Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm
Awarded to All members of the Armed Forces of the United States and other Nations for valorous achievement in combat during the Vietnam conflict, March 1, 1961 through March 28, 1973. The Vietnam Cross of Gallantry is the equivalent of the French Croix de Guerre.
The medal is a symbol of gratitude to the American and Allied soldiers who once worked and fought and sacrificed themselves for the freedom of the Republic of Vietnam.
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 awarded on Army Level (Palm), Corps Level (Gold Star), Division Level (Silver Star) and Brigade Level (Bronze laurel leaf or 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.
1. Description:
A Gold color medal, 1 3/8 inches in width, consisting of a wreath superimposed by two crossed scimitars saltirewise and a Maltese cross. In the center of the Maltese cross a disc with an outline of the country of Vietnam between two palm sprigs joined at the bottom and a scroll overall inscribed "QUOC-GIA LAO-TUONG" (Reward of the State).
2. Ribbon:
The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 3/8 inch Old Glory Red 67156; center 5/8 inch Golden Yellow 67104 with 16 strands of Old Glory Red; and 3/8 inch Old Glory Red.
3. Criteria:
a. U.S. Military units were individually cited for award of the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross; however, the Vietnamese Government issued the award to all units subordinate to Military Assistance Command (MACV) during the period 8 February 1962 and 28 March 1973 and to U.S. Army Vietnam and its subordinate units for the period 20 July 1965 to 28 March 1973. This permits all personnel who served in Vietnam to wear the RVN Gallantry Cross unit citation.
b. The medal was awarded by the Vietnam Government to military personnel who have accomplished deeds of valor or displayed heroic conduct while fighting the enemy and have been cited individually at the regiment, brigade, division, corps, or armed forces level.
4. Components:
The following are authorized components of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross:
a. Medal (regular size): Not issued. Available commercially.
b. Medal (miniature size): Not issued. Available commercially.
c. Ribbon: MIL-R-11589/173. Commercially available.
d. Streamers: Awarded to cited units. Inscription is as indicated on the unit's lineage and honors. Requisition in accordance with Chapter 9, Army Regulation (AR) 840-10.
e. Full-Size Medal Display: The full-size medal is provided in the standard-length by United States manufacturers for wear on civilian clothing or all non-Vietnamese military uniforms. The 24-inch neck ribbon common to Vietnamese medals is authorized only to Vietnamese military personnel. United States manufacturers of the full-size medal may produce the ribbon only in the standard 1-inch to 1.75-inch length.
5. Background:
a. The Vietnam Cross of Gallantry is the equivalent of the French Croix de Guerre. The RVN Gallantry Cross was established by the Vietnam Government by Decree No. 74-b/Qt, dated 15 August 1950 and Decree No. 96/DQT/HC, dated 2 May 1952. Authorization for all U.S. Army personnel was confirmed in HDQA General Orders No. 8, dated 19 March 1974. Authorization for other branches of the military defers to the Army authorization date.
b. Only one emblem (with palm) will be worn regardless of the number of times the unit was awarded the RVN Gallantry Cross. The Army initially authorized the wear of a fourragere by letter AGPB-AC, Subject: Wear of Vietnamese Unit Awards by U.S. Army Personnel, dated 11 February 1969, for units which had been awarded the RVN Gallantry Cross with palm on two or more occasions. Department of the Army message 111030Z April 1974, established the policy that only one emblem was authorized, thus precluding the wear of the Vietnamese fourrageres which represented multiple awards.
RVN Gallantry Cross Medal w/Palm Instituted: 1950 Criteria: Awarded for valor and heroic conduct while fighting the enemy. Notes: Palm device is citation for unit awards & for medal award at Army or higher level. RVN Gallantry Cross Medal w/Gold Star Instituted: 1950 Criteria: Awarded for valor and heroic conduct while fighting the enemy. Notes: Gold Star device is for citation at the Corps level. RVN Gallantry Cross Medal w/Silver Star Instituted: 1950 Criteria: Awarded for valor and heroic conduct while fighting the enemy. Notes: Silver Star device is for citation at the Division level. RVN Gallantry Cross Medal w/Bronze Star Instituted: 1950 Criteria: For valor and heroic conduct while fighting the enemy. Notes: Bronze Star device is for citation at the Brigade and Regiment levels.
US MARINES
NAVAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
__________________________________________________________________
AUTHORIZATION OF AND MARINE UNITS AWARDED THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM ARMED FORCES MERITORIOUS UNIT CITATION OF THE GALLANTRY CROSS WITH PALM __________________________________________________________________
FROM: CMC
261139Z/47 (MAY 1970)
TO: ALMAR
UNCLAS //NO1650//
1
The Secretary of the Navy has approved the acceptance of the subjec award fo the 3rd Marine Amphibious Force to include all Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard units attached to, or serving therewith during the period 8 March 1965 through 20 September 1969
2The Bureau of Naval personnel, Navy Department will promulgate this award in the very near future listing all units of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard entitled to the award including their dates of participation
3SECNAV also approved the acceptance of this award for Army and Air Force units attached to and serving with the 3rd Marine Amphibious Force during the period in question. By separate correspondence SECNAV requested the Departments of the Army and Air Force to promulgate the award to Army and Air Force units entitled thereto
4Although individual unit awards were also presented in the field to the below-listed units, the preclude duplicaion of awards, SECNAV approved acceptance of only the 3rd Marine Amphibious Force award. These awards will be retained at Headqarters Marine Corps with no further action taken
All Marine Corps members serving in Vietnam after 20 September 1969 are subject to paragraph "6" below
5All Marine Corps Units under the Operational Control of the 3rd Marine Amphibious Force during the period are entitled to this awar and as such are considered cited units within themselves and all such units which are authorized flags, are entitled to fly the streamer of the Gallantry Cross with Palm
6the Gallantry Cross issued by the Secretary of the Army or the Military Assistance Command (MACV) during the period 8 February 1962 and 28 March 1973 and to the U.S. Army and its subordinate units including All Marine Corps members serving in Vietnam who after 20 September 1969 came under the Operational Control of the United states Army. This permits all personnel who served in Vietnam to wear the RVN Gallantry Cross unit citation.
7All personnel of the abovementioned units, during the period in question, who are present and serving in Vietnam are authorized to wear the Gallantry Cross Ribbon bar with Palm and Frame. Commanding Officers will determine eligibility from entres in SRB's and OQR's, authorized the wearing of the ribbon and ente such authority in SRB's of enlisted men, and in the case of Officers, forward a copy of the authorizing letter to CMC (Code DGH) for file on their official record. Where records are not available to make determinations from, applications should be sent to the Commandant of the Marine Corps (Code DL)
8The ribbon bar will not be issued by this Heaquarters, but may be purchased at Marine Corps exchanges and Military shops
9Extensions of tours or an additional tour with one or more units entitled to this award will not constitute a basis for a second award of the subject Citation, nor is a device authorised for a future/additional award this decoration decoration
