South Vietnamese Military Merit Medal, Award of the Second Republic

Republic of Vietnam Military Merit Medal. An award of the Second Republic. This decoration was the South Vietnamese equivalent of the French Medaille Militaire. It is a circular gold coloured medal, the obverse bearing the words 'TO-QUOC-TRI-AN' ('The gratitude of the Fatherland') in a central disc. A thin band around the disc contains the words 'QUAN-CONG-BOI-TINH', and the whole is surrounded by a wreath. The reverse is similar, but the words 'VIET-NAM CONG HOA' appear in the central disc. The medal is suspended from a pair of rings supporting a trophy of arms (crossed swords). The ribbon is yellow, with a broad green and narrow white stripe at each edge. In the centre are seven closely grouped green lines.

The Vietnamese Military Merit Medal (Vietnamese: Quân công b¿i tinh) was the highest military decoration bestowed to enlisted personnel, by the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) during the years of the Vietnam War. The medal was established on August 15, 1950. The Military Merit Medal was modeled after the French Médaille Militaire and was awarded mostly to Enlisted Men for valor in combat. The Vietnamese National Order of Vietnam was considered the equivalent decoration for military officers.
The Military Merit Medal is awarded or awarded posthumously to Non-Commissioned Officers (including Aspirants) and Enlisted Men in the Armed Forces, who have:
--Previously received citations at the Armed Forces level.
--Been wounded once or many times in combat.
--Distinguished themselves by their heroic actions.
--Served in an honorable manner for at least 13 years.

The Military Merit Medal may be awarded or posthumously awarded to Allied Non-Commissioned Officers and Enlisted Men for valor while fighting the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam.

"Ten of these decorations were awarded to Australian servicemen, but permission from the Australian Government for them to be worn was not granted until the late 1990's. Recipients were: Captain B F McGurgan, Warrant Officers J T Malone, L Steele, R J Swanton and K A Wheatley VC, Corporals A H T Fotheringham and F J Smith, Lance Corporal T Ross and Privates R E Field and W L Nalder.