South Vietnamese decorations
Encyclopedia
South Vietnamese decorations, also known as awards of the Republic of Vietnam, were first issued to United States service members beginning around 1964. Over the next three years, the awards were mainly confined to the senior leadership of the United States Military Assistance Command, but by 1967, the large presence of U.S. troops in Vietnam led to a common practice of awarding Vietnamese decorations to U.S. soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen.
Throughout the Vietnam War
, the Military Merit Medal was awarded solely to enlisted U.S. service members who had been killed in action, while the National Order and Distinguished Service Order were awarded only to senior U.S. military personnel. By far the most common Vietnamese decorations awarded to U.S. troops were the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Gallantry Cross Unit Citation; the Campaign Medal was awarded for six months of service in Vietnam while the Gallantry Cross unit citation was almost automatic for U.S. Army personnel and quite common in other service branches as well. In 1974, a General Order of the U.S. Army made the Gallantry Cross Unit Citation automatic for any soldier who had spent any amount of time in Vietnam; this has led to this decoration being arguably the most commonly awarded foreign decoration of all time.
The Civil Actions Medal and unit citation were also commonly awarded to members of the United States Marine Corps
making this a very common decoration seen on U.S. Marine Corps uniforms. The remainder of Vietnamese medals, such as the Air and Navy Gallantry Cross and the Staff and Special Service Medals, were awarded with different frequency between the U.S. service branches and amongst officer/enlisted personnel.
In the 21st century United States military, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Gallantry Cross, and the Gallantry Cross/Civil Action/Presidential unit citations are still authorized for wear on U.S. uniforms and many senior officers today, who began their careers in Vietnam, can be seen wearing such medals. However, since the nation of South Vietnam no longer exists, these medals and ribbons must be privately purchased and there are no channels for the retroactive award of said medals, except in the case of the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Gallantry Cross Unit Citation which are considered automatic decorations and can be added to a DD Form 214
by request through the military service branch or through NPRC in St. Louis, Missouri
.
Throughout the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, the Military Merit Medal was awarded solely to enlisted U.S. service members who had been killed in action, while the National Order and Distinguished Service Order were awarded only to senior U.S. military personnel. By far the most common Vietnamese decorations awarded to U.S. troops were the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Gallantry Cross Unit Citation; the Campaign Medal was awarded for six months of service in Vietnam while the Gallantry Cross unit citation was almost automatic for U.S. Army personnel and quite common in other service branches as well. In 1974, a General Order of the U.S. Army made the Gallantry Cross Unit Citation automatic for any soldier who had spent any amount of time in Vietnam; this has led to this decoration being arguably the most commonly awarded foreign decoration of all time.
The Civil Actions Medal and unit citation were also commonly awarded to members of the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
making this a very common decoration seen on U.S. Marine Corps uniforms. The remainder of Vietnamese medals, such as the Air and Navy Gallantry Cross and the Staff and Special Service Medals, were awarded with different frequency between the U.S. service branches and amongst officer/enlisted personnel.
In the 21st century United States military, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Gallantry Cross, and the Gallantry Cross/Civil Action/Presidential unit citations are still authorized for wear on U.S. uniforms and many senior officers today, who began their careers in Vietnam, can be seen wearing such medals. However, since the nation of South Vietnam no longer exists, these medals and ribbons must be privately purchased and there are no channels for the retroactive award of said medals, except in the case of the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Gallantry Cross Unit Citation which are considered automatic decorations and can be added to a DD Form 214
DD Form 214
The DD Form 214, officially DD Form 214 "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty", but generally referred to as a "DD 214", is a document of the United States Department of Defense, issued upon a military service member's retirement, separation or discharge from active-duty...
by request through the military service branch or through NPRC in St. Louis, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
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