South Vietnam Campaign medal
Duncan Evans takes a look at a lesser-known award for Allied countries fighting for the South in Vietnam
Duncan Evans takes a look at a lesser-known award for Allied countries fighting for the South in Vietnam.
While the USA and the forces of Australia and New Zealand had their own, official Vietnam service medals, being the Vietnam
Service Medal and the Vietnam Medal respectively, troops from all three were also eligible for a medal issued by South Vietnam as well. The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal was originally issued to French personnel for serving in the First Indochina War, but it was the Second Indochina War, more recognisably known as the Vietnam War, that saw it re-issued, with a new device, to South Vietnam troops and those of the USA, Australia and New Zealand.
The medal obverse features a 36mm wide, six-pointed star, with white enamel inside a gold edge, above a backing of solid, gold rays. In the gilt, enamelled 18mm wide centre is a map of
Vietnam on a green background, with three red flames in between
North and South Vietnam, to signify three regions of the country. On the reverse is a circle with the inscription ‘ChiếnDịch’ above
‘Bội Tinh’, which translate as
‘Campaign Medal’, plus the word ‘VIET-NAM’ in the centre. It is suspended from a green and white striped ribbon, the colours representing freedom and purity. Also on the medal ribbon is a device, containing the words ‘1960-‘ while on the service ribbon and on the miniature medal ribbon this is more simply ’60-‘. The reason for leaving no end date was because the South Vietnam government stated that it would show the dates of the Vietnam War, with 1960 being the start date and the end date being when the South finally defeated the North. As this didn’t happen, with the Americans pulling out in 1973 and Saigon falling to the North in 1975, it was left as it was. South Vietnam manufactured the medals initially, these being poor quality and largely going, unnamed, to its own troops. However, both the US and Australia subsequently manufactured much better quality versions, and impressed the recipient’s name on them, even though both countries already had a medal for Vietnam.
US military personnel could accept the medal if they served in Vietnam from 1 March 1961 to 28 March 1973. Also, those in the military that provided direct combat support, but were outside the geographical area of the Republic of Vietnam (the South), qualified with six months service. This was usually people in the 7th Fleet or This is one of the American produced medals but has the wrong device on the ribbon, that being for the miniature
operating air crews from Thailand and Guam.
Anyone who spent 60 days in the
Republic from
28 Jan 1973 to 28 March
1973, inclusively, qualified as well.
For the Australian troops the requirement was 181 days service in South Vietnam between 31 July 1962 to 28 March 1973. Somewhat confusingly, the New Zealand forces referred to the medal as the South Vietnamese Campaign Medal, and it’s listed as that in some references, though it was actually the same Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, as described above. To qualify New Zealand troops needed to serve for six months between June 1964 and 22 December 1972.
PRICES
Unnamed medal: £15-£20 Named to recipient: £25-£35 Miniature: £15-£30
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