Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation

The Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation was a military unit award established by the State of Vietnam (1949–1955) as the State of Vietnam Friendship Ribbon on August 15, 1950.[1] The Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation is considered obsolete since the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) (1955–1975) no longer exists.

Please see "Presidential Unit Citation (disambiguation)" for other nations' versions of this award
Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation


(State of Vietnam Friendship Ribbon)
TypeUnit award
Presented by South Vietnam
StatusNo longer awarded
EstablishedBy the State of Vietnam (1949–1955), August 15, 1950
First awarded1955
Last awardedUnknown (Republic of Vietnam (1955–1975))
Streamer

History

The State of Vietnam Friendship Ribbon (aka State of Vietnam Ribbon of Friendship, Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation, and Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation) with gold frame, was awarded to the members of the U.S. Military Assistance Advisory Group who served in Indo-China[2] during August and September 1954 and participated in humanitarian assistance to Vietnam.[3] The unit award was approved for wear by the U.S. Department of the Army, General Orders No. 16, on February 28, 1955, which required that those wearing it on their uniforms (worn to the left of the Philippine or Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation) remove it prior to departure from the area;[4] that requirement was rescinded by General Orders No. 5, February 11, 1958.

U.S. Navy personnel who are eligible for the Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation may wear the award. No Marine Corps personnel, however, are eligible for this award.[5]

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation was also awarded throughout the war to certain U.S. military units deemed to have performed exceptional service to Vietnam.[6] However, the RVN PUC is not mentioned in the 1967 RVN awards manual nor the Department of the Army Pamphlet DA 672-3 (Unit Citation Credit) as an authorized unit award.[7]

Appearance and wear

The ribbon is 1 3⁄8 inches (35 mm) wide and surrounded by a gold frame.[8] No ribbon devices are authorized for wear with this award.

Foreign military unit members who were authorized to wear this unit award either wore the award on the right side of the uniform (e.g. U.S. Army) with any other same size unit award emblems or wore the slightly smaller size version of the award on the left side of the uniform (e.g. U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force) with their other service ribbons.

U.S. recipients

State of Vietnam Friendship Ribbon:

Citation: During the months of August and September 1954, the members of the Military Assistance Advisory Group assisted to freedom from the terrors of Communist rule in their own territory of North and Central Vietnam, hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children. Thanks to the efficient and humanitarian assistance of the members of Military Assistance Advisory Group these refugees have been given an opportunity to start their lives anew in the free territories of Viet-Nam. The free people of Viet-Nam express their heartfelt gratitude for this unselfish manifestation of friendship and support.[4]

See also

References
  1. Thompson, James G. (2003). Complete Guide to United States Marine Corps Medals, Badges, and Insignia: World War II to Present. Medals of America Press. p. 101. ISBN 9781884452420.
  2. AR 600-8-22, Military Awards, 15 June 2016 (11 December 2006)
  3. "Department of Defense Manual 1348.33 Volume 3" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. Department of Defense. 23 November 2010. p. 40. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  5. SECNAVINST 1650.1H, Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual, August 22, 2006.
  6. U.S. Coast Guard Military Medals and Awards Manual, COMDTINST M1650.25E, August 15, 2016, Enclosure 16, page 5.
  7. The RVN PUC is mentioned in DA Pamphlet 672-1. Army Board for Corrections of Military Records, 2012 Dept of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 28 January 1988, Unit Award Credit
  8. "Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation". www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/. The Institute of Heraldry. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  9. "Seabee History: Vietnam". History.navy.mil. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  10. "BMU One History". Public.navy.mil. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
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