The bestowal of military awards (medals, ribbons and citations) remains one of the most revered, treasured, and solemn customs within the United States Armed Forces’ culture and history. Each of the five branches—the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard—bestows medals upon exceptional troops and the units they serve in. Often, this honor extends to members of the Reserves and National Guard. Military medals can commend bravery, gallantry, heroism, or meritorious service. They may be granted for deeds in times of peace or war, in defense of civilians or fellow service members, and they can be earned for actions undertaken in combat or outside direct military conflict.
This is not by any means I’m sure the entire list of awards VA-95 received. I will continue to search and I hope to locate copies of the citations and link them here. If you have copies of any of our unit citations, I would appreciate you scanning it, and sending it my way. I can add it here.
Not sure if you earned a medal or a ribbon in your Navy Career, then check out the Master List Of USN Awards and Campaign Medals . You can search by squadron, unit or ship. VA-95 is on pages 940-941. Don’t forget to search for your ship as well. This list is accurate up until 2002.
VT-20 Awards
Torpedo 20 went to war in 1944 and here are the citations I’ve found.
Presidential Unit Commendation
The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the uniformed services of the United States, and those of allied countries, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941 (the date of the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the start of American involvement in World War II). The unit must display such gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions so as to set it apart from and above other units participating in the same campaign.
14 Dec 1944 – 16 Dec 1944
03 Jan 1945 – 22 Jan 1945
Read the citation for the 1944-45 Presidential Unit Citation award
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
The Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal is a United States military award of the Second World War, which was awarded to any member of the United States Armed Forces who served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1945.
31 Aug 1944 – 18 Sep 1944
10 Oct 1944 – 22 Nov 1944
14 Dec 1944 – 16 Dec 1944
03 Jan 1945 – 22 Jan 1945
VA-95 Awards
VA-95 was formed up from Attack Squadron 10A (VA-10A) when it was redesignated VA-95 the 12th of August 1948. Here is the short list of award our unit earned
Presidential Unit Citation (South Korea)
The Presidential Unit Citation (South Korea) is a military unit award of the government of Republic of Korea that may be presented to South Korean military units and foreign military units for outstanding performance in defense of the Republic of Korea. In recognition of allied military service to South Korea during the Korean War, all United States military departments were authorized the unit award for that period
25 Jan 1953 – 27 Jul 1953
Navy Unit Commendation
Navy
and U.S. Marine Corps commands may recommend any Navy or Marine Corps unit for the NUC that has distinguished itself by outstanding heroism in action against the enemy, but not sufficient to justify the award of the Presidential Unit Citation. A unit must have performed service of a character comparable to that which would merit the award of a Silver Star Medal for heroism, or a Legion of Merit for non-combat meritorious service to an individual. Normal performance of duty or participation in many combat missions does not, in itself, justify the award. An award will not be made to a unit for actions of one or more of its component parts, unless the unit performed uniformly as a team, in a manner justifying collective recognition
31 Aug 1944 – 18 Sep 1944
10 Oct 1944 – 22 Nov 1944
31 Jan 1953 – 27 Jul 1953
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John F. Kennedy. The medal is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who, after July 1, 1958, participated in U.S. military operations, U.S. operations in direct support of the United Nations, or U.S. operations of assistance for friendly foreign nations
19 Sep 1964 – 20 Sep 1964
01 Oct 1964 – 09 Oct 1964
28 Nov 1964 – 30 Dec 1964
17 Jan 1965 – 17 Mar 1965
04 Apr 1965 – 13 Apr 1965
Vietnam Service Medal
The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) was awarded to all members of the U.S. Armed Forces who served in Vietnam and its contiguous waters or airspace, after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973. Members of the U.S. Armed Forces in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, or airspace thereover, during the same period and serving in direct support of operations in Vietnam are also eligible for the award.
15 May 1966 – 15 Jun 1966
08 Jul 1966 – 10 Aug 1966
01 Sep 1966 – 23 Sep 1966
02 Oct 1966 – 18 Oct 1966
Humanitarian Service Medal
The Humanitarian Service Medal (HSM) is a military service medal of the United States Armed Forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under Executive Order 11965. The medal may be awarded to members of the United States military (including Reserve and National Guard members) who distinguish themselves by meritorious participation in specified military acts or operations of a humanitarian nature
29 Apr 1975 – 30 Apr 1975
23 Oct 1982
Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation
Authorized by the Secretary of Defense on June 10, 1981, this award was originally called the Department of Defense Meritorious Unit Award. It is awarded in the name of the Secretary of Defense to joint activities for meritorious achievement or service, superior to that which is normally expected, for actions in the following situations; combat with an armed enemy of the United States, a declared national emergency, or under extraordinary circumstances that involve national interests.
It was awarded for Operation Praying Mantis in 1988. Returning Navy units were to receive a Presidential Unit Citation, but it was downgraded after Iran Air Flight 655 was shot down by USS Vincennes
18 Apr 1988 – 19 Apr 1988
Read the citation for the 1988 Joint Meritorious Unit award
Navy E (Battle E) 01 Jul 1980 31 Dec 1981
The Navy “E” Ribbon denotes the wearer was on permanent duty aboard a U.S. Navy ship or in a unit that won a battle efficiency competition after July 1, 1974.
01 Jan 1988 – 31 Dec 1988
Read the citation for the 1988 Battle “E” award
01 Jan 1990 – 31 Dec 1990
Meritorious Unit Commendation
The Navy MUC was authorized by SECNAV Notice 1650 on 17 July 1967 and is awarded by the Secretary of the Navy, Chief of Naval Operations, or Commandant of the Marine Corps to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps that has distinguished itself, under combat or non-combat conditions, by either valorous or meritorious achievement, which renders the unit outstanding compared to other units performing similar service, but not sufficient to justify award of the Navy Unit Commendation.
22 Apr 1975 – 30 Apr 1975
15 May 1975
15 Feb 1988 – 21 May 1988
Navy Expeditionary Medals Awarded
The General Orders of the Department of the Navy which established the medal states, “The medal will be awarded to the officers and enlisted men of the Navy who were confirmed to have landed on foreign territory and engaged in operations against armed opposition, or operated under circumstances which, after full consideration, shall be deemed to merit special recognition and for which service no campaign medal has been awarded. The Navy Expeditionary Medal is retroactively authorized to February 12, 1874.”
09 May 1981 – 18 Oct 1981
30 Apr 1986 – 27 Jun 1986