Meritorious Service Medal | |
Type: | Single-grade decoration for each service |
Eligibility: | Non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel of South Vietnam and allied foreign countries |
Status: | No longer awarded |
Lastawarded: | 1974 |
Higher: | Distinguished Service Order |
Lower: | Special Service Medal (South Vietnam) |
The Meritorious Service Medal (Vietnamese: Vinh-Công Bội-Tinh) was a military decoration of South Vietnam that was awarded between the years of 1950 and 1974. Each of the three branches of the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces had its version of the Meritorious Service Medal. The medal was intended to recognize exceptionally important military achievement, both in combat and non-combat service, but did not warrant receipt of the higher decoration the Distinguished Service Order.
The Meritorious Service Medal was awarded, or posthumously awarded, to non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel in the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces who, during their period of service met one of the following requirements:[1]
The Meritorious Service Medal could also be awarded to foreign non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel for their meritorious service to the Republic of Vietnam.[1]