VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL
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Description:
On a bronze medal, 1 ¼ inches in diameter, an oriental
dragon behind a grove of bamboo trees above the inscription
"REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM SERVICE." On the reverse, a
crossbow surmounted a by a torch above the arched inscription
"UNITED STATES OF AMERICA".
The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and
consists of the following stripes: 1/8 inch Primitive Green
67188; 5/16 inch Air Force Yellow 67103; 1/16 inch Old Glory
Red 67156; 5/32 inch Air Force Yellow; center 1/16 inch Old
Glory Red; 5/32 inch Air Force Yellow; 1/16 inch Old Glory
Red; 5/16 inch Air Force Yellow; and 1/8 inch Primitive Green. |
Criteria
a. Awarded to all
members of the Armed Forces of the United States serving in
Vietnam and contiguous waters or airspace there over, 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 there over, 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:
- Be attached to or regularly serve for one or more days
with an organization participating in or directly supporting
military operations; or
- Be attached to or regularly serve for one or more days
aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military
operations; or
- Actually participate as a crewmember in one or more aerial
flights into airspace above Vietnam and contiguous waters
directly supporting military operations; or
- 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. |
Components: The following are authorized components and
related items:
- Medal (regular size): MIL-DTL-3943/230. NSN
8455-00-926-1664 for set which includes a regular size medal
and ribbon bar.
- Medal (miniature size): MIL-DTL-3943/230. Available
commercially.
- Ribbon: MIL-DTL-11589/151. NSN 8455-00-926-1530.
- Lapel Button (metal replica of ribbon bar):
MIL-L-11484/69. Available commercially.
- Streamer: MIL-S-14650. Manual requisition in accordance
with Chapter 9, Army Regulation (AR) 840-10.
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Soldiers 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
Background
a. On 21 August 1964, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel
(DCSPER) requested that The Institute of Heraldry provide proposed
designs for the possible adoption of a Vietnam Service Medal. Proposed
designs were submitted to DCSPER on 29 September 1964. The Vietnam
Service Medal was established by Executive Order 11231, dated 8 July
1965. The design approved by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, 12
July 1965, and the policy for award was promulgated by DOD Directive
1348.15, dated 1 October 1965.
b. The design, created by Miss Mercedes Lee, includes bamboo
trees which are adapted from the flag of the President of Vietnam and
the half-concealed dragon represents the subversive nature of the
conflict. The crossbow, on the reverse, is the ancient weapon of Vietnam
and the torch of the Statue of Liberty is a symbol of the United States
devotion to liberty and freedom. The yellow ribbon with three vertical
red stripes suggests the color of the flag of the Republic of Vietnam.
The green border on each side alludes to the jungle of that Country.
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