Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal | |
---|---|
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with
1960– Device |
|
Awarded by South Vietnam | |
Type | Campaign medal |
Eligibility | Members of the South Vietnamese military and members of allied countries' armed forces. |
Awarded for | Wartime service and support of military operations in Vietnam by the South Vietnamese military. |
Campaign(s) |
First Indochina War Second Indochina War (Vietnam War) |
Status | No longer awarded |
Clasps |
1949–54: medal ribbon 49-54: service ribbon 49-54: miniature medal ribbon 1960– : medal ribbon 60- : service ribbon 60- : miniature medal ribbon |
Statistics | |
Established | 1949 24 March 1966 |
First awarded | RVN: 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 awarded | RVN: 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 |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | RVN Good Conduct Medal (Foreign military awards precedence vary) |
Next (lower) | RVN Military Service Medal (Foreign military awards precedence vary) |
Service ribbon with 60– Device (1960- Device is used for the medal) |
The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal also known as the Vietnam Campaign Medal (Vietnamese: Chiến Dịch Bội Tinh) is a 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. In May 1966, other allied foreign military personnel became eligible for the award.
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.
The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal was created in 1949 and manufactured in France. The medal was awarded to French military personnel.
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. The medal is awarded to military personnel, both South Vietnamese for twelve months wartime service in the field, 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. 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.