The Vietnam Gallantry Cross was established in August of 1950 by the government of South Vietnam. These military medals were originally know as the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and were awarded to any military personnel who had accomplished deeds of valor or displayed heroic conduct while fighting an enemy force. Like the French Croix de guerre, upon which they were modeled, these military ribbons were issued in four ascending degrees: Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star, Gallantry Cross with Silver Star, Gallantry Cross with Gold Star, and Gallantry Cross with Palm. These devices are not worn simultaneously, but with each new and higher award replacing the former one.
The US military services authorized wear of the Vietnam Gallantry Cross in March of 1968, including retroactive presentations back to 1961. The Vietnam Gallantry Cross received by US service personnel was also issued in three versions, the first of which was the standard Gallantry Cross which was issued to members of all military branches, as well as service members of foreign and allied militaries. The other versions of the Gallantry Cross were the Air Gallantry Cross and Navy Gallantry Cross. These military awards were presented under a different authority than the standard Gallantry Cross and were considered separate decorations.
In 1974, Army General Order Number 8 authorized the Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation to every military unit of the United States Army which had served under the Military Assistance Command from 1961 to 1974. This effectively granted the unit version of the award to any member of the U.S. Army who had served for any period of time in the Republic of Vietnam. US Naval personnel uniform regulations state the recipient should wear only one Gallantry Cross award (medal or ribbon bar) regardless of the number received. For multiple awards, wear as many authorized devices as will fit on one medal or ribbon bar. Wear the devices for subsequent awards in order of seniority from the wearer’s right.
The Vietnam Gallantry Cross also is issued as a unit award which is an entirely separate decoration from the full sized medal. Known as the “Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm,” the unit citation award was created in 1968 and was issued as the Gallantry Cross ribbon, with a metal palm device, enclosed within a Gold Frame. The unit citation was issued in the name of South Vietnam to any military unit which distinguished itself to the same level as would be required for the individual award. Regulations for the issuance of the Vietnam Gallantry Cross permit the wearing of both the individual and unit award simultaneously, since they are considered separate decorations. The Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm was issued to every Allied nation which provided military support to Vietnam between March of 1961 and the fall of Saigon in April of 1975. The unit decoration thus became the most commonly awarded Vietnamese decoration to foreigners, second only to the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
These military ribbons are authorized for wear by US service personnel below the Vietnam Training Service Medals and above the Vietnam Civil Action Medal in the order of precedence for all military ribbons and medals. The decoration itself, both full medal and unit citation, are considered foreign military decorations and are not provided to Vietnam veterans by any of the United States military services. The award is available for purchase from better private military insignia dealers, and may be worn as traditional full size military medals and mini medals, military ribbons and lapel pins. Like most military medals, it is available as traditional slide-on, full size military medals or mini-medals, slide-on military ribbons, and thin military medals, mini-medals and ribbons.
