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Recon 13
 
1st Reconnaissance Battalion

Awards and Decorations 1968-1969

 
Combat Action Ribbon

Authorized on February 17, 1969, this ribbon is awarded to members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard for combat action service. The principal requirement is that the personnel must have been in a ground or surface combat fire-fight, or action during which they were under enemy fire, and that their performance under fire must have been satisfactory.


National Defense Service Medal

Authorized on April 22, 1953 and amended on January 11, 1966, this medal was awarded for honorable active military service as a member of the United States Armed Forces, including the Coast Guard, between June 27, 1950 and July 27, 1954 (Korean War period) and between January 1, 1961 and August 14, 1974, (Vietnam War Period). It has most recently been awarded to military members for service during the Persian Gulf War period.

Vietnam Service Medal  


All military personal that served in RVN are entitled to the award.  Addition or subsequent awards for each additional Campaign. Authorized on July 19, 1965 and awarded to all service members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, between July 4, 1965 and March 28, 1973, served in Vietnam and the contiguous waters, and airspace, in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia or airspace in direct support of military operations in Vietnam. Personnel previously awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for services between July 1958 and July 1965 could exchange these medals for the Vietnam Service Medal.

NOTES:  - Ribbon and one (1) bronze star with first award
                - Additional bronze stars awarded for each subsequent period of service
                        - A silver star is used in place of five (5) bronze stars

 


Eligible Campaign periods

    • I - 15 March 1962 to 7 March 1965 - Vietnam Advisory Campaign
    • II - 8 March 1965 to 24 December 1965 - Vietnam Defense Campaign
    • III - 25 December 1965 to 30 June 1966 - Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase
    • IV - 1 July 1966 to 31 May 1967 - Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase II
    • V - 1 June 1967 to 29 January 1968 - Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase III
    • VI - 30 January 1968 to 1 April 1968 - TET Counteroffensive
    • VII - 2 April 1968 to 30 June 1968 - Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase IV
    • VIII - 1 July 1968 to 1 November 1968 - Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase V
    • IX - 2 November 1968 to 22 February 1969 - Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase VI
    • X - 23 February 1969 to 8 June 1969 - TET 69/Counteroffensive
    • XI - 9 June 1969 to 31 October 1969 - Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    • XII - 1 November 1969 to 30 April 1970 - Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
    • XIII - 1 May 1970 to 30 June 1970 - Sanctuary Counteroffensive
    • XIV - 1 July 1970 to 30 June 1971 - Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase VII
    • XV - 1 July 1971 to 30 November 1971 - Consolidation I
    • XVI - 1 December 1971 to 29 March 1972 - Consolidation II
    • XVII - 30 March 1972 to 28 January 1973 - Vietnam Cease Fire Campaign

Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medal and Unit Citation

Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medal and Unit Citation

Awarded to all military personnel who served in-country Vietnam between 8 February 1962 and 28 March 1973 and to U.S. Army Vietnam and its subordinate units for the period 20 July 1965 to 28 March 1973.


The Vietnam Gallantry Cross is a military decoration of South Vietnam which was established in August 1950. Also known as the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Gallantry Cross is awarded to any military personnel who have accomplished deeds of valor or displayed heroic conduct while fighting an enemy force. It was modelled after the French Croix de guerre.

Medal degrees

The Gallantry Cross is issued in four degrees, with a basic medal followed by higher degrees which are the equivalent of personal citations on an organizational level (also known as having been "mentioned in dispatches"). The degrees of the Gallantry Cross are as follows:

  • Gallantry Cross with Palm (Individual Award) ["cited before the Army"]
  • Gallantry Cross with Gold Star (Corps citation) ["cited before the Corps"]
  • Gallantry Cross with Silver Star (Division citation) ["cited before the Division"]
  • Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star (Regiment or Brigade citation) ["cited before the Regiment"]

The devices to the Gallantry Cross are not worn simultaneously but instead are upgradeable to the next higher device which would replace the previous device for wear on the decoration.

For U.S. Navy 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.

 Service Versions

The Vietnam Gallantry Cross 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 decorations were awarded under a different authority than the standard Gallantry Cross and were considered separate decorations.

 Unit Award

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 both 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 1 March 1961 and the fall of Saigon in April 1975. The unit decoration thus became the most commonly awarded Vietnamese decoration to foreigners, second only to the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

 United States issuance

The United States military began authorizing the Vietnam Gallantry Cross in March 1968 with retroactive presentation of the decoration to 1961. 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. Members of other services were not affected by the Army General Order and still required individual or unit orders for the Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation to be awarded.

The National Personnel Records Center is the agency which responds to retroactive award requests, from U.S. Army veterans, updating military records to show the Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation per Army General Order 8. 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 decoration is available for purchase at most Military Installations military clothing sales. But if they are unable to access a military installation, private military insignia dealers have them on hand. The decoration may also be found for sale on the Internet.


Vietnam Gallantry Cross

Medal degrees
Type Four-degree military award. The four degrees are:
Gallantry Cross with Palm
Gallantry Cross with Gold Star
Gallantry Cross with Silver Star
Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star
Eligibility Awarded to military individuals, corps, divisions, regiments, and brigades
Awarded for accomplishing deeds of valor or displayed heroic conduct while fighting an enemy force.
Status No longer awarded

VIETNAM GALLANTRY CROSS WITH PALM

Awarded to all military personnel who served in-country Vietnam between 8 February 1962 and 28 March 1973 and to U.S. Army Vietnam and its subordinate units for the period 20 July 1965 to 28 March 1973.


VIETNAM GALLANTRY CROSS WITH GOLD STAR

VIETNAM GALLANTRY CROSS WITH SILVER STAR

VIETNAM GALLANTRY CROSS WITH BRONZE STAR

Vietnam Gallantry Cross

Unit Award
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation with Gold Frame
 
 (Ribbon Only)

Awarded to all military personnel who served in-country Vietnam between 8 February 1962 and 28 March 1973 and to U.S. Army Vietnam and its subordinate units for the period 20 July 1965 to 28 March 1973. 
(See the bottom note on this meritorious unit citation.)


VIETNAM GALLANTRY CROSS UNIT STREAMER

Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who have served for a six-month period in Vietnam, its surrounding waters or in air support against an armed enemy in Vietnam between March 1, 1961 and March 28, 1973. The time limit is waived if the recipient was killed, wounded or captured at any time before the limit.

The Vietnam Campaign Medal is a military recognition awarded by the Republic of Vietnam, (also known as South Vietnam), to any member of the United States, Australian, New Zealand and allied military forces, who completed at least six months of duty in South Vietnam between the dates of 1 March 1961 and 28 March 1973.

Established in 1966, the decoration is a service medal of the Vietnam War and was the most commonly bestowed foreign military award to United States military personnel prior to the Gulf War.

The decoration may also be awarded to any service member who, while serving outside the geographical limits of the Republic of Vietnam, provided direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces for a period exceeding six months. This stipulation most often applies to members who performed Vietnam War support from Thailand and Japan. In such cases, a US service member must have been awarded either the Vietnam Service Medal or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (for service in a Vietnam campaign) to be eligible for the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

For those members who were wounded by an enemy force, captured by the enemy in the line of duty, or killed in action, the Vietnam Campaign Medal is automatically awarded regardless of total time served in Vietnam.

The Vietnam Campaign Medal is issued with a device known as the “1960 Bar”. The bar displays the date of 1960 followed by a dash and a blank space. The unusual appearance was caused by the government of the Republic of Vietnam stating that the 1960 bar would show the dates of the Vietnam War from start to finish, with the ending date placed on the 1960 bar after the South Vietnamese had triumphed over North Vietnam (the Democratic Republic of Vietnam). Since South Vietnam fell, and the government ceased to exist, an ending date for the 1960 Bar was never established.

In addition to the 1960 Bar, Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Memorandum 2655 prescribed a second device for service during the period 8 March 1949 - 20 July 1954 (which had both years displayed). American military personnel have never been authorized to wear it, but since this was during the French colonial period it is unlikely that many would have been eligible.

The Vietnam Campaign Medal is considered a foreign award by the U.S., Australian and New Zealand governments. The U.S. equivalent award is known as the Vietnam Service Medal. The joint Australian and New Zealand campaign medal awarded for service in the Vietnam War is the Vietnam Medal.

Other frequently bestowed Vietnam awards include the Vietnam Civil Actions Medal and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross, both of which were awarded extensively to both Vietnamese military service members and to the members of foreign militaries.


Basic Jump Wings


(Minimum of 5 Jumps)

BUPERS Notice 1020 of 12 July 1963 announced approval of a new wing insignia for Navy and Marine Corps Parachutists.
The change to the 1959 Uniform Regulations stated that the old Parachutist insignia would be renamed Basic Parachutist insignia in keeping with Army and Air Force nomenclature.
The new Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist device was "a gold embroidered (Navy only) or gold-colored metal pin
, the same as that provided for Naval Aviator’s insignia, except that a gold-colored open parachute shall be centered on the wings vice the shield and foul


Gold Jump Wings

(Minimum 10 Jumps)

To qualify to wear the insignia, a parachutist must have previously qualified for the Basic Parachutist insignia described above and have, under competent orders,
completed a minimum of five additional static line or free-fall jumps with a Navy or Marine Corps organization whose mission includes parachute jumping.
O
nce a person has qualified for the Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist insignia, that insignia shall be worn in lieu of the Basic Parachutist insignia.


Scuba Badge

Marine Combat Diver (MCD) – Marines work with scuba and the MK 25 closed-circuit rebreather to ultimately become Marine Reconnaissance
Combatant Swimmers. It is 35 training days in length and divided into four modules of instruction:
Physical Conditioning, Combat diver fundamentals, USMC Open Circuit SCUBA, and USMC Closed Circuit operations.
The course provides underwater infiltration tactical training in accordance with current Marine Corps training and mission performance standards.

Meritorious Unit Citation Note:
 From SECNAVINST 1650.1G Chapter 7, pages 7-11 and 7-12.

A.. Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation

(1) Authorization. Awarded by the Chief of the Joint General Staff, Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces in two colors:


Gallantry Cross Medal Color with Palm (8 Feb 62 to 28 Mar 73)

 


and the Civil Actions Medal, First Class Color with Palm (1 Jan 65 to 28 Mar 73).

 

The Secretary of the Navy has specifically authorized certain units of the naval service to accept this award.
Such authorization is required in all cases for participation.

(2) Eligibility Requirements. The ribbon bar with frame and palm are authorized for wear by personnel who served with certain cited units in
Southeast Asia during the approved periods. Lists of approved ships and units, which have been cited, are maintained by the CNO and CMC.

(3) In addition to those specific ships/units cited, all Navy and Marine Corps personnel who served "in country" Vietnam
during the eligibility periods are eligible for both awards.

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Unit Awards and Decorations - Recon 17
The Memory Remains Not All Wounds Are Visible - Recon 18
Purple Heart - Recon 19
Vietnam Footage & Memorials - Recon 20
Vietnam Memorials & Monuments part 2
Battles of the Vietnam War Hamburger Hill
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,  My Missions in Nam (Coming soon), Photos of 1st Recon Battalion in Nam, Recon Missions the units Patrol Reports 1968-1969 (coming soon),   A Summer Day in Nam - My Story (Coming soon),   Recon 1  The War,  Recon 2 Tet Offensive in Nam 1968, Tet Offensive in Nam 1969 (Coming soon),  Recon 3 Vietnam War Timeline,  Recon 4 President Richard M. Nixon's Report on Vietnam, Recon 5 1950's US send troops to Vietnam,   Recon 6 The French Foreign Legion in Vietnam,  Recon 7 Hill 200 my story with photos (Coming soon), Recon 8 - Maps & Artifacts - The Time Capsule (Coming soon), Recon 9 1st Recon Battalion Units photos, Recon 10 Sounds from Nam (Coming soon),  Recon 11 Reunion Photos, Recon 12  Helicopters in Nam, Recon 13 1st Recon Bn. Awards & Decorations, Recon 14 Navy & Marine Corps Awards and Decorations, Recon 15 Marine Corps Awards & Decorations, Recon 16 Personal Awards & Decorations, Recon 17 Information on Unit Awards, Recon 18 The Memory Remains Not All Wounds Are Visible, Recon 19 Purple Heart (Coming soon) & Recon 20 Vietnam Footage & Memorials, Vietnam Memorials & Monuments part 2  No Man Left Behind part 1, No Man Left Behind part 2, No Man Left Behind part 3 (Coming soon) ,1st Recon Bn.com Photo Gallery , 1st Recon Bn. Association Messages, 1st Marine Division Association Messages, Battles of the Vietnam War, Hamburger Hill, Vietnam 1968, Vietnam 1969, Vietnam Today, The Day The Eagle Cried, My Message Board. 

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