Establishing Authority

The Repulic of Vietnam Campaign Medal was established by Armed Forces Order Number 48 of March 24, 1966.

Acceptance by the United States

The authority for U.S. military personnel to accept and wear this medal was announced in Department of Defense Instruction 1348.17 of June 20, 1966, as amended.

Effective Dates

The effective dates for the Republic of Vietnam Campaign medal for United States military personnel are March 1, 1961 and March 28, 1973.

Criteria

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who:

-- served for six months in South Vietnam;

-- served outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces for an aggregate of six months;

-- were assigned in Vietnam on January 28, 1973, and who served a minimum of 60 calendar days in Vietnam between January 29 and March 28, 1973.

-- Who did not complete the length of service required but were:

--- wounded by the enemy in a military action;
--- captured by the enemy during action in the line of duty but were later rescued or released; or, --- who were killed in action or in the line of duty.

Designer

This medal was designed by the Republic of South Vietnam.

Order of Precedence

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal is worn on the Army uniform after the Multinational Force and Observers Medal and before the Kuwait Liberation Medal; all other Services wear it after the Inter-American Defense Board Medal and before the Kuwait Liberation Medal.

Devices

Republic of Vietnam Campaign medals authorized for United States personnel have a swallow-tailed banner, with folded ends, that bears the date 1960 - (and a blank space for an ending date).

Description and Symbolism

Obverse

A white six-pointed star with cut-line, broad gold star points between its arms, and a central green disc with a map of Vietnam in silver surmounted with three pained flames in red. The three red flames stand for the three regions of Vietnam.

Reverse

In the center of the reverse is the inscription VIET-NAM within a lined circle with CHIEN-DICH above and BOI-TINH below, separated by short lines.

Ribbon

The ribbon is a field of green with three white stripes (one in the center and one inside each edge) The white stripe in the center is slightly larger than the ones inside each edge.

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