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Vietnam Logistics and Support Medal

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Overview

The Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal is a circular medal made of cupro-nickel. The obverse bears the crowned effigy of Queen Elizabeth II with the inscription 'ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F.D.'.( Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen, Defender of the Faith). The reverse of the medal has the word 'VIETNAM' at the top centre above a depiction of a man standing between two symbolic spheres, "in representation of the ideological war in Vietnam". The suspension bar is plain.
The medal ribbon contains a broad central stripe of bright yellow surmounted by three thin red stripes (representing the Republic of Vietnam). The ribbon also has a blue stripe to represent the Navy, two red stripes for the Army and a light blue stripe for the Air Force.

Historical information

From 1962 to 1973, more than 60,000 Australians served in the Vietnam War. They were part of an allied force led by the United States. Australians fought alongside South Vietnamese Government troops against the Vietcong, a communist-led insurgent force supported by the North Vietnamese Army.

In 1964, the National Service Act introduced a scheme of selective conscription in Australia, designed to create an army of 40,000 full-time soldiers. Many of them were sent on active service to the war in Vietnam.

521 Australians died during the Vietnam War and around 3000 were wounded.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-99-346

Inscriptions and markings

The recipient's name, rank and serial number are engraved on the edge of the medal.

Contextual Information

In 1993, the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal was established to recognise those who had served in Vietnam between 29 May 1964 and 27 January 1973.for relatively short periods of time in support of Australian operations and who had not received any recognition for that service. Personnel eligible for the Vietnam Medal are not entitled to the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal.
Multiple examples of this medal are retained either singly or in groups as an ongoing memorial to the service and sacrifice of Western Australians. All medals are identified, archivally stored and are accessible and viewable with prior notice.

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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