Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960– Device
Type	Campaign medal
Awarded for	Wartime service and support of military operations in Vietnam by the South Vietnamese military.
Presented by	South Vietnam
Eligibility	Members of the South Vietnamese military and members of allied countries' armed forces.
Campaign(s)	First Indochina War Second Indochina War (Vietnam War)
Clasps	1949–54: medal ribbon 49–54: service ribbon 49–54: miniature medal ribbon 1960– : medal ribbon 60– : service ribbon 60– : miniature medal ribbon
Status	No longer awarded
Established	1949 (1949-df) 24 March 1966 (1966-03-24)
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
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 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.

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

Appearance of medal

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.

Country	Preceding	Following
South Vietnam Order of precedence[4]	Good Conduct Medal	Military 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 Medal	Zimbabwe Independence Medal (Approved for restricted wear only)

See also

• Orders, decorations, and medals of South Vietnam

Notes

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vietnam Campaign Medal.

• Service Medals and campaign credits of the United States Navy Vietnam Campaign Medal