Orders, decorations, and medals of South Vietnam
The system of Orders, decorations, and medals of South Vietnam came into being with the establishment of the National Order of Vietnam in 1950. Established by Bảo Đại, the head of state of the State of Vietnam, the order was the highest award of the state for both civilians and military personnel. This level of precedence continued under the government of South Vietnam. Lower ranking awards for both the military and civilians were subsequently established. The systems of civilian and military awards had their own order of precedence.
Military awards and decorations
Military awards are worn in the following order:[1]
Army First Class Army Second Class Air Force First Class Air Force Second Class Navy First Class Navy Second Class
Army Meritorious Service Medal Air Force Meritorious Service Medal Navy Meritorious Service Medal
Special Service Medal - Gallantry Cross
Gallantry Cross with Palm (cited at the Armed Forces level) Gallantry Cross with Gold Star (cited at the Corps level) Gallantry Cross with Silver Star (cited at the Division level) Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star (cited at the Regiment or Brigade level) Gallantry Cross Unit Award
Gold Wing Ribbon Silver Wing Ribbon Bronze Wing Ribbon
Gold Anchor Ribbon Silver Anchor Ribbon Bronze Anchor Ribbon
First class Second class
Armed Forces level Corps level Division level Brigade level Regiment level Battalion level Company level
- Staff Service Medal
First class Second class
First class Second class
First class Second class
First class Second class Unit Citation
First class Second class Third class Fourth class Fifth class
First class Second class Third class Fourth class Fifth class
- Air Service Medal
First class Second class Third class Honor class
- Navy Service Medal
First class Second class Third class Honor class
Medal for Campaigns Outside the Frontier Air Force Northern Expeditionary Medal
Civilian awards and decorations
Civilian awards are worn in the following order:[2]
- Kim Khanh Decoration
Exceptional class First class Second class Third class
- Chuong My Medal
First class Second class
- Administrative Service Medal
First class Second class
- Dedicated Service Medal
First class Second class
- Justice Medal
First class Second class
- Cultural and Educational Service Medal
First class Second class
- Public Health Service Medal
First class Second class
- Social Service Medal
First class Second class
- Economic Service Medal
First class Second class
- Finance Service Medal
First class Second class
- Psychological Warfare Medal
First class Second class
- Agricultural Service Medal
First class Second class
- Public Works, Communication and Transportation Service Medal
First class Second class
- Labor Medal
First class Second class Third class
Rural Revolutionary Development Medal - Ethnic Development Medal
First class Second class
- Veterans Medal
First class Second class
- Police Merit Medal
First class Second class Third class Unit Citation
- Police Honor Medal
First class Second class Third class Unit Citation
- People's Self-Defense Medal
First class Second class
- Youth and Sports Service medal
First class Second class
Hamlet Common Defense Medal
Other awards
These awards are not listed in the order of precedence for military or civilian awards:
Unity Medal Medal of Sacrifice Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation
Foreign recipients
Many of the South Vietnamese military awards and decorations were awarded to members of foreign military forces fighting with and advising the South Vietnamese military. Some civilian awards were also presented, but their acceptance and wear was limited by the recipients' governments.[3]
References
- HUY CHUONG AN THUONG TRONG QUAN-LU'C VlET-NAM CONG-HOA (Medals and Decorations of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces). Government of the Republic of Vietnam. 1967. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- Martin, Michael, ed. (2001). Warriors of the Sea. Paducah, KY.: Turner Publishing Company. p. 61. ISBN 9781563116636.
- United States Federal Register (1972). The Code of Federal Regulations of the United States of America. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 671.