch wide.