The Vietnam Medal: A testament to unwavering devotion and loyalty. Commemorating the valour and selflessness of Australian and New Zealand armed forces during the Vietnam conflict. Read more..
The Vietnam Medal is a military service medal established by the Australian and New Zealand governments in 1968 to recognize the service of their military personnel who participated in the Vietnam War. The war was fought between the communist government of North Vietnam, supported by its allies, and the government of South Vietnam, supported by the United States and other anti-communist countries, including Australia and New Zealand. The Vietnam Medal honors the service and sacrifice of those who served in the conflict and acknowledges their dedication and commitment.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Vietnam Medal, a person must have been serving in the Australian Defence Force, the New Zealand Defence Force, or as a civilian employed by the Australian or New Zealand governments during the Vietnam War. The individual must have completed 28 days of service, either continuous or aggregated, in Vietnam or its adjacent waters between 29 May 1964 and 27 January 1973. The medal can also be awarded to those who completed one day of service if they were killed, wounded, or captured during the conflict.
Design
The Vietnam Medal is designed as a circular, silver-nickel medallion featuring the crowned effigy of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse, with the inscription "ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F.D." surrounding the effigy. The reverse of the medal displays a symbolic representation of the mythological Greek figure Hermes, the messenger of the gods, with a background of flames, symbolizing the harsh conditions faced by those who served in Vietnam.
Ribbon
The ribbon of the Vietnam Medal features three central red stripes over a base of yellow, which in turn is bordered by thicker red stripes, and bordered with dark blue on the left, and light blue on the right. The red stripes represent the blood shed by those who fought for the freedom of South Vietnam, the yellow stripes represent the Vietnamese national colors, and the blue stripes represent the naval and air forces of Australia and New Zealand.
The Vietnam Medal is a symbol of the service and sacrifice of Australian and New Zealand military personnel who served during the Vietnam War. It is a testament to their dedication and commitment in the pursuit of peace and freedom, and a reminder of the challenges they faced in a difficult and controversial conflict.
If you order your medal unmounted, the medal and ribbon will be supplied as separate components. Miniature medals will be supplied with 15cm of ribbon and full size medals will be supplied with 30cm of ribbon.
The court mounting of medals involves securing medals to a stiff backing board, along with the placement of a brooch fitting on the board. This ensures that the medals remain firmly in place and do not shift or move about while being worn.
It is mandatory for active members of the Australian Defence Force to have their medals court mounted, as it is considered the appropriate method of presenting military honours in a professional and respectful manner. By doing so, the medals are given proper recognition and are displayed in a neat and organized fashion.The swing mounting of medals refers to the attachment of a medal to a ribbon that is allowed to hang freely from a brooch, which in turn is affixed to a uniform or clothing. This mounting style was commonly used for medals from the Boer War up to and including World War II, although there are no fixed guidelines or regulations regarding its use.
Miniature Court Mounted medals are mounted using the same method as Full size medals, yet they are typically worn to ceremonies were wearing full size medals would be impractical. These medals are commonly worn to all ceremonies that take place after 6 pm such as dinners.
Miniature Swing Mounted medals are mounted using the same method as Full size medals, yet they are typically worn to ceremonies were wearing full size medals would be impractical. These medals are commonly worn to all ceremonies that take place after 6 pm such as dinners.
A ribbon bar is a small, rectangular display of ribbons worn on military uniforms to represent various honours and awards earned by the wearer. These ribbons are arranged in a specific order and are attached to a backing, which is then attached to the uniform. Ribbon bars are a compact and convenient way for military personnel to display their achievements and are often used in situations where a full-sized medal or award would be impractical.
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