This is the Campaign Medal of the former Republic of Vietnam. The medals have been awarded to all South Vietnamese soldiers and to American or other Allied soldiers who served military service in the Vietnam War, by the president of the RVN.
The scroll in the medal is inscribed with [1960-1973],connoting the year when the Communist forces began attacking South Vietnam overtly, and the year when the Paris Peace Agreement was signed on January 27. On another version of the medal, the inscription reads [1960- ], that means the war did not ended as stated in the Paris Agreement.
This medal can be seen on Vietnam War veterans or their pictures, even in movies and TV films. On the chest of a holder, it is in the lowest row and the last closer to the left sleeve.
Besides, some other RVN medals have also been awarded to many Allied servicemen. They include the Cross of Gallantry, with different degrees: Bronze Star, Silver Star, Gold Star, and Gold Palm Leave - the highest.
The medals will be forever on the Vietnam War veterans' pictures for the future generations to contemplate. They are symbols of gratitude to the American and Allied soldiers who once worked and fought and sacrificed themselves for the freedom of the Republic of Vietnam.
They also prove that the American and Allied forces had been fighting in Vietnam for the right cause which has been proved by the facts that two million Vietnamese have fled Vietnam since Saigon fell to the hands of the Communists despite the risks that perished several ten thousand others on high seas and jungle tracks. It is also proved by the current situation in Vietnam: no freedom and democracy, plenty of social evils including incurable corruption, worst human rights records, ill management in economy, administrative affairs, technology, education, health care...
There has been a genius contrivance of the Communists and those who are against the nationalist side in Vietnam, to project the Vietnam War as if the Republic were not in existence.
The RVN, however, did exist as a democracy, then second to no country in the Third World in freedoms and human rights records even during war time. But at least it was hundred times much better than the Hanoi regime today.
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