Vietnam Service Medal and Ribbon

Vietnam Service Ribbon
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Service Ribbon


Vietnam Service Medal

History - Established 1965

Established on July 8, 1965, the Vietnam Service Medal honors members of the United States military who carried out service in the Vietnam War. To qualify, service must have lasted at least 30 days consecutively or 60 days non-consecutively, or for one or more days in direct support of ground or naval operations in designated combat zones in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, or Vietnam. Eligible dates are between November 15, 1961 and March 28, 1973.

A full list of eligible operations and campaigns follows below:

-Vietnam Advisory Campaign, between March 15, 1962 and March 7, 1965
-Vietnam Defense Campaign, between July 4, 1965 and December 24, 1965
-Vietnam Counteroffensive Campaign, Phase 1 between December 25, 1965 and June 30, 1966; Phase 2 between July 1, 1966 and May 31, 1967; Phase 3 between June 1, 1967 and January 29, 1968; Phase 4 between April 2, 1968 and June 30, 1968; Phase 5 between July 1, 1968 and November 1, 1968; Phase 6 between November 2,968 and February 22, 1969; Phase 7 between July 1, 1970 and June 30, 1971
-Tet Counteroffensive between January 30, 1968 and April 1, 1968
-Tet ‘69 Counteroffensive between February 23, 1969 and June 8, 1969
-Vietnam Summer/Fall 1969 between June 9, 1969 and October 31, 1969
-Vietnam Winter/Spring 1970 between November 1, 1969 and April 30, 1970
-Sanctuary Counteroffensive between May 1, 1970 and June 30, 1970
-Consolidation 1 between July 1, 1971 and November 30, 1971
-Consolidation 2 between December 1, 1971 and March 20, 1972
-Vietnam Cease-Fire Campaign between March 30, 1972 and January 28, 1973

Details

The medal features the image of a dragon in a bamboo grove and an inscription reading “REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM SERVICE.” The reverse of the medal features a crossbow and a torch alight as well as an inscription reading “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” The ribbon is yellow with three thin vertical red stripes toward the center and a thin green stripe on each edge.

Subsequent awards may be indicated by service stars, oak leaf clusters, or the Fleet Marine Device as appropriate.

Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Silver Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze Star
Silver Star
Fleet Marine
Bronze Arrowhead

Precedence