South Vietnamese Army Distinguished Service Order, Second Class

South Vietnamese Army Distinguished Service Order, Second Class. A Maltese cross in white enamel with divided rays. Between the rays are golden trident heads, and in the centre is a red disc containing three narrow triangles in gold, surrounded by an orange band containing the words 'LUC-QUAN HUAN CHUONG' in gold. On the reverse is stamped the words 'VIET-NAM' in a lined circle. The ribbon is a two armed embroidered design in tan and green, each arm crossing the other three times and ending in a hanging fringe behind the medal.

The Vietnam Distinguished Service Order was a military decoration of South Vietnam which was awarded throughout the years of the Vietnam War. The decoration was bestowed for meritorious or heroic deeds related to war time operations and was awarded for both combat and non-combat service.

There were two classes of the Vietnam Distinguished Service Order, the first class being for officers and the second class for enlisted personnel. The first class of the order was differentiated by a blossom device centered on the medal and ribbon.

The Vietnam Distinguished Service Order was also provided to foreign militaries, and in the United States military the decoration was considered the equivalent of the Legion of Merit. For foreign officers, the 2nd class of the order was also provided to officers.

The decoration ranked immediately below the National Order of Vietnam and the Vietnam Military Merit Medal. It was among the less commonly bestowed medals, in contrast to such decorations as the Vietnam Gallantry Cross and Vietnam Campaign Medal.

The last issuance of the Vietnam Distinguished Service Order was in 1974, before the Fall of Saigon.

Five of these Second Class decorations were awarded to Australian servicemen, but permission from the Australian Government for them to be worn was not granted until the late 1990s. Recipients were: Colonels P Falkland, A B Stretton and D D Weir, and Lieutenant Colonels P T F Gowans and R F Gregg. Only one First Class Army Distinguished Order was awarded to an Australian, Brigadier F P Serong.