Vietnam Wound Medal
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The Vietnam Wound Medal was a military decoration of South Vietnam which was first created in 1950. The decoration is the Vietnamese equivalent of the Purple Heart and is awarded to any personnel of the Vietnamese military who, while engaged in armed combat with enemies of the Republic of Vietnam, are either killed or wounded in action.
During the Vietnam War, the Vietnam Wound Medal was often issued to ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) personnel for combat wounds received fighting the forces of North Vietnam or the Vietcong. The decoration was seldom bestowed upon members of allied militaries (such as the United States military) and then only if the allied soldier in question was attached and under the direct command of a Vietnamese unit.
In 1975, with the fall of South Vietnam, the Vietnam Wound Medal became obsolete. It is now only available through private dealers in military insignia.
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