RVN Gallantry Cross Criteria

Authorized for all Service Members by Army General Order Number 8 on 20 January 1968. To includ the period from 1 May 1961 to June 1975

NAVAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM___

AUTHORIZATION OF Navy, Army Air Force AND Marine UNITS AWARDED THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM ARMED FORCES MERITORIOUS UNIT CITATION OF THE GALLANTRY CROSS WITH PALM __

FROM: CMC

261139Z/47 (MAY 1970)

TO: ALMAR

UNCLAS //NO1650//

1. THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY HAS APPROVED THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE SUBJECT AWARD FOR THE III AMPHIBIOUS FORCE TO INCLUDE ALL NAVY, MARINE CORPS AND COAST GUARD UNITS ATTACHED TO OR SERVING THEREWITH DURING THE PERIOD 8 MARCH 1965 THROUGH 20 SEPTEMBER 1969

2. THE BUREAU OF NAVAL PERSONNEL, NAVY DEPARTMENT WILL PROMULGATE THIS AWARD IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE LISTING ALL UNITS OF THE NAVY, MARINE CORPS AND COAST GUARD ENTITLED TO THE AWARD INCLUDING THEIR DATES OF PARTICIPATION

3. SECNAV ALSO APPROVED THE ACCEPTANCE OF THIS AWARD FOR ARMY AND AIR FORCE UNITS ATTACHED TO AND SERVING WITH III MAF DURING THE PERIOD IN QUESTION. BY SEPARATE CORRESPONDENCE SECNAV REQUESTED THE DEPTS. OF THE ARMY AND AIR FORCE TO PROMULGATE THE AWARD TO ARMY AND AIR FORCE UNITS ENTITLED THERETO

4. ALTHOUGH INDIVIDUAL UNIT AWARDS WERE ALSO PRESENTED IN THE FIELD TO THE BELOW-LISTED UNITS, TO PRECLUDE DUPLICATION OF AWARDS, SECNAV APPROVED ACCEPTANCE OF ONLY THE III MARINE AMPHIBIOUS FORCE AWARD. THESE AWARDS WILL BE RETAINED AT HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS WITH NO FURTHER ACTION TAKEN

All Marine Corps members serving in Vietnam after 20 September 1969 are subject to paragraph "6" below
 

5. ALL MARINE CORPS UNITS UNDER THE OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF THE III MARINE AMPHIBIOUS FORCE DURING THIS PERIOD ARE ENTITLED TO THIS AWARD AND AS SUCH ARE CONSIDERED CITED UNITS WITHIN THEMSELVES AND ALL SUCH UNITS WHICH ARE AUTHORIZED FLAGS ARE ENTITLED TO FLY THE STREAMER OF THE GALLANTRY CROSS WITH PALM

6. the Gallantry Cross issued by the Secretary of the Army or the Military Assistance Command (MACV) during the period 8 February 1962 and 28 March 1973 and to the U.S. Army and its subordinate units including All Marine Corps members serving in Vietnam who after 20 September 1969 came under the Operational Control of the United states Army.  This permits all personnel who served in Vietnam to wear the RVN Gallantry Cross unit citation.

7. ALL PERSONNEL OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED UNITES DURING THE PERIOD IN QUESTION WHO WERE PRESENT AND SERVING IN VIETNAM ARE AUTHORIZED TO WEAR THE GALLANTRY CROSS RIBBON BAR WITH PALM AND FRAME. COMMANDING OFFICERS WILL DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FROM ENTRIES IN SRB'S AND OQR'S, AUTHORIZED THE WEARING OF THE RIBBON AND ENTER SUCH AUTHORITY IN SRB'S OF ENLISTED MEN AND IN THE CASE OF OFFICERS, FORWARD A COPY OF THE AUTHORIZING LETTER TO CMC (CODE DGH) FOR FILE ON THEIR OFFICIAL RECORD. WHERE RECORDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO MAKE DETERMINATIONS FROM, APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS (CODE DL)

8. THE RIBBON BAR WILL NOT BE ISSUED BY THIS HQ, BUT MAY BE PURCHASED AT MARINE CORPS EXCHANGES AND MILITARY SHOPS

9. EXTENSIONS OF TOURS OR AN ADDITIONAL TOUR WITH ONE OR MORE UNITS ENTITLED TO THIS AWARD WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A BASIS FOR A SECOND AWARD OF THE SUBJECT CITATION; NOR IS A DEVICE AUTHORIZED FOR A FUTURE/ADDITIONAL AWARD OF THIS DECORATION.