Robswashashore Posted June 19, 2012 Share #1 Posted June 19, 2012 I've been reading about these two awards on the internet and have come up with conflicting information. Were all units in Vietnam award the RVN Gallantry Cross with palm and frame? How about the Civil Actions Unit Citation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluehawk Posted June 19, 2012 Share #2 Posted June 19, 2012 Were all units in Vietnam award the RVN Gallantry Cross with palm and frame? They would all have received the Gallantry Cross UNIT Citation with palm and frame, as long as the individual qualified for the Vietnam Service Medal - which, of course, means that certain units outside of in-country Vietnam also received it. Not so for the Civil Actions Unit Citation. In fact, after completing 1800+ biographical sketches for VN fallen or diseased airmen, I do not recall a single one of them having received this particular ribbon. Probably not true for Army or Marines, but that gives some idea of it being more selectively awarded than the GC Unit Citation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanmc1114 Posted June 19, 2012 Share #3 Posted June 19, 2012 Here is the Department Of The Army General Orders from 1974 confirming the award of the RVN Gallantry Cross Unit Citation to both the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam and its subordinate units for the period 1962 through 1973 and the U. S. Army Vietnam and its subordinate units for the period 1965 through 1973. http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/go7408.pdf Although these are orders issued by the Army, I read the award to MACV to include all units that served in Vietnam during that time period regardless of branch of service since MACV was the overall unified command coordinating all branches in Vietnam. So as stated Bluehawk, I believe anyone entitled to the Vietnam Service Medal for any service with a unit subordinate to MACV between 1962 and 1973 is entitled to the award under this blanket order. I'm not sure if there was ever a blanket award of the Civil Actions Honor Medal Unit Citation but I don't think there was. In addition to this, there were numerous awards of the Gallantry Cross Unit Citation as well as the Civil Actions Honor Medal Unit Citation to numerous lower level Army and Marine Corps units up to the division level for more specific periods of service. I'm not sure if the same is true of Navy and Air Force Units. Here is a DAGO for confirming awards of both Vietnamese unit awards to several units, each with their own specific citation. http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/go7043.pdf Interestingly, the South Vietnamese government also awarded the Air Gallantry Cross and Navy Gallantry Cross but I don't believe I have ever seen any reference to these being awarded as unit awards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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