Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Miniature

REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MINI MEDAL

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, also known as the Vietnam Campaign Medal was created in 1949. Originally awarded to French military personnel during the First Indochina War. 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.

The medal was awarded for two different periods of service in Vietnam. The first period for the award was from 8 March 1949 to 20 July 1954. The second period was from 1 January 1960 to the end of the Vietnam War (the date was to be given when the war ended and North Vietnam was defeated). 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 73, when the last U.S. troops left South Vietnam in accordance with the Paris Peace Accords.