Issue Regulations

Establishing Authority

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal was established by Armed Forces Order Number 48 of March 24, 1966.

Acceptance by the United States

The authority for U.S. military personnel to accept and wear this medal was announced in Department of Defense Instruction 1348.17 of June 20, 1966, as amended.

Effective Dates

The effective dates for the Republic of Vietnam Campaign medal for United States military personnel are March 1, 1961 and March 28, 1973.

Criteria

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who:

• served for six months in South Vietnam;
• served outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces for an aggregate of six months;
• were assigned in Vietnam on January 28, 1973, and who served a minimum of 60 calendar days in Vietnam between January 29 and March 28, 1973.
• Who did not complete the length of service required but were:
  • wounded by the enemy in a military action; -
  • captured by the enemy during action in the line of duty but were later rescued or released; or, -
  • who were killed in action or in the line of duty.

     

Designer

This medal was designed by the Republic of South Vietnam.

Order of Precedence

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal is worn on the Army uniform after the Multinational Force and Observers Medal and before the Kuwait Liberation Medal; all other Services wear it after the Inter-American Defense Board Medal and before the Kuwait Liberation Medal.

Devices

Republic of Vietnam Campaign medals authorized for United States personnel have a swallow-tailed banner, with folded ends, that bears the date 1960 - (and a blank space for an ending date).

Description and Symbolism

Obverse

A white six-pointed star with cut-line, broad gold star points between its arms, and a central green disc with a map of Vietnam in silver surmounted with three pained flames in red. The three red flames stand for the three regions of Vietnam.

Reverse

In the center of the reverse is the inscription VIET-NAM within a lined circle with CHIEN-DICH above and BOI-TINH below, separated by short lines.

Ribbon

The ribbon is a field of green with three white stripes (one in the center and one inside each edge) The white stripe in the center is slightly larger than the ones inside each edge.

1. Description: A Gold six pointed star with rays, 32cm in diameter, superimposed by a White enameled star, 42cm in diameter, overall in center a Green disc, 18cm in diameter, with the outline of the Vietnamese Country with a Red flame of three rays between North and South Vietnam. On the reverse of the medal is a circle with a designation band containing the word "CHIEN-DICH" (Campaign) at the top and "BOI-TINH" (Medal) at the bottom. Across the center of the circle is the word "VIET-NAM".

2. Ribbon: The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 1/16 inch Gherkin Green 67183; 3/16 inch White 67101; 5/16 inch Gherkin Green; 1/4 inch White; 5/16 inch Gherkin Green; 3/16 inch White; and 1/16 inch Gherkin Green.

3. Criteria: The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal is awarded to personnel who meet one of the following requirements:

a. Served in the Republic of Vietnam for six months during the period of 1 March 1961 and 28 March 1973.

b. Served outside the geographical limits of the Republic of Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam and Armed Forces for six months. Such individuals must meet the criteria established for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (for Vietnam) or the Vietnam Service Medal, to qualify for the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

c. Six months service is not required for individuals who were wounded by hostile forces; killed in action or otherwise in line of duty; or captured by hostile forces.

4. Components: The following are authorized components:
a. Medal (regular size): Available commercially.
b. Medal (miniature size): Available commercially.
c. Ribbon: MIL-R-11589/158. Available commercially.
d. Ribbon Attachment: MIL-R-41819/23. Available commercially.

5. Background: a. The Secretary of Defense approved a request for approval of foreign awards to US Military personnel on 7 February 1966. As a result of this approval, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with device bar (1960- ) was awarded to US Armed Forces personnel by the Government of the Republic of Vietnam per Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Order No. 48, dated 24 March 1966. The acceptance, criteria and description was announced in the Federal Register, Volume 31, No. 147, 30 July 1966 (Title 32, Code of Federal Regulation 47).

b. The Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Memorandum 2655 prescribed there were two devices to be worn on the ribbon. The first device was for the period 8 March 1949 - 20 July 1954 and is not authorized for wear by American Military Personnel. The second period was from 1 January 1960 with the last period to be decided after the war was over. The ending period remains blank, since the Republic of Vietnam Government ceased to exist before the ending period was established. The devices for the medal are in two sizes - - the large size is 1 13/64 inches in width and is worn on the suspension ribbon of the full size decoration. The regular size is 19/32 inch wide and is worn on the miniature decoration and service ribbon bar.

c. Since the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal is a foreign award, it is not issued by the United States Government. The medal may be purchased from commercial sources.

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Issue Regulations

Awarded to All members of the Armed Forces of the United States and other Nations for valorous achievement in combat during the Vietnam conflict, March 1, 1961 through March 28, 1973. The Vietnam Cross of Gallantry is the equivalent of the French Croix de Guerre.

The medal is a symbol of gratitude to the American and Allied soldiers who once worked and fought and sacrificed themselves for the freedom of the Republic of Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry was awarded by the Army of South VIETNAM to both individuals and to units. When awarded to individuals it was awarded with Silver Star (the equivalent to the US Army Silver Star) or with Bronze Star (equivalent to the US Bronze Star). When awarded to units it is awarded on Army Level (Palm), Corps Level (Gold Star), Division Level (Silver Star) and Brigade Level (Bronze laurel leaf or palm). As with US unit awards, all personnel in the unit during the period of action for which the award is given may wear the award at all times. Individuals not in the unit during the designated period wear the award only while assigned to the unit. As a foreign decoration, the Vietnamese Cross may not be worn until the award is approved by the US Department of State. That approval is then passed to the Department of Army and a General Order for the award is published, in this case DA GO 43, 1970.

1. Description: A Gold color medal, 1 3/8 inches in width, consisting of a wreath superimposed by two crossed scimitars saltirewise and a Maltese cross. In the center of the Maltese cross a disc with an outline of the country of Vietnam between two palm sprigs joined at the bottom and a scroll overall inscribed "QUOC-GIA LAO-TUONG" (Reward of the State).

2. Ribbon: The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 3/8 inch Old Glory Red 67156; center 5/8 inch Golden Yellow 67104 with 16 strands of Old Glory Red; and 3/8 inch Old Glory Red.

3. Criteria: a. U.S. Military units were individually cited for award of the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross; however, the Vietnamese Government issued the award to all units subordinate to Military Assistance Command (MACV) during the period 8 February 1962 and 28 March 1973 and to U.S. Army Vietnam and its subordinate units for the period 20 July 1965 to 28 March 1973. This permits all personnel who served in Vietnam to wear the RVN Gallantry Cross unit citation.

b. The medal was awarded by the Vietnam Government to military personnel who have accomplished deeds of valor or displayed heroic conduct while fighting the enemy and have been cited individually at the regiment, brigade, division, corps, or armed forces level.

4. Components: The following are authorized components of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross:

a. Medal (regular size): Not issued. Available commercially.

b. Medal (miniature size): Not issued. Available commercially.

c. Ribbon: MIL-R-11589/173. Commercially available.

d. Streamers: Awarded to cited units. Inscription is as indicated on the unit's lineage and honors. Requisition in accordance with Chapter 9, Army Regulation (AR) 840-10.

e. Unit Award: Commercially available.

5. Background: a. The Vietnam Cross of Gallantry is the equivalent of the French Croix de Guerre. The RVN Gallantry Cross was established by the Vietnam Government by Decree No. 74-b/Qt, dated 15 August 1950 and Decree No. 96/DQT/HC, dated 2 May 1952. Authorization for all U.S. Army personnel was confirmed in HDQA General Orders No. 8, dated 19 March 1974. Authorization for other branches of the military defers to the Army authorization date.

b. Only one emblem (with palm) will be worn regardless of the number of times the unit was awarded the RVN Gallantry Cross. The Army initially authorized the wear of a fourragere by letter AGPB-AC, Subject: Wear of Vietnamese Unit Awards by U.S. Army Personnel, dated 11 February 1969, for units which had been awarded the RVN Gallantry Cross with palm on two or more occasions. Department of the Army message 111030Z April 1974, established the policy that only one emblem was authorized, thus precluding the wear of the Vietnamese fourrageres which represented multiple awards.

RVN Gallantry Cross Medal w/Palm Instituted: 1950 Criteria: Awarded for valor and heroic conduct while fighting the enemy. Notes: Palm device is citation for unit awards & for medal award at Army or higher level. RVN Gallantry Cross Medal w/Gold Star Instituted: 1950 Criteria: Awarded for valor and heroic conduct while fighting the enemy. Notes: Gold Star device is for citation at the Corps level. RVN Gallantry Cross Medal w/Silver Star Instituted: 1950 Criteria: Awarded for valor and heroic conduct while fighting the enemy. Notes: Silver Star device is for citation at the Division level. RVN Gallantry Cross Medal w/Bronze Star Instituted: 1950 Criteria: For valor and heroic conduct while fighting the enemy. Notes: Bronze Star device is for citation at the Brigade and Regiment levels.

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Issue Regulations

1. Description: Medal: A bronze eight pointed star with alternating points of the star lined, superimposed by a disk with a figure of a soldier, a child and a farmer with a shovel, all enclosed by a white enamel designation band inscribed DAN-VU at the top and BOI-TINH at the bottom. Ribbon: The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches in width and consists of the following stripes: 3/32 inch Bottle Green; 3/16 inch Scarlet; 23/64 inch Bottle Green; 1/64 inch Scarlet; 1/16 inch Bottle Green; 1/64 inch Scarlet; 23/64 inch Bottle Green; 3/16 inch Scarlet; and 3/32 inch Bottle Green. The ribbon is worn with a palm to indicate level of awarding authority. The ribbon is enclosed behind a gold color metal frame.

2. Criteria: The Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Medal was awarded as an individual foreign award to some members of the United States Army. The unit citation of the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal was awarded certain units by the Vietnamese government for meritorious service during the period 1 March 1961 to 28 March 1974. Individuals who received the RVN Civil Actions Medal as an individual award are authorized to wear the medal. Personnel assigned to an unit which was awarded the medal are authorized to wear the unit award emblem.

3. Background: a. The Republic of Vietnam Civil Action unit citation is authorized for permanent wear only. Personnel assigned to the organization during the period cited may wear the emblem.

b. Organizations which have been awarded the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions unit award may display a streamer on the organizational flag. The streamer is the same pattern as the ribbon with the palm near the heading of the streamer. The inscription will be as indicated on the unit's lineage and honors.

c. The Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Medal was awarded as an individual foreign decoration in certain instances. When worn as an individual foreign decoration, it is worn without the gold frame.