Awards and decorations of the Vietnam War were military decorations which were bestowed by the major warring parties during the years of the Vietnam War. North Vietnam, South Vietnam and the United States all issued awards and decorations during the conflict.
In the modern age, many senior U.S. military leaders can still be seen wearing South Vietnam awards which were earned during service in the Vietnam War. As South Vietnam as a country no longer exists, such awards are actually considered obsolete and may only be privately purchased from dealers in military insignia.
A listing of the most commonly bestowed Vietnam war era decorations is as follows:
Contents |
Senior Leadership Decorations
Heroism Decorations
Common Decorations
Unit Citations
Other Awards
| Medal of Honor |
|---|
| Silver Star | Legion of Merit | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Meritorious Service Medal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze Star Medal | Purple Heart | Air Medal | Vietnam Service Medal | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
National Defense Service Medal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Several decorations (Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Copmmendation 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 Valor device. Awards for Merit recognize service.
The Commendation Medal was another decoration of the Vietnam War, issued frequently in various versions by the different branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Australia and New Zealand awarded British and Commonwealth orders and decorations to their servicemen in Vietnam, including the Distinguished Service Order, and the Military Cross.
Australia and New Zealand jointly developed and instituted The Vietnam Medal (though separate Royal Warrants were issued). The obverse of the medal displays an Effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, the reverse shows a man standing between two spheres, a symbolic representation of the ideological struggle. The ribbon incorporates the colours of the three armed services (Red, Navy Blue, and Sky Blue), and the national colours of Vietnam (Red and Yellow).
New Zealand Defence Force Vietnam Medal Page
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.
Australian Government Campaign Medals page
Australia awarded 4 Victoria Crosses during the Vietnam War (List of Vietnam War Victoria Cross recipients), 2 posthumously.
Australian servicemen were also awarded a large number of individual US and South Vietnamese awards, and the following unit citations: