MEDALS AWARDED

 Awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in combat in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918."   The decoration may also be given for an act performed prior to that date when the individual has been recommended for, but has not received the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Distinguished Service Medal. During wartime, members of the Armed Forces of friendly foreign nations serving with the United States are eligible for the award.  

 A U.S. Armed Forces individual military decoration and the fourth-highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service. Awarded to a member of the military who, while serving in or with the military of the United States after December 6, 1941, distinguished him or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

Awarded to personnel who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Armed Forces of the United States, shall have distinguished himself/herself by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Awards may be made to recognize single acts of merit or heroism, or for meritorious service.

Lt. Col. Neubauer received eighteen Air Medals during his distinguished flying career. 

Displayed devices - (2) Silver oak leaf clusters and (3) Bronze oak leaf clusters.

 Known as the Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm (Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and Frame Unit Citation), the Unit Citation was created on January 20, 1968 and was issued with the Gallantry Cross ribbon bar with a bronze palm and gold frame.  The former Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) Armed Forces awarded the Gallantry Cross individually to certain military units that distinguished themselves to the same level as would be required for the individual award.  The Vietnam Cross of Gallantry is the equivalent of the French Croix de Guerre.  The VCOG is a symbol of gratitude to all Allied soldiers, sailors, Marines and air personnel who worked and fought and sacrificed themselves for the freedom of the Republic of Vietnam.  

 Presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969.  Effective 11 September 2001, this award also may be bestowed for non-combat meritorious achievement in a designated combat theatre. Normally, the acts or services rendered must be comparable to that required for the Legion of Merit but in a duty of lesser, though considerable, responsibility. A higher decoration, known as the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, is intended for similar services performed under joint service with the United States Department of Defense. Today, most MSM recipients are field grade officers (pay grades O-4 to O-6) and senior noncommissioned officers (E-7 to E-9), as exceptionally meritorious service at that level of responsibility is usually required for award of the medal. 

A mid-level award presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Awarded by local commanders, allowing for a broad interpretation of the criteria for which the medal may be awarded. For actions where such performance was in direct contact with an enemy force, the Valor device ("V" device) is authorized as an attachment to the decoration. The U.S. Air Force began issuing its own Commendation Medal in 1958 with additional awards denoted by oak leaf clusters.  Lt. Col Neubauer was awarded this medal on two separate occasions.

Displayed Device - (1) Bronze Oak Leaf Device

  Awarded to U.S. Air Force units and allies for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after December 7, 1941 (marking the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the U.S. entrance into 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.

The degree of heroism required is the same as that which would warrant award of the Air Force Cross to an individual. The citation was established as the Distinguished Unit Citation on February 26, 1942, and received its present name on November 3, 1966.  All members of the unit may wear the decoration, whether or not they personally participated in the acts for which the unit was cited. Only those assigned to the unit at the time of the action cited may wear the decoration as a permanent award.  The Citation is carried on the unit's regimental colors in the form of a blue streamer, four feet long and 2 3/4 inches wide. 

  Awarded to any U.S. Air Force command (including Reserve and Air National Guard units) performing exceptionally meritorious service, accomplishing specific acts of outstanding achievement, excelling in combat operations against an armed enemy of the United States, or exhibiting conduct with distinction in military operations involving conflict with – or exposure to – a hostile action by any opposing foreign force. 

The award was created in 1954.  Multiple awards of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award are denoted by oak leaf clusters on the ribbon. Until 2001, the Outstanding Unit Award ranked directly below the Presidential Unit Citation on the precedence of Air Force awards. 

  Awarded to anyone who serves on active duty in the United States military during a designated time period. In the fifty years since the creation of the National Defense Service Medal, it has been authorized for the following time periods; June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1954 for service during the Korean War; January 1, 1961 to August 14, 1974 for service during the Vietnam War; August 2, 1990 to November 30, 1995 for service during the Gulf War; September 11, 2001 to a date yet-to-be-determined for service during the War on Terrorism. For service in the Gulf War and War on Terrorism, it is also authorized for members of the military reserve provided they are a “military reservist in good standing.” 

The award was intended to be a “blanket campaign medal” issued to any member of the United States military who served in a designated time period of which a “national emergency” had been declared. As of 2005, it is the oldest service medal which is still issued to the active military.

   Awarded to any U.S. service member, performing duty in the Republic of Korea, between June 27, 1950 and June 27, 1954.  There were 13 official campaigns in the war - each annotated by service stars on the medal. Service stars are authorized for participation in the following campaigns: North Korean Aggression (Navy): June 27 to November 2, 1950; United Nations Defensive (Army, USAF): June 27 to September 15, 1950; United Nations Offensive (Army, USAF): September 16 to November 2, 1950; Chinese Communist Forces Intervention (Army, USAF): November 3, 1950 to January 24, 1951; Communist China Aggression (Navy): November 3, 1950 to January 24, 1951; Inchon Landing (Navy): September 13 to 17, 1950; First United Nations Counteroffensive (Army, Navy, USAF): January 25 to April 21, 1951; Chinese Communist Forces Spring Offensive (Army, Navy, USAF): April 22 to July 8, 1951; United Nations Summer-Fall Offensive (Army, Navy, USAF): July 9 to November 27, 1951; Second Korean Winter (Army, Navy, USAF): November 28, 1951 to April 30, 1952; Korean Defense Summer-Fall, 1952 (Army, Navy, USAF): May 1 to November 30, 1952; Third Korean Winter (Army, Navy, USAF): December 1, 1951 to April 30, 1953; Korea, Summer 1953 (Army, Navy, USAF): May 1, 1953 to July 27, 1953. 

  A military award of South Vietnam established in 1966. Awarded to any member of the United States military who completed at least six months of duty in the Republic of Vietnam between the dates of March 1, 1961 and March 28, 1973. The decoration may also be awarded to any service member who, while serving outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam, provided direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces for a period exceeding six months. In such cases, a service member must have been awarded either the Vietnam Service Medal or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (for service in a Vietnam campaign) to be eligible.

For those U.S. service members who were wounded by an enemy force, captured by the enemy in the line of duty, or killed in action, the Vietnam Campaign Medal is automatically awarded regardless of total time served in Vietnam. The Vietnam Campaign Medal is issued with a device known as the “1960 Bar”. The bar displays the date of 1960 followed by a dash and a blank space. 

   The current Combat Readiness Medal is awarded to any member of U.S. Air Force, or Air Force Reserve, who have accomplished sustained individual combat mission readiness or who have undertaken the preparedness for direct weapon-system employment. A service member must have completed 24 cumulative months of sustained duty performance for the medal to be received. The Combat Readiness Medal is awarded as a service decoration by an Air Force Major Headquarters. In many cases, those receiving the award have also qualified for the Air Medal or the Aerial Achievement Medal.  It is not uncommon for service members to receive two - or all three - of the medals simultaneously. The original Combat Readiness Medal was an award senior to the Air Force Commendation 

Medal and was awarded for superior and meritorious duty to the United States Air Force. The award criteria for the medal was changed in 1967 and the Combat Readiness Medal adopted the designation as a campaign service award. Multiple awards of the Combat Readiness Medal are authorized, with additional decorations denoted by oak leaf clusters. 

*Not Shown Air Reserve Meritorious Service Medal