The Vietnam Medal (1968)

• Time Period: Post-WW2
• Year of Institution: 1968
• Country: Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand

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.