Establishing Authority

The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross was established by Decree 74-b/QT of August 15, 1950; Decree 96/DQT/HC of May 2, 1952; Ordinance 10-b of August 15, 1950; Ordinance 1 of February 2, 1956; and Decree 200-b/QP of December 30, 1956. It was authorized as a unit citation by Decree 58/QP/ND of January 20, 1968.

Acceptance by the United States

Acceptance and wear of this ribbon is authorized by Public Law 89-257, which authorized the acceptance of awards and decorations during the inclusive dates of March 1, 1961 and March 28, 1974 for service the Vietnam War.

Effective Dates

The Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross colors) was in effect from January 20, 1968 to the fall of South Vietnam in April of 1975.

Criteria

The Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross Colors) was authorized to be worn by units individually cited for service in military operations in support of the government of South Vietnam. The actions cited are for the same services that would have resulted in the award of a Valorous Unit Citation by the Army or a Navy Unit Citation.

The Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross Colors), with palm, was been awarded to all United States military personnel who served in South Vietnam between March 1, 1961 and March 28, 1973.

Devices

This ribbon is not worth without an attachment. The system of attachments is as follows:

-- With Palm: to a unit cited at the Armed Forces level
-- With Gold Star: to a unit cited at the corps level
-- With Silver Star: to a unit cited at the division level
-- With Bronze Star: to a unit cited at the regimental or brigade (or similar) level.

Descripton

The Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross colors) is a ribbon bar consisting of a gold center stripe eleven-sixteenths of an inch wide containing eight sets of parallel red stripes one thirty-seconds of an inch wide, each separtated in the center by gold and edged by gold. The remaining width of the ribbon is scarlet. The ribbon is encased in a gilt frame decorated with laurel leaves, and is not worn without a device.

Note

Awarding of this unit award does not entitle the recipient to wear the Gallantry Cross medal, which is an individual award.