Vietnam Campaign Medal

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, also known as the Vietnam Campaign Medal (Vietnamese: Chiến Dịch Bội Tinh), is a South Vietnamese military campaign medal which was created in 1949, and awarded to French military personnel during the First Indochina War. During the Vietnam War (Second Indochina War), the South Vietnamese government awarded the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960– ) to members of the South Vietnamese military for wartime service and on March 24, 1966, to members of the U.S. military for support of operations in Vietnam.[lower-alpha 2] In May 1966, other allied foreign military personnel became eligible for the award.

Not to be confused with the Vietnam Service Medal.

Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with
1960– Device
TypeCampaign medal
Awarded forWartime service and support of military operations in Vietnam by the South Vietnamese military.
Presented bySouth Vietnam
EligibilityMembers of the South Vietnamese military and members of allied countries' armed forces.
Campaign(s)First Indochina War
Second Indochina War (Vietnam War)
Clasps1949–54: medal ribbon
49–54: service ribbon
49–54: miniature medal ribbon
1960– : medal ribbon
60– : service ribbon
60– : miniature medal ribbon
StatusNo longer awarded
Established 1949 (1949-df)
24 March 1966 (1966-03-24)
First awardedRVN: 8 March 1949 – 20 July 1954
France: 8 March 1949 – 20 July 1954
RVN: 1 January 1960 – 30 April 1975
U.S.: 1 March 1961 – 28 March 1973
Australia: 31 July 1962 – 28 March 1973
New Zealand: 1964 to 1973
South Korea: Unknown
Other: Unknown
Last awardedRVN: 20 July 1954
France: 20 July 1954
RVN: 30 April 1975
U.S.: 28 March 1973
Australia: 28 March 1973
New Zealand: 1973
South Korea: Unknown
Other: Unknown
Service ribbon with 60– Device[lower-alpha 1]
Precedence
Next (higher)Good Conduct Medal
(Foreign military awards precedence vary)
Next (lower)Military Service Medal
(Foreign military awards precedence vary)
Photographs of a Vietnam Campaign Medal

The medal was awarded for two different periods of service in Vietnam. The first period for the award was from 8 March 1949 to 20 July 1954. The second period was from 1 January 1960 to the end of the Vietnam War (the date was to be given when the war ended and North Vietnam was defeated). On 30 April 1975, Saigon was captured by the North Vietnamese army and South Vietnam surrendered and disbanded. The medal was not awarded after 28 March 1973, when the last U.S. troops left South Vietnam in accordance with the Paris Peace Accords.

Award criteria

First Indochina War

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal was created in 1949 and manufactured in France. The medal was awarded to French military personnel.

Second Indochina War (Vietnam War)

During the Vietnam War, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960–) was manufactured in the United States and governed by Republic of Vietnam Decrees No. 149/SL/CT of 12 May 1964 and No 205/CT/LDQG/SL of 2 December 1965. The medal was established by the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Order No. 48, 24 March 1966.[1] The medal is awarded to military personnel, both South Vietnamese for twelve months wartime service in the field,[2]:11 and allied foreign military who have directly participated for six months in "a large-scale military campaign during certain periods of time". All RVN and foreign personnel who served less than six months must meet the following requirements: were wounded by a hostile force; were captured by hostile forces, but later escaped, was rescued, or released; or were killed in action or otherwise in the line of duty.[3]:127 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.[4]

United States

Public Law 88–257 permits U.S. military personnel to accept the medal for service performed in Vietnam from 1 March 1961 to 28 March 1973, inclusive.[1] Since March 1966, the medal may also be awarded to any service member who, while serving outside the geographical limits of the Republic of Vietnam, contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces for six months. This stipulation most often applies to members who performed Vietnam War support from the 7th Fleet (all members of the fleet serving off the coast of Vietnam), Thailand and Guam (air crews if aircraft out of Thailand and Guam; no ground support staff),[2]:5–6, 17–18 and Japan. In such cases, a U.S. service member must meet the criteria established for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam) or Vietnam Service Medal during the period of service required to qualify for the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Personnel assigned in the Republic of Vietnam on 28 January 1973 must meet one of the following: served a minimum of 60 days in the Republic of Vietnam as of that date; completed a minimum of 60 days service in the Republic of Vietnam during the period from 28 January 1973 to 28 March 1973, inclusive.[3]:127

Australia

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal was awarded to Australian military personnel for service in South Vietnam during the period 31 July 1962 to 28 March 1973.[5] The requirements for the award are: at least 181 days service, either continuous or aggregated, unless killed on active service (KIA); or wounded in action (includes psychological injury)[2]:44 and evacuated (medically evacuated other than being wounded does not meet requirement for medal); or captured and later released or escaped.

New Zealand

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal was referred to as the "New Zealand Vietnamese Campaign Medal"[2]:16 (named the South Vietnamese Campaign Medal by the New Zealand Forces in South Vietnam).[6] The medal was awarded to New Zealand Forces for service in Vietnam for six months between 1964 (arrived Vietnam June 1964) and 1973 (left Vietnam 22 December 1972). The medal was approved for wear in 1966.[7]

Appearance

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal is made of a gold colored metal in the shape of a 36 mm wide six-pointed white enameled star with six pointed gold rays between the arms of the star. In the center of the star is an 18 mm green colored disc bearing a gold colored map of Vietnam with three painted flames in red between North and South Vietnam, signifying the three regions of Vietnam.[8] 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.[9] The suspension ribbon and service ribbon of the medal is green (to represent freedom) with three vertical white (to represent purity) stripes.

Ribbon devices

The Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Memorandum 2655 (8 October 1965) authorized two sets of two silver-plated devices ( 1 ​13⁄64" wide and ​19⁄32" wide) for the suspension ribbon of the medal, and service ribbon of the medal and the miniature medal suspension ribbon, to indicate two separate periods of struggle against communism in South Vietnam.[lower-alpha 2] Both sets of the devices if authorized, could be worn on the ribbons.

  • Period 1: 8 March 1949 – 20 July 1954: The 1949–54 device is worn on the medal suspension ribbon and the 49–54 device is worn on the service ribbon of the medal and the miniature medal suspension ribbon.[lower-alpha 2] These devices are not authorized for wear by American military personnel.[9]
  • Period 2: 1 January 1960 – the end of the war: The 1960– device is worn on the medal suspension ribbon and the 60– device is worn on the service ribbon of the medal and the miniature medal suspension ribbon.[lower-alpha 2]

The unusual appearance was caused by the Republic of Vietnam government stating that the 1960– and 60– devices would show the dates of the Vietnam War from start to finish, with the ending year placed on the devices when the South Vietnamese had prevailed over the invading North Vietnam (the Democratic Republic of Vietnam) forces. However, on 30 April 1975, the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon was captured, and South Vietnam surrendered that day to the North Vietnamese army under the orders of General Duong Van Minh, who since 28 April was the president of South Vietnam.

Order of wear

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal is considered a foreign award by the United States, South Korean, 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.

CountryPrecedingFollowing
 South Vietnam
Order of precedence[4]		Good Conduct MedalMilitary Service Medal
 United States
Order of precedence		Multinational Force and Observers Medal (Army)[3]:17
Inter-American Defense Board Medal (Navy/Marine Corps)[10][11]
Multilateral Organization Awards (Air Force)[12]		Saudi Arabian Kuwait Liberation Medal[3]:17[10][12]
 New Zealand
Worn in order of date of award
Listed chronologically[13]		Korean War Service MedalZimbabwe Independence Medal (Approved for restricted wear only)

See also

Notes
  1. The 1960– Device is used for the medal.
  2. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 32, January 1, 1968: Chapter 1, Part 47, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and Device (1960– ), pp. 47–49

References
  1. "Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual, SENAVINST 1650.1H" (PDF). 22 August 2006. pp. 7–8, 7–9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 July 2018.
  2. "Report of the Inquiry into Eligibility for the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal" (PDF). defence-honours-tribunal.gov.au. Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal. 24 March 2014.
  3. "Army Regulation 600–8–22 Personnel-General Military Awards" (PDF). Headquarters Department of the Army. 25 June 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2015 – via apd.army.mil.
  4. 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. 1967. pp. 154, 212. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  5. "Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal". defence.gov.au. Department of Defence, Australian Government. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  6. "New Zealand Defense Force". Archived from the original on 26 October 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  7. "New Zealand Defense Force". Archived from the original on 26 October 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  8. Indochina Militaria, Vietnam Medals Older medal with 60- device
  9. "Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RV)". Chief of Naval Operations. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  10. "United States Navy Uniform Regulations (NAVPERS 15665I) Articles 5309.4 & 5309.5". Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  11. "USMC Ribbon Chart". Marine Corps Installations East. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  12. "AFI 36-2903, section 11.5" (PDF). Air Force E-Publishing. p. 160. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  13. "The Wearing of Medals in New Zealand Table". New Zealand Defence Force. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
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