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Vietnam Campaign Medal

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Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960- Device
TypeCampaign medal
EligibilityMembers of the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces and members of allied armed forces.
Campaign(s)Vietnam War
Clasps1949–54 and 49-54
1960– and 60-
StatusNo longer awarded
EstablishedMay 12, 1964
Service ribbon with a 1960- Device

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal also known as the Vietnam Campaign Medal (Template:Lang-vi) is a military campaign medal that was awarded by the former South Vietnamese government. Established in 1964, it was awarded to members of the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces for direct participation in major military operations, and to foreign military personnel for service in South Vietnam.

The medal was awarded for two different periods of service. The first period was from March 8, 1949 to July 20, 1954. The second period was from January 1, 1960 to the end of the war (the date was to be given when the war ended); the war ended with the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975.

Award criteria

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal was governed by Decrees No 149/SL/CT of 12 May 1964 and No 205/CT/LDQG/SL of 2 December 1965. The medal is awarded to military personnel, both South Vietnamese and foreign, who have directly participated in, "a large-scale military campaign during certain periods of time." Awarded in a single class, the medal was awarded under the authority of the Chief of the Joint General Staff, Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces.[1]

United States

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (awarded 1 March 1961 to 28 March 1973) may also be awarded to any service member who, while serving outside the geographical limits of the Republic of Vietnam, provided direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam armed forces for a period exceeding six months. This stipulation most often applies to members who performed Vietnam War support from Thailand and Japan. In such cases, a U.S. service member must have been awarded either the Vietnam Service Medal or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (for service in a South Vietnam campaign) to be eligible for the Vietnam Campaign Medal. For those 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.[2][3]

Appearance

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal is made of a gold colored metal in the shape of a 32 mm wide six-pointed star with rays between the arms of the star. The arms of the star are colored with white enamel. In the center of the star is an 18 mm green colored disc bearing the outline Vietnam with a three tongued red flame between North and South Vietnam. On the reverse of the medal is a circle bearing the inscription Chiến Dịch (Campaign) above and Bội Tinh (Medal) below the word VIET-NAM in the center.[4]

Devices

The Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Memorandum 2655 (October 8, 1965) authorized two sets of silver plated devices for the suspension ribbon of the medal and the service ribbon to indicate two separate periods of struggle against Communism in South Vietnam. Both sets of the devices if authorized, could be worn on the ribbons.

The first two devices was for Period 1: March 8, 1949-July 20, 1954 (1949-54 and 49-54).[4] (American military personnel have never been authorized to wear it, since this was during the French colonial period and it is unlikely that any would have been eligible).[citation needed].

The second set of two devices known as the "1960 Bar" was for Period 2: January 1, 1960-the end of the war (1960- and 60- ). The unusual appearance was caused by the Republic of Vietnam government stating that the 1960- bar would show the dates of the Vietnam War from start to finish, with the ending year placed on the 1960- bar when the South Vietnamese had prevailed over the invading North Vietnam (the Democratic Republic of Vietnam). However, on April 30, 1975, South Vietnam (Saigon) fell and its military surrendered that day to the North Vietnamese under the orders of General Duong Van Minh who since April 28, was the President of South Vietnam.

Order of wear

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal is considered a foreign award by the U.S., Australian, and New Zealand governments. The equivalent award from the U.S. Armed Forces is known as the Vietnam Service Medal. The joint Australian and New Zealand campaign medal awarded for service in the Vietnam War is the Vietnam Medal, with the Australian support service being recognized by the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal.

Country Preceding Following
South Vietnam Republic of Vietnam
Order of precedence[1]		 Good Conduct Medal Military Service Medal
United States United States
Order of precedence		 Multinational Force and Observers Medal (Army)[5]
Inter-American Defense Board Medal (Navy/Marine Corps)[6][7]
Multilateral Organization Awards (Air Force)[8]		 Saudi Kuwait Liberation Medal[5][6][8]
New Zealand New Zealand
Worn in order of date of award
Listed chronologically[9]		 Korean War Service Medal Zimbabwe Independence Medal (Approved for restricted wear only)

See also

References and notes

  1. ^ a b "HUY CHUONG AN THUONG TRONG QUAN-LU'C VlET-NAM CONG-HOA (Medals and Decorations of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces)". Government of the Republic of Vietnam. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  2. ^ 578.129 3 i, ii, iii Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
  3. ^ Air Force Personnel Center Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
  4. ^ a b "Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RV)". US Navy Awards. Chief of Naval Operations. Retrieved 2 July 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  5. ^ a b "Army Regulation 600–8–22 Personnel-General Military Awards" (PDF). Headquarters Department of the Army. p. 17. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  6. ^ a b "United States Navy Uniform Regulations (NAVPERS 15665I) Articles 5309.4 & 5309.5". Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  7. ^ "USMC Ribbon Chart". Marine Corps Installations East. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  8. ^ a b "AFI 36-2903, section 11.5" (PDF). Air Force E-Publishing. p. 160. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  9. ^ "The Wearing of Medals in New Zealand Table". http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz. New Zealand Defence Force. Retrieved 2 July 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
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