The Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal was issued to recognise the service of Australian support personnel during 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...

.

Qualification requirements

The qualifying criteria for the medal include:

• Service of one day or more as a member or crew of a ship or aircraft operating in the prescribed area of operations of Vietnam in support of Australian forces.
• Service of one day or more within the prescribed area of operations of Vietnam while attached to a unit or organisation in support of Australian forces.
• Service of one day or more while attached to, or serving with, a unit of the Australian armed forces or allied forces, as an observer.

Groups meeting the criteria for this award also include certain defence personnel in support roles, entertainers, journalists, civilian surgical and medical teams, Qantas

Qantas

Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...

 aircrew and embassy couriers.

Personnel who have already earned the Vietnam Medal

Vietnam Medal

The Vietnam Medal was a joint Australian and New Zealand campaign medal awarded for service in the Vietnam War.The medal was jointly developed by Australia and New Zealand, although there were separate Royal authorisation warrants for each country....

 are ineligible for the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal

Description

• The Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal is a circular medal made of nickel-silver. The design is the same as the Vietnam Medal
  Vietnam Medal
  The Vietnam Medal was a joint Australian and New Zealand campaign medal awarded for service in the Vietnam War.The medal was jointly developed by Australia and New Zealand, although there were separate Royal authorisation warrants for each country....
  
  , but with a plain suspender.
• The obverse bears the crowned effigy of The Queen with the inscription 'ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F.D.'
• The reverse of the medal has the word 'VIETNAM' at the top centre above a depiction of a man standing between two symbolic spheres.
• The medal ribbon has three red stripes on a yellow centre representing South Vietnam
  South Vietnam
  South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
  
  . The ribbon also has a blue stripe to represent the Navy, a red stripe for the Army and a light blue stripe for the Air Force. The ribbon also has a brown stripe for the colour of the earth and waterways of Vietnam.

External links

• Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal, It's an Honour - Australian government site
• Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal, ADF Honours and Awards site
• Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal fact sheet