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The South Vietnam Campaign Medal

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (or Chiến Dịch Bội Tinh), is a South Vietnamese military campaign medal created in 1949.

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (or Chiến Dịch Bội Tinh in Vietnamese), is a South Vietnamese military campaign medal created in 1949 and awarded for two different periods of service in Vietnam.

The medal was first awarded to French military personnel during the First Indochina War (from 8 March 1949 to 20 July 1954). During the Vietnam War (Second Indochina War), the South Vietnamese government awarded the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960– ) to members of the South Vietnamese military for wartime service and on March 24, 1966, to members of the U.S. military for support of operations in Vietnam. In May 1966, other allied foreign military personnel became eligible for the award.

On 30 April 1975, Saigon was captured by the North Vietnamese army and South Vietnam surrendered and disbanded. The medal was not awarded after 28 March 1973, when the last U.S. troops left South Vietnam in accordance with the Paris Peace Accords.

In the United States, Public Law 88–257 permits military personnel to accept the medal for service performed in Vietnam from 1 March 1961 to 28 March 1973, inclusive. Since March 1966, the medal may also be awarded to any service member who, while serving outside the geographical limits of the Republic of Vietnam, contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces for six months.

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal was awarded to Australian military personnel for service in South Vietnam during the period 31 July 1962 to 28 March 1973. The medal was awarded to New Zealand Forces for service in Vietnam for six months between 1964 (arrived Vietnam June 1964) and 1973 (left Vietnam 22 December 1972).

The South Vietnam Campaign Medal Design

The medal is made of a gold-colored metal in the shape of a 36 mm wide six-pointed white enameled star with six-pointed gold rays between the arms of the star. During the Vietnam War, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960–) was manufactured in the United States.

In the obverse, in the center of the star is an 18 mm green colored disc bearing a gold-colored map of Vietnam with three painted flames in red between North and South Vietnam, signifying the three regions of Vietnam. On the reverse of the medal is a circle bearing the inscription Chiến Dịch (Campaign) above and Bội Tinh (Medal) below the word VIET-NAM in the center.

The suspension ribbon and service ribbon of the medal is stripes in green (to represent freedom) with three vertical white (to represent purity).

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The Vietnam Medal (1968)

The Vietnam Medal is a joint Australian and New Zealand campaign medal awarded for service in the Vietnam War. It was jointly developed by the two countries, although there were separate Royal authorization warrants for each one.

Australia

Qualifying service for the Vietnam Medal includes 28 days in ships or craft on inland waters or off the coast of Vietnam, one or more days on the posted strength of a unit or formation on land, one operational sortie over Vietnam or Vietnamese water by aircrew on the posted strength of a unit, official visits either continuous or aggregate of 30 days, or one day or more by members of accredited philanthropic organizations attached to Australian forces in an official capacity for full-time duty – all between 29 May 1964 and 27 January 1973.

New Zealand

The medal was awarded to all members of the New Zealand armed forces who, between 29 May 1964 and 27 January 1973, either served for 28 days, continuous or aggregated, in ships or craft employed in operations on inland waters or off the coast of Vietnam; served for one day or more on the posted strength of a unit or formation on land in Vietnam; conducted one operational sortie over Vietnam or Vietnamese waters by aircrew on the posted strength of a unit allocated for direct support of operations in Vietnam; served for 30 days or more, continuous or aggregated, on official visits, inspections or other occurrences of a temporary nature on duty in Vietnam, or in ships or craft engaged in operations off the Vietnamese coast. Service terminated by death or wounds, or the award of decoration for gallantry, led to the immediate award of the medal, regardless of whether the qualification period had been fulfilled.

The Vietnam Medal Design

The medal is circular, struck in nickel-silver, and measures 36 mm in diameter.

The obverse bears the crowned effigy of Queen Elizabeth II with the inscription ‘ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F.D.’. The reverse of the medal has the word ‘VIETNAM‘ at the top center above a depiction of a man standing between two symbolic spheres, “in representation of the ideological war in Vietnam“.

The recipient’s name, rank, and serial number are engraved on the edge of the medal.

The ribbon contains a broad central stripe of bright yellow surmounted by three thin red stripes (representing the Republic of Vietnam). The ribbon also has a blue stripe to represent the Navy, two red stripes for the Army, and a light blue stripe for the Air Force.

The United Nations Emergency Force Medal

The United Nations Emergency Force Medal is a service medal of the United Nations instituted in 1957 and awarded for service in the United Nations Emergency Force between 7 November 1956 and 19 May 1967.

In 1956, Egypt came into conflict with the combined forces of Israel, France, and the United Kingdom resulting in the Suez Crisis. Combined political pressure from the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Nations resulted in the withdrawal of French, British and Israeli forces from Egyptian territory and the cessation of hostilities. To maintain peace, the United Nations established its first Peacekeeping force, the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF). Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, India, Norway, Sweden, and Yugoslavia provided troops to serve in the UNEF. The mission lasted from November 1956 until June 1967. 

Ninety days of service with the UNEF was required for award of the medal.

The United Nations Emergency Force Medal Design

The medal is circular, struck in bronze, and measures 35 mm in diameter. It’s similar in appearance to other United Nations Medals.

The obverse depicts the official emblem of the United Nations, a world map oriented from the north pole. Above the emblem are the letters UNEF. The reverse is plain except for the words “In the Service of Peace” in relief.

The ribbon is sand yellow with an 8 mm central stripe of light blue. On either side of the central stripe, 3 mm from the edge, is a 1 mm stripe of dark blue 2 mm apart from a 1 mm stripe of dark green. The sand yellow color represents the Sinai while the wide central stripe represents the UN. Of the two thin stripes, the blue represents the Suez Canal, and the green represents the Nile River Valley.

The Accumulated Campaign Service Medal

The Accumulated Campaign Service Medal (and its 2011 version) are medals awarded to the Armed Forces to recognize long campaign service.

The Accumulated Campaign Service Medal (and its 2011 version) are medals awarded by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to members of her Armed Forces to recognize long campaign service.

The original medal was instituted in January 1994 and awarded to holders of the General Service Medal who had completed 36 months of accumulated campaign service, with a clasp for each period of further 36 months of campaign service. Criteria for part-time members of the Royal Irish Regiment were similar but with 1000 days replacing 36 months. The replacement Accumulated Campaign Service Medal 2011 is currently awarded to holders of various campaign service medals who have completed 720 days of campaign service.

Service personnel is now (2020) eligible for an Accumulated Campaign Service Medal (ACSM) after two years of operational service instead of the three years previously required.

> Learn more about Qualifying for the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal (gov.uk)

The Accumulated Campaign Service Medal Design

The medal is circular, struck in silver, and measures 36 mm in diameter.

On the obverse, it bears the Crowned Effigy of the Sovereign and on the reverse, the description “FOR ACCUMULATED CAMPAIGN SERVICE” set within a four part ribbon surrounded by a branch of oak leaves with laurel and olive leaves woven through the motto ribbon. 

The ribbon is purple and green, like that of the General Service Medal (1962) with an added central gold stripe denoting excellence. The Accumulated Campaign Service Medal 2011 uses the same medal, but with a ribbon with two central gold stripes. When the ribbon only is worn, a silver rosette is worn on the ribbon for each clasp, with a single gold rosette indicating four clasps.

The Accumulated Campaign Service Medal is hallmarked on the rim to the right of the suspension fixing. The 2011 version of the medal is not hallmarked.

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The United Nations Korea Medal

The United Nations Service Medal for Korea (or UNKM) is a military decoration established by the United Nations on December 12, 1950.

The United Nations Service Medal for Korea (or UNKM) is a military decoration established by the United Nations on December 12, 1950. The decoration was the first international award ever created by the United Nations and recognized the multi-national defense forces which participated in the Korean War.

The medal is awarded to any military service member, of an Armed Force allied with South Korea, who participated in the defense of South Korea from North Korea between the dates of June 27, 1950 and July 27, 1954. International Red Cross personnel engaged for service during the war with any United Nations relief team in Korea were not eligible for the medal.

National variants were produced but the British and Commonwealth type was granted to all personnel who had served at least one full day in Korea or in support units in Japan. Those who served after the armistice of 1953 were also entitled the UN medal.

On November 22, 1961, the United Nations officially changed the name of the United Nations Service Medal to the United Nations Service Medal Korea. Most countries consider the United Nations Service Medal an automatic decoration, if some other Korean service award was bestowed, and generally award the medal without requesting permission through United Nations channels.

The United Nations Korea Medal Design

The medal is struck in bronze alloy and measures 35 mm in diameter.

The obverse depicts the ‘World-in-a Wreath‘ emblem of the United Nations. The reverse has the inscription: “FOR SERVICE IN DEFENCE OF THE PRINCIPLES OF THE CHARTER OF THE UNITED NATIONS”. Each participating country has the text in the most appropriate language.

The medal hangs from a claw attachment on a straight bar suspension. Each medal is worn with a medal bar bearing the inscription KOREA in the same language as the reverse inscription. 

The ribbon is made up of 17 equal stripes of United Nations Blue (Bluebird 67117) and white, 9 blue, and 8 white, each 5⁄64 inch (2.0 mm) wide.

The South African Medal for Korea

The South African Medal for Korea is a military campaign medal instituted by the Union of South Africa in 1953 and awarded to volunteers of the Union Defence Forces for service in Korea during the 1950-1953 Korean War.

The Union Defence Forces (UDF) were established in 1912 and renamed the South African Defence Force (SADF) in 1958. On 27 April 1994, it was integrated with six other independent forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

More than 200 officers and some 545 other ranks saw action in Korea between 1950 and 1953, along with some members from other branches of the Union Defence Forces. South Africa’s primary contribution to the United Nations Command during the Korean War was the Flying Cheetahs, 2 Squadron of the South African Air Force. During the Korean War, South African pilots flew altogether 2,890 operational missions, during which 34 pilots and two ground crew were killed in action or listed as missing in action.

The South African Medal for Korea Design

The medal is struck in silver and measures 38 mm in diameter. Around the edge is a laurel wreath, the left branch spreading from the bottom of the medal to the top, while the right branch is shorter to allow space for the inscription “KOREA”.

The obverse has the words “VRYWILLIGERS” and “VOLUNTEERS”, with outlines of the maps of the Korean Peninsula and South Africa, including South-West Africa. The maps are connected by a line with an arrowhead at each end and five wavy lines. Superimposed on the map of South Africa are the inscriptions “U. van S-A.” and “U. of S.A.”

The reverse bears the pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms and Queen Elizabeth II’s royal cipher (E II R) above the Coat of Arms.

The ribbon is 32 millimeters wide, with a 6 millimeters wide orange band and a 5 millimeters wide dark blue band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 10 millimeters wide light blue band in the center. The medal number is impressed at the bottom of the medal on the rim.

The Elizabeth Cross

The Elizabeth Cross medal is a commemorative emblem established on 1 July 2009 and awarded to next of kin of members of the British Armed Forces killed in action or as a result of a terrorist attack after WW2. The medal bears the name of the current British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.

The award was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II and eligibility is retrospective to deaths from the end of the Second World War. Previously, for those who died in the First World War relatives were presented with a memorial scroll and bronze plaque. The creation of the award was announced in a written statement to the House of Commons by Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth on 1 July, and also in a broadcast on the British Forces Broadcasting Service made by the Queen.

The Royal Warrant states that relatives of members of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary are also eligible to receive the award. The first crosses were issued by the Ministry of Defence Medal Office at Imjin Barracks, Innsworth on 1 August 2009.

The Elizabeth Cross Design

The medal is struck in sterling silver, measures 31 mm and was designed by Dayna White of Birmingham jewelers Gladman & Norman Ltd – who also made them until 2018 (from May 2018 the contract to manufacture the cross passed to Worcestershire Medal Service).

The shape is a Greek cross superimposed on another cross, with a Royal cipher in the center. Within a laurel wreath are the floral emblems of England (the Rose), Scotland (the Thistle), Ireland (the Shamrock), and Wales (the Daffolid). Its appearance is similar to the earlier Canadian Memorial Cross, awarded since 1919.

The obverse scroll bears the words:

This scroll commemorates [name] who gave his/her life for Queen and country on the [date] day of [month] [year]

The words were chosen by the previous Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion, and approved by the Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup and the three service chiefs.

Families receive a large version of the cross, and a pin-on miniature, as well as a Memorial Scroll signed by The Queen which bears the name of the person who died.

The NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal

The NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal is an award established in 1991 and awarded to both civilian members of NASA and military astronauts.

The NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal is a NASA award established in 1991 and awarded to both civilian members of NASA and military astronauts.

The medal can be awarded to a NASA employee if they make substantial contributions characterized by a substantial and significant improvement in operations, efficiency, service, financial savings, science, or technology which directly contribute to the mission of NASA. For civilians, the decoration is typically bestowed to mid-level and senior NASA administrators who have supervised at least four to five successful NASA missions. Astronauts may be awarded the decoration after two to three space flights.

The medal is authorized as a military decoration for display on active duty military uniforms upon application from the service member to the various branch of the military in which they serve.

The NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal Design

The medal is circular and struck in bronze gilt.

The reverse is plain except for the inscription “EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT“.

The ribbon has stripes in dark blue, blue, red and turquoise, with a central dark blue line.

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The NASA Exceptional Administrative Achievement Medal

The NASA Exceptional Administrative Achievement Medal is an award given to people of the federal service for significant support of NASA.

The NASA Exceptional Administrative Achievement Medal is a prestigious NASA award given to any person in the United States federal service for a significant, specific accomplishment or contribution characterized by unusual initiative or creativity that clearly demonstrates a substantial improvement in administrative support contributing to the mission of NASA.

These include:

  • Exceptional initiative in carrying out office/program support activities that resulted in improved processes and operations.
  • Development and improvement of administrative support methods and processes that resulted in substantial benefit to the office or program.
  • Notable competence and resourcefulness in accomplishing and improving office/program processes and operations.

The award is given to any civil service employee in the NASA Classification 500 Group: Clerical/Assistant and related support positions including positions engaged in routine one-grade interval clerical and support work requiring the application of practical knowledge of the established clerical or administrative systems, procedures, and techniques of a subject-matter area or program.

The NASA Exceptional Administrative Achievement Medal Design

The medal is circular and struck in bronze gilt.

The reverse is plain.

The ribbon has a central larger light blue stripe, with thin yellow and larger white stripes towards the edges.

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The NASA Equal Employment Opportunity Medal

The NASA Equal Employment Opportunity Medal is a medal awarded to individuals for outstanding achievement in diversity and inclusion.

The NASA Equal Employment Opportunity Medal is a prestigious NASA medal awarded to both Government and non-Government individuals for outstanding achievement and material contribution to the principles and goals of NASA’s equal employment opportunity, diversity, and inclusion programs, either within the Government or within community organizations or groups.

The criteria are as follows:

  • achievements are clearly superior in quality, scope, and impact, and
  • achievements are explicit and demonstrate significant results.

Outstanding achievement and material contributions to EEO can be demonstrated in a number of ways, such as:

  • Creating or promoting a work environment that is accessible and welcoming to employees with disabilities (e.g., initiated a transportation network that assists employees with disabilities commute to work).
  • Leading recruitment efforts to nontraditional sources to expand the demographic diversity of the applicant pool (e.g., established a relationship with a Historically Black College or Tribal College that resulted in more diverse Co-op students).
  • Consistently participating in programs that help ensure mentoring or coaching for members of underrepresented groups in the organization.
  • Leading cultural awareness or education events for employees.
  • Initiating outreach events for underrepresented groups in the community.
  • Volunteering to speak or conducting workshops at national conferences such as Black Engineer of the Year Award, Society of Women Engineers, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, etc.
  • Consistently utilizes summer interns from diverse cultures, including interns with disabilities.

Outstanding achievement and material contributions to diversity and inclusion can be demonstrated in a number of ways, such as:

  • Creating an inclusive work environment where employees are engaged, valued, and respected and their talents are fully utilized, for example, by championing the Agency’s Diversity and Inclusion Policy within the organization and considering and including goals of diversity and inclusion in all organizational planning.
  • Leading diversity and inclusion dialogues, and educational opportunities and encouraging employees to participate in diversity and inclusion dialogues, surveys, and training and educational opportunities.
  • Recognizing and rewarding employees for commitment to diversity and inclusion, for example as part of their performance planning and evaluation, and in nominations for leadership programs and awards.
  • Actively assuring conflicts within the organization are resolved in a positive and constructive manner, for example, by taking a leadership role in the NASA Conflict Management Program training.

Contributions that were overlooked at the time they occurred are also considered.

The NASA Equal Employment Opportunity Medal Design

The medal is circular, struck in bronze gilt, and measures 38.2 mm by 44 mm.

The reverse is plain.

The ribbon has a central larger dark blue stripe, with yellow, white and light blue stripes towards the edges.

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