The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States serving in Vietnam and contiguous waters or airspace there over, after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973. Members of the Armed Forces of the United States in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia, or the airspace there over, during the same period and serving in direct support of operations in Vietnam are also eligible for this award. To be eligible for award of the medal, individual must- - (a) Be attached to or regularly serve for one or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting military operations; or (b) Be attached to or regularly serve for one or more days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations; or (c) Actually participate as a crewmember in one or more aerial flights into airspace above Vietnam and contiguous waters directly  supporting military operations; or (d) Serve on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days in Vietnam or contiguous areas, except that the time limit may be waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations.  Individuals qualified for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for service in Vietnam between 1 July 1958 and 3 July 1965 shall remain qualified for the medal. Upon request, the individual may be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal in lieu of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. In such instances, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal will be deleted from the list of authorized medals in the individual’s personnel records. No person shall be entitled to both awards for Vietnam Service. The design approved by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, 12 July 1965, and the policy for award was promulgated by DOD Directive 1348.15, dated 1 October 1965.

Soldiers receiving the Vietnam Service Medal are authorized to wear a bronze star to indicate each campaign. There are 17 designated campaigns during the period of 15 March 1962 through 28 January 1973. Units which receive campaign credit for any of the campaigns would display a streamer with inscription as shown on the unit's lineage and honors. The designated campaigns are:

• Vietnam Advisory 1962-1965
• Vietnam Defense 1965
• Vietnam Counteroffensive 1965-1966
• Vietnam Phase II 1966 - 1967
• Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase III 1967-1968
• Tet Counteroffensive 1968
• Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase IV 1968
• Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase V 1968
• Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase VI 1968-1969
• Tet 69 Counteroffensive 1969
• Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
• Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
• Sanctuary Counteroffensive 1970
• Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase VII 1970-1971
• Consolidation I 1971
• Consolidation II 1971-1972
• Vietnam Cease-Fire 1972-1973

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal is awarded to personnel who meet one of the following requirements: (a) Served in the Republic of Vietnam for six months during the period of 1 March 1961 and 28 March 1973. (b) Served outside the geographical limits of the Republic of Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam and Armed Forces for six months. Such individuals must meet the criteria established for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (for Vietnam) or the Vietnam Service Medal, to qualify for the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. (c) Six months service is not required for individuals who were wounded by hostile forces; killed in action or otherwise in line of duty; or captured by hostile forces.

 Background:  

   a. The Secretary of Defense approved a request for approval of foreign awards to US Military personnel on 7 February 1966. As a result of this approval, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with device bar (1960- ) was awarded to US Armed Forces personnel by the Government of the Republic of Vietnam per Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Order No. 48, dated 24 March 1966. The acceptance, criteria and description was announced in the Federal Register, Volume 31, No. 147, 30 July 1966 (Title 32, Code of Federal Regulation 47).                                                                                                                                                               b. The Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Memorandum 2655 prescribed there were two devices to be worn on the ribbon. The first device was for the period 8 March 1949 - 20 July 1954 and is not authorized for wear by American Military Personnel. The second period was from 1 January 1960 with the last period to be decided after the war was over. The ending period remains blank, since the Republic of Vietnam Government ceased to exist before the ending period was established.        

The Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation was awarded by the Vietnamese government to all personnel assigned to the Military Assistance Advisory Group, Indo-China during August and September 1954. No device is worn on the ribbon. The Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation is authorized for permanent wear only.

                                                VIETNAMESE CROSS of GALLANTRY  

The Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry was awarded by the Army of South VIETNAM to both individuals and to units. When awarded to individuals it was awarded with Silver Star (the equivalent to the US Army Silver Star) or with Bronze Star (equivalent to the US Bronze Star). When awarded to units it is always with Gold Palm. As with US unit awards, all personnel in the unit during the period of action for which the award is given may wear the award at all times. Individuals not in the unit during the designated period wear the award only while assigned to the unit. As a foreign decoration, the Vietnamese Cross may not be worn until the award is approved by the US Department of State. That approval is then passed to the Department of Army and a General Order for the award is published, in this case DA GO 43, 1970.