History

This Medal was introduced on 24 February 1993 to recognise personnel who supported the operations of the Australian Defence Force in Vietnam between 29 May 1964 and 27 January 1973. The award was instituted to recognise those who rendered service in Vietnam but did not qualify to receive the Vietnam Medal.

In order to qualify for the award, an individual had to have rendered at least one day of service in a prescribed area of Vietnam attached to or in support of the Australian Defence Force or an allied force. Recipients include QANTAS aircraft personnel who flew troops to Vietnam, Royal Australian Navy (RAN) personnel, army observers, war correspondents, civilian entertainers, civilian medical teams, and other Australian civilians who worked in logistics or support roles.

On 18 January 2013, an amendment was made to include members of the R.A.A.F. who were posted at or served near the Ubon Air Base Thailand. Potential recipients had to have rendered at least one day of service at the airbase during the period between 25 June 1965 and 31 August 1968.

The obverse of the medal features the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II surrounded by the inscription ‘ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F.D.’ The reverse of the medal features a male figure pushing apart two spheres, which represent the ideological struggle in Vietnam. The inscription ‘VIETNAM’ runs along the top rim of the medal above the man’s head. The ribbon features a large yellow centre stripe with three thin red stripes running down the centre. The right side of the yellow stripe features a brown and blue stripe, while the left side features a navy and red stripe.