The Combat Medical Badge was conceived March 1, 1945 by the War Department. The Combat Medical Badge (CMB) could specifically be awarded to Officers and Enlisted personnel of the Medical Department who were assigned to or attached to a medical detachment of the infantry. The CMB was to recognize medical aidmen who shared the same hazards and hardships of ground combat on a daily basis with the infantry soldier. It is only awarded to those who are under fire during combat. It is also one of those badges that can be awarded to Air Force or Navy medics assigned to Army units. The entitlement for this badge is the same as the CIB, only one could be earned by the soldier per war. No 2nd or 3rd awards of this badge were authorized for WWII. In February 1951 the regulation was changed to add additional award (2,3,and 4). A second award could be earned during Korea and if the soldier didn't serve in Korea and did serve in Vietnam then he could get his second one there. A third award would require that the soldier earned his first during WWII, his second during the Korean War and third in Vietnam. The actual correct method of attachment for a third award CMB are the double clutch posts not a pin on the back, yet some were made with pin backs in the early stages of Vietnam. In May 2004 changes were made to allow Medics in other combat units such as Armour and Cavalry to be awarded this badge. It is interesting to note the regulation excluded General Officers. This is a museum quality reproduction of the third award. To achieve this level you would have to been in three theaters of operation in combat. Making this a very rare award.