On June 24th, 2019, Barry Donadio was awarded the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOT-SM) for his service while still in the military back in 2002. The United States had just been attacked on September 11th, 2001 and we had not yet invaded Iraq when Donadio served on anti-terrorism operations from September 2001 until August 2002. Donadio was then honorably discharged from military service in 2002 and transferred to the United States Secret Service. He spent the next ten years in serving the United States Government.
Donadio originally did not receive the medal because he was already out of the military when the medal was established on March 12th, 2003, via executive order 13289.
The criteria to receive the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal is that a military service member must have served on active duty during a designated anti-terrorism operation. They had to serve for a minimum 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days on such operation. For those who were engaged in combat, killed, or wounded in the line of duty the time requirement is waived.
Donadio said; “ I would like to thank Shawn Jester, Constituent Liaison of Congressman Andy Harris M.D. (R) for assisting me to obtain this prestigious medal. I would also like to thank Congressman Andy Harris who has not only helped me, but has also been instrumental in helping other Veterans in Maryland. I really appreciate his devotion to serving Maryland citizens.”
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Donadio will add his newly awarded Global War on Terrorism Service Medal to his corrected DD-214 military record along with his already existing Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Medal, and four honorable discharges to name a few.
Since completing his military service and government service, Donadio has stayed active as an advocate for other Veterans. He is a member of the Kent Island American Legion Post 278 and a lifetime member of the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 7464 in Grasonville, MD.
