Awards and decorations of the Vietnam War
Awards and decorations of the Vietnam War were military decorations which were bestowed by the major warring parties that participated in the Vietnam War. North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand and the United States all issued awards and decorations to their personnel during, or after, the conflict.
South Vietnam as a country ceased to exist after North Vietnam's victory in the Vietnam War. Therefore, the country of South Vietnam's awards and decorations are considered obsolete.[
Despite being obsolete, earned foreign South Vietnam decorations and awards remain authorized for US military members who received awards. If an award recipient no longer possesses an original award, companies or individuals have available for purchase South Vietnam's military insignia and awards.
South Vietnam
Senior leadership decorations
- Vietnam Distinguished Service Order
Heroism decorations
- Vietnam Military Merit Medal
Common decorations
- Vietnam Gallantry Cross
Unit citations
- Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation
- Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
- Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation
Other awards
- Vietnam Special Service Medal
- Vietnam Air Gallantry Cross
- Vietnam Navy Gallantry Cross
North Vietnam
- Ho Chi Minh Order
- Defeat American Aggression Badge
- Vietnam Liberation Order
United States
Medal of Honor |
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Distinguished Service Cross (Navy Cross, Airforce Cross) |
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Silver Star | Legion of Merit | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Meritorious Service Medal |
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Bronze Star Medal | Purple Heart | Air Medal | Vietnam Service Medal | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
National Defense Service Medal |
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Several decorations (Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Commendation Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal) may be awarded for valor, or for merit. Awards for valor recognize bravery in action against an enemy and have an attached "V" device
The Commendation Medal was another decoration of the Vietnam War, issued frequently in various versions by the different branches of the US armed forces.
Australia and New Zealand
Australia and New Zealand awarded
Australia and New Zealand jointly developed and instituted the
In 1992, Australia struck the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal. The medal was intended to recognise the Australian servicemen and civilians who provided support for Australian troops. The qualifying criteria for the Medal are service of one day or more as a member or crew of a ship or aircraft operating in the prescribed area of operations of Vietnam in support of Australian forces, or service of one day or more within the prescribed area of operations of Vietnam while attached to a unit or organisation in support of Australian forces. It has been awarded to military personnel, Qantas crews, civilian medical personnel, and Embassy staff.
Australia awarded four
Australian servicemen were also awarded a number of individual US and South Vietnamese awards, and the following unit citations:
- HMAS Hobart - US Navy Unit Commendation
- HMAS Perth - US Navy Unit Commendation, US Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
- Clearance Diving Team 3- US Presidential Unit Citation, Two US Navy Unit Commendations and one US Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
- 817 Naval Air Squadron - US Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
- Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, US Meritorious Unit Commendation, US Presidential Unit Citation
- Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation and Unit Citation for Gallantry
- 3 RAR - Unit Citation for Gallantry
- 'D' Coy, 6 RAR - US Presidential Unit Citation
- 8 RAR - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
- USAF Outstanding Unit Award