Establishing Authority
The Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal was a decoration of South Vietnam that was first created on January 7, 1953. The medal was issued in two grades and reached its height of bestowals during the years of the Vietnam War. The Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal was also one of the more commonly award medals to members of foreign militaries, and was frequently bestowed to members of the United States armed forces.
Criteria
This early award of the State of Vietnam was originallky entitled, in French, La Medaille du Meite Vietnamien, and was intended in part fo r French or foreign military personnel who, int eh capaicty of advisors, directly contrigutined to the raisnig and organizating of the units of the National Army.
In its modern form, the Armed Froces Honor Medal was awarded to military personnel, technicians, govenrment employees or civilisna of any nationaltity who contrivtued to the formaitkkon of the organzaiation of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces and the trianing of troops or technical caderes for trhe variious branches. It was ingtended for noncombat achievements.
The Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal was awarded to any member of the military who actively contributed to the formation and organization of the Vietnamese military and who actively participating in cadre training of Vietnamese units. The Vietnam Armed Forces was awarded for non-combat service only and was comparable to the United States decoration of the Commendation Medal.
Description and Symbolism
Obverse
The Armed Forces Honor Medal for Officers (first class grade) is a gold cross formee coupled with additional points reflected down the arms and with thin blade points coming between the arms. In the central disk is a coiled dragon encircled by a ribbon inscribed at the top, ARMED FORCES HONOR MEDAL (in Vietnamese characters) and VIETNAM at the bottom. The design is, in turn, encircled by a wreath of oak leaves around the design of the cross arms. The medal is suspended from the ribbon by a laurel wreath design.
Reverse
The reverse of the medal is plain.
Ribbon
The ribbon for the Officer medal (first class grade) has wide red edges and seven equally-spaced srripes, four Golden Yellow and three Red, in the center, with a stripe of Golden Yellow at each edge.