Orders, decorations, and medals of South Vietnam

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

Grand Knight Cross

Grand Officer

Commander

Officer

Knight

Military awards and decorations

Military awards are worn in the following order:^[1]

• 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
• Navy Gallantry Cross
• Hazardous Service Medal
• Life Saving Medal
• Loyalty Medal
• Wound Medal
• Armed Forces Honor Medal

1st class

2nd class

• Leadership Medal
• Staff Service Medal

1st class

2nd class

• Technical Service Medal

1st class

2nd class

• Training Service Medal

1st class

2nd class

• Civil Actions Medal

1st class

2nd class

Unit Citation

• Good Conduct Medal
• Vietnam Campaign Medal
• Medal for Campaigns Outside the Frontier
• Military Service Medal
• Air Service Medal
• Navy Service Medal

Civilian awards and decorations

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

• Kim Khanh Medal
• Chuong My Medal

1st Class

2nd Class

• Administrative Service Medal
• Dedicated Service Medal
• Justice Medal
• Cultural and Educational Service Medal
• Public Health Service Medal
• Social Service Medal
• Economic Service Medal
• Finance Service Medal
• Psychological Warfare Medal
• Agricultural Service Medal
• Public Works, Communication and Transportation Service Medal
• Labor Medal
• Rural Revolutionary Development Medal
• Ethnic Development Medal
• Veterans Medal
• Police Merit Medal
• Police Honor Medal
• People's Self-Defense Medal
• Youth and Sports Service medal
• Hamlet Common Defense Medal

Other awards

These awards are not listed in the order of precedence for military or civilian awards:

• Medal of Unity
• 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.^[3]

References

1. 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. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
2. Martin, Michael, ed. (2001). Warriors of the Sea. Paducah, KY.: Turner Publishing Company. p. 61. ISBN 9781563116636.
3. United States Federal Register (1972). The Code of Federal Regulations of the United States of America. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 671.