The Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ( vi, Danh-Dự Bội-Tinh) was a military decoration of South Vietnam that was first created on January 7, 1953. The medal was awarded in two classes and reached its height of bestowal during the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietnam a ...

. It was frequently awarded to members of foreign militaries, including

military advisor Military advisors, or combat advisors, advise on military matters. Some are soldiers sent to foreign countries to aid such countries with their military training, organization, and other various military tasks. The Foreign powers or organizations ...

s of the

United States Armed Forces The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is ...

. The Armed Forces Honor Medal was awarded to any member of the military who actively contributed to the formation and organization of the Vietnamese military in South Vietnam and who actively participating in cadre training of Vietnamese units. It was intended for non-combat achievements. The first-class medal was awarded to

commissioned officers An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service. Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer, or a warrant officer. However, absent context ...

and the second class medals were awarded to

warrant officers Warrant officer (WO) is a rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of the commissioned ranks, the most ...

and

enlisted personnel An enlisted rank (also known as an enlisted grade or enlisted rate) is, in some armed services, any rank below that of a commissioned officer. The term can be inclusive of non-commissioned officers or warrant officers, except in United States mi ...

. The first-class medallion is gold and the second class' silver. Suspension and

service ribbon A medal ribbon, service ribbon or ribbon bar is a small ribbon, mounted on a small metal bar equipped with an attaching device, which is generally issued for wear in place of a medal when it is not appropriate to wear the actual medal. Each cou ...

s for the two grades were distinguished by a gold and red pattern for the first class and two red patterns reaching each side on the second class. Both ribbons had three central light blue vertical stripes. Today, the medal is only available from private dealers in military insignia.

Notable recipients

Charles Alvin Beckwith Charles Alvin "Charlie" Beckwith (January 22, 1929 – June 13, 1994) was a career U.S. Army Special Forces officer best remembered for creating Delta Force, the premier counterterrorism and asymmetrical warfare unit of the U.S. Army, bas ...

* Frederick C. Blesse *

William Francis Buckley William Francis Buckley (May 30, 1928 – June 3, 1985) was a United States Army officer in the United States Army Special Forces, and a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) station chief in Beirut from 1984 until 1985. His cover was as a politica ...

* Jon R. Cavaiani * Joseph W. Dailey * Wesley L. Fox *

George Patton IV George Smith Patton IV (December 24, 1923 – June 27, 2004) was a major general in the United States Army and the son of World War II General George S. Patton Jr. He served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Military career Patton was e ...

* Wilbur F. Simlik * Ormond R. Simpson * Bernard E. Trainor * Frederick C. Weyand * Herbert L. Wilkerson * James C. Hester * John R. Mac

References

External links

*
Military Orders, Decorations, and Medals of the Republic of Vietnam
{{ARVN Military awards and decorations of Vietnam