The "stars" suggestion brings up a tradition begun, I think, during WW I. Families hung a banner in a front window, often with a red border and a white field, with a blue star representing each serving family member. If the serviceman died, the blue star was covered with a gold one. The DOD had/has regulations about this and bars or pins worn representing men and women in service. White or silver stars (for example, a circle of 13) appliqued to your quilt would avoid association with the window banners. More about this can be found at:
www.serviceflags.com
I'm not familiar with the history of this practice during the Korean "Conflict" but I do not remember seeing banners during the Viet Nam years--probably families did not want to be harassed.
One can feel the heartache and pride of hanging these displays and old movies can be seen depicting a neighborhood's reaction to seeing a gold star replacing the blue in the window of a home next-door.