Vietnam Service Medal
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Criteria: a. Awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States serving in Vietnam and contiguous waters or airspace thereover, after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973. Members of the Armed Forces of the United States in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia, or the airspace thereover, during the same period and serving in direct support of operations in Vietnam are also eligible for this award. To be eligible for award of the medal, individual must- -
(1) Be attached to or regularly serve for one or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting military operations; or
(2) Be attached to or regularly serve for one or more days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations; or
(3) Actually participate as a crewmember in one or more aerial flights into airspace above Vietnam and contiguous waters directly supporting military operations; or
(4) Serve on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days in Vietnam or contiguous areas, except that the time limit may be waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations.
b. Individuals qualified for the Armed Forces
Expeditionary Medal for service in Vietnam between 1 July 1958 and 3
July 1965 shall remain qualified for the medal. Upon request, the
individual may be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal in lieu of the Armed
Forces Expeditionary Medal. In such instances, the Armed Forces
Expeditionary Medal will be deleted from the list of authorized medals
in the individual’s personnel records. No person shall be entitled to
both awards for Vietnam Service.
c. Airmen receiving the Vietnam Service Medal are authorized to wear a
bronze star to indicate each campaign. There are 17 designated campaigns
during the period of 15 March 1962 through 28 January 1973. Units which
receive campaign credit for any of the campaigns would display a
streamer with inscription as shown on the unit's lineage and honors. The
designated campaigns are:
- Vietnam Advisory 1962-1965
- Vietnam Defense 1965
- Vietnam Counteroffensive 1965-1966
- Vietnam Phase II 1966 - 1967
- Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase III 1967-1968
- Tet Counteroffensive 1968
- Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase IV 1968
- Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase V 1968
- Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase VI 1968-1969
- Tet 69 Counteroffensive 1969
- Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
- Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
- Sanctuary Counteroffensive 1970
- Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase VII 1970-1971
- Consolidation I 1971
- Consolidation II 1971-1972
- Vietnam Cease-Fire 1972-1973
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross
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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.
Background: a. 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.
b. Only one emblem (with palm) will be worn regardless of the number of times the unit was awarded the RVN Gallantry Cross.
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
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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.
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.