Posted on Jul 25, 2016
Why has the Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVNCM) attachment never been updated?
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The official attachent (device) for an RVNCM has the date 1960 with a dash after it and then a space. The thought is that the device would eventually be updated to include the date of the end of the war, but this never happened. Isn't it time to finish the job and update this medal? It may be a small thing, but it seems disrepectful to me to leave this medal incomplete.
Vietnam War
Medals
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
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Probably because it was established by the Government of the Republic of Vietnam, a nation that no longer exists.
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PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM
You know the difference between the Palm that is on the Individual Award and the Tree Branch that is on the Unit Award? NOT A DAMN THING! The Distributors that the U.S Military used did not have a small Palm in stock when they needed to start sending the Unit Ribbons out so they substituted the tree branch for the Palm and it has never been corrected by he US Government. After the Fall of Saigon President Nguyen Van Thieu was interviewed in Paris, one of the Questions concerned the discrepancies of the medal and Ribbons to US Service personnel. He said "there was no difference between the Individual Medal and the Unit Ribbon, Except bad suppliers. The Unit Ribbon is the Ribbon for the Individual medal but with a Frame." It seems after investigation, the US Military used a Japanese supplier for the initial Unit Award Ribbons. Hence the culprit is unmasked. The same goes for the RVN Civil Actions Unit Citation. It should have a Palm and not a tree branch. For what it's worth... there is a little history for you.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
SFC William Farrell - Yep, in fact I have that medal but then so did all 620 men in our unit. It sounds more impressive than it actually is. That medal can be purchased but it was not issued by the US Government as a foreign decoration. The same hold true for the Viet Nam campaign medal. Both are listed however on the Military Personnel record (I have the printout of that ) and also on My DD Form 214. As foreign decorations though they are lowest in the order of precedence after all US decorations on Your display of ribbons or hanging medals. I was issued all the hanging medals, the ribbons with them but had to purchase the two foreign decorations I have.
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They can add the end date after the last Vietnam Vet dies. Sadly, the war followed us home and continued here. Many are still fighting it. I know that I occasionally run into some old peacenik who is wont to belabor the point with me.
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Cpl Lawrence Lavictoire
I was playing a card game on the internet and chatted with a player. I mentioned I was in PhuBai VietNam an they called me, " baby killing piece of &*%#@! That sure brought back some sick, sad memories to me!!!!!!!!!
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I just read that the 1960 device was supposed to have the end date of the war when South Vietnam triumphed over North Vietnam. However, with the collapse and surrender of South Vietnam that date will remain blank. The award was issued by the South Vietnamese government which no longer exists, so the United States government does not have the authority to fix it.
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