Orders, decorations, and medals of South Vietnam explained

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.

National Order

• National Order of Vietnam^[1]

Grand Cross

Grand Officer

Commander

Officer

Knight

Military awards and decorations

Military awards are worn in the following order:^[2]

• Military Merit Medal
• Distinguished Service Order

Army First Class

Army Second Class

Air Force First Class

Air Force Second Class

Navy First Class

Navy Second Class

• Meritorious Service Medal

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

• Air Gallantry Cross

Gold Wing Ribbon

Silver Wing Ribbon

Bronze Wing Ribbon

• Navy Gallantry Cross

Gold Anchor Ribbon

Silver Anchor Ribbon

Bronze Anchor Ribbon

• Hazardous Service Medal
• Life Saving Medal
• Loyalty Medal
• Wound Medal
• Armed Forces Honor Medal

First class

Second class

• Leadership Medal

Armed Forces level

Corps level

Division level

Brigade level

Regiment level

Battalion level

Company level

• Staff Service Medal

First class

Second class

• Technical Service Medal

First class

Second class

• Training Service Medal

First class

Second class

• Civil Actions Medal

First class

Second class

Unit Citation

• Good Conduct Medal

First class

Second class

Third class

Fourth class

Fifth class

• Vietnam Campaign Medal
• Military Service Medal

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:^[3]

• 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.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Book: Sylvester Jr, John. The Decorations and Medals of the Republic of Vietnam and Her Allies, 1950-1975. 1 December 1995. 9781884452161. Medals of America. 16.
2. Book: 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. 30 August 2016.
3. Book: Martin. Michael. Warriors of the Sea. 2001. Turner Publishing Company. Paducah, KY.. 9781563116636. 61.
4. Book: The Code of Federal Regulations of the United States of America . United States Federal Register . 671 . 1972 . U.S. Government Printing Office.