The Decorations and Medals of the Republic of Vietnam and Her Allies, 1950-1975

98 Pages·1996·64.98 MB·English

by  John Sylvester

The Decorations and Medals
of the
Republic of Vietnam
Mr. John Col. Frank
Sylvester Foster
and Her Allies, 1950 - 1975
France USA Thailand Korea Commonwealth Philippines
/
Medals of America
presents
The Decorations and Medals of the
Republic of Vietnam and Her Allies
1950-1975
By:
John Sylvester Jr.
Frank C. Foster Jr.
EditedBy:
Angela Medlin
Edited for Vietnameseby:
Ngan Dinh
LibraryofCongressCatalogCardNumber- 95-75013
HardcoverEditionISBN- 1-884452-16-7
Copyright1995byMOAPRESS
All rights reserved. No partofthis publicationmay bereproduced, storedinretrieval systemsortransmitted byany means, electronic,mechanical
orbyphotocopying,recordingorbyanyinformationstorageand retrievalsystemwithoutpermissionfrom thepublishers,exceptfortheinclusion
ofbriefquotations in areview.
Published by:
MOA Press (MedalsofAmericaPress)
1929Fairview Road
FountainInn, S.c.
29644-9137
Telephone [phone]
Printed in Korea
-
Is
Thisbook dedicatedtothe Viethamese; alidallie}who
a~d
earned the"se awardsjar valor se11Jrce during thelong, tragic
warin Vietnam. It isalso dedicatedto thejamil¥esandfriendswho
supportedthem.
CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE STATE
AND REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
1949 Mar. Vietnam made an Associated Stateofthe
French Union
1954 May Dien Bien Phu falls
1954 July Geneva Agreements bringceasefire,
divide Vietnam
1954-55 Exodus ofrefugees from north e
1955 Oct. Republic ofVietnam proclaimed
1959 North Vietnam recommences effort
to take the south
1960 Dec. Hanoi forms National Liberation Front
1963 Nov. Military coup kills Diem, FirstRepublic ends
1964 SecondRepublic underMilitary Revolutionary
Council
1967 Sept. General Nguyen Van Thieu elected President
1968 Jan. Communists attack at Tet THAILAND
1970 Apr. ARVNand U.S. forces enterCambodia
1971 Feb. ARVN makes incursion intoLaos
1972 ARVNstopsmajorcommunistoffensive
1973 Jan. Paris "Peace Agreement" signed
1973-74 ARVNand PAVNjostlefor territory
1975 Jan. PAVNcaptures PhuocLong, with no
U.S. reaction
1975 Mar. MajorPAVNoffensivebegins atBanmethuot
1975 Mar. ARVN withdrawal from central Vietnam
leads to panic
1975 Apr. FinalARVNdefense atXuan Loc
1975 Apr. Saigon is captured, and Republic falls
2
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
ColonelFrankC.Foster(USARet.),graduatedfrom John SylvesterJr., lived in thefar Eastas achildbe
The Citadel in 1964 and saw service as a Battery fore World War II. After graduation from Williams
Commander in Germany and in Vietnam with the Collegein 1952,hewasintheArmyinfantry withthe
173rd Airborne Brigade. In the Adjutant General's 5thRegimentalCombatteaminthelaststagesofthe
Corps,heservedasthe AdjutantGeneraloftheCen Korean War. He was a Foreign Service officerfrom
tral Army Group, the 4th Infantry Division and was 1955 to 1980, working primarily on Japan and Viet
the Commandant and Chiefofthe Army's Adjutant nam. He served in the pacification program 1968
General'sCorpsfrom 1986to 1990. His militaryser 1970inChauDoc,Kien Giang,andBinhLongprov
viceprovidedhimauniqueview,oftheArmedForces inces, and in the Embassy in Saigon 1970-72. From
Awards System. He previously co-authored U.S. that, he acquired an interest in medals ofIndochina,
MilitaryMedals 1939toPresent. Col.Fosterlivesin andhas written monographsandarticlesonVietnam
FountainInn, South Carolina. ese awards. He is now working at North Carolina
StateUniversityinRaleigh.
GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
For their most generous and helpful information, Mr. Clement V. Kelly Jr., Mr. Vernon Brooks, Cdr.
FrankC. Brown,MajorJohn Harrell,Mr. Paul Kaparoff, Mr. RobertStrance, andMr. PeterAitken; for profes
sionalphotographyandfilm advice, Mr. RichardBushandMr. SteveRuss;fortheuseofsomeof herVietnam
esemedalcollection, Mrs. LindaFoster; forpre-press advice, Mrs. PatriciaGilbert; fortypesettingandediting
Mrs. Doris Heglerand Ms. AngelaMedlin; for supportandencouragement, Mr. JimScott and theentire team
atMedals ofAmerica; forreview oftheVietnamesetext, weextendspecialthanks toMr. Ngan Dinh,formerly
of the ARVN Airborne Division; for technical advice, we extend special gratitude to the great team at the
Institute ofHeraldry and Lee Graves, PresidentofGRACO Industries.
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ChronologicalHistoryoftheStateandRepublicofVietnam 2
AbouttheAuthorsand Acknowledgements 3
Introduction 5
Anatomy andSymbolismoftheDecorationsandMedals 6-7
StateandRepublicofVietnamandtheLossoftheSouth 8
TheMedals 10
ProcedureforWearingRepublicofVietnamMedalsforRVNAFPersonnel 14
ProcedureforWearingRepublicofVietnamMedalsforCivilians 15
ColorPlates(seelisting belowforspecificmedals) 17-32
Military Medals 33-48
Civilian Medals 49-61
MedalsoftheAllies 62-81
Addendum 82-85
Wearing Medalson theRVNUniform 86-89
Bibliography 91
Index 92-95
ColorPlates
Plate 1, page 17 Plate 10,Page26
I NationalOrderSashandBadge,FirstClass 61-62 FinanceServiceMedalFirstClass,SecondClass
2 NationalOrderStar,FirstandSecondClass 63-64 PsychologicalWarfareMedalFirstClass,SecondClass
Plate 2, page 18 Plate 10,Page 27
3 NationalOrder,CommanderorThirdClass 65-66 AgriculturalServiceMedalFirstClass,SecondClass
4 NationalOrder,OfficerorFourthClass 67-68 PublicWorks,CommunicationsandTransportationMedalFirstClass,
5 NationalOrder,KnightorFifthClass SecondClass
6-8 MilitaryMeritMedalStateofVietnam,FirstRepublic,SecondRepublic Plate 11,Page 27
Plate 3, page 19 69-71 LaborMedalFirstClass,SecondClass,ThirdClass
9 ArmyDistinguishedServiceOrder 72 RuralRevolutionaryDevelopmentMedal
10 AirForceDistinguishedServiceOrder 73-74 EthnicDevelopmentMedalFirstClass,SecondClass
II NavyDistinguishedServiceOrder 75-76 VeteransMedalFirstClass,SecondClass
12 ArmyMeritoriousServiceMedal Plate 12,Page 28
13 AirForceMeritoriousServiceMedal 77-79 PoliceMeritMedalFirstClass,SecondClass,ThirdClass
14 NavyMeritoriousServiceMedal 80-82 PoliceHonorMedalFirstClass,SecondClass,ThirdClass
15 SpecialServiceMedal Plate 13,Page29
16 GallantryCross 83-84 People'sSelf-DefenseMedalFirstClass,SecondClass
Plate 4, Page 20 85-86 YouthandSportsMedalFirstClass,SecondClass
17 AirGallantryCross 87 PresidentialUnitCitation
18 NavyGallantryCross 88 CivilActionsUnitCitation
19 HazardousServiceMedal 89 GallantryCrossUnitCitations
20 LifeSavingMedal 90 PoliceMeritUnitCitation
21 LoyaltyMedal 91 PoliceHonorUnitCitation
22 WoundMedal ExamplesofVietnameseMiniatureMedals
23-24 ArmedForcesHonorMedalFirstClass,SecondClass Plate 14,Page 30
Plate 5, Page 21 92 T'aiFederationOrderofCivilMerit
25 LeadershipMedal 93 T'aiFederationOrderofMilitaryMerit
26 StaffServiceMedal 94 MedaloftheNungAutonomousZone
27 Technical ServiceMedal 95 OrderoftheDragonoftheAnnamFourthClass
28 TrainingServiceMedal 96 FrenchCroixdeGuerreforOverseasTheatersofOperation
29 CivilActionsMedal 97 FrenchColonialMedal
30 Good ConductMedal 98 FrenchIndochinaMedal
3I CampaignMedal 99 FrenchWoundMedal
32 Military ServiceMedal Plate 15,Page31
Plate 6, Page22 100 UnitedStatesVietnamServiceMedal
33 AirServiceMedal 101 UnitedStatesCivilianServiceinVietnamMedal
34-36 NavyServiceMedal,Versions1,2,and3 102 UnitedStatesArmedForcesExpeditionaryMedal
37 UnityMedal 103 UnitedStatesHumanitarianServiceMedal
38 MedalofSacrifice 104 ColoradoNationalGuardActiveServiceRibbonwithclasp(Vietnamconflict)
39 MedalforCampaignsOutsidetheFrontier 105 UnitedStatesMerchantMarineVietnamServiceMedal
40 AirForceNorthernExpeditionaryMedal 106 UnitedStatesCommemorativeMedalforFamiliesofAmericanPersonnel
Plate7,Page23 (Kim Khanh Decoration) MissinginSoutheastAsia
41-44 SashandBadgeExceptionalClass,FirstClass,2ndClass,ThirdClass 108 CommonwealthCampaignServiceMedalwithclasp-SouthVietnam
Plate 8, Page 24 109 AustralianandNewZealandVietnamServiceMedal
45-46 Chudng-MyMedalFirstClass,SecondClass 110 AustralianandNewZealandVietnamLogisticsandSupportRibbon
47-48 AdministrativeServiceMedalFirstClass,SecondClass Plate 16,Page32
49-50 DedicatedServiceMedalFirstClass,SecondClass III RepublicofKoreaVietnamParticipationMedal
51-52 JusticeMedalFirstClass,SecondClass 112 ThailandVietnamCombatServiceMedal
Plate 9, Page 25 113 PhilippinesVietnamServiceMedal
53-54 CulturalandEducationalServiceMedalFirstClass,SecondClass 114 RepublicofChinaMemorialMedalofHonorforVietnam
55-56 PublicHealthServiceMedalFirstClass,SecondClass 115 InternationalCommissionforSupervisionandControl1967Medal
57-58 SocialServiceMedalFirstClass,SecondClass 116 InternationalCommissionofControlandSupervision1973MedalFirst
59-60 EconomicServiceMedalFirstClass,SecondClass and SecondVersions
4
During its short and tragic history, the Republic ofViet public Military Medal, the Gallantry Cross, the Fifth Class of the
namfaced theusualproblemsofanewlyindependentnationcom NationalOrder, theArmedForcesHonorMedalsandtheStaffSer
pounded by armed communist assault. Its Armed Forces were in viceMedals. Theothermilitary medals are sporadicallyfor sale by
combatduring mostofthe Republics life, at times with valor and dealers. Thecivilmedals are notcurrently often-sold. TheAmeri
success, butin the end not with victory. can-made versions of many Vietnamese medals are still available
fromdealers. Generally, all Vietnamese-made medals havebecome
The United States, aided by others, came to the defense scarcer on the market.
oftheRepublicofVietnaminaninterventionthatintheendfailed.
American forces lost no battles, but the costs grew too high in There are medals ofthe Republic ofVietnam currently be
blood, money and politics. ingbroughtoutofSaigon, althoughoften inpoorcondition. Some
looklikethey hadbeen buried, andothershavesoiled orincorrect
Vietnamese, American, and alliedarmed forces personnel ribbons. Thepriceofthesemedalsonthe militaria marketis such
and many civilians received medals for their servicein the war. now that itis quite possible enterprisingmerchants in Vietnam or
Orders, decorations, and medals are symbols ofcourageand merit, elsewhere will start manufacturing the medals again. This is be
as well as of human vanity. They are, also perhaps, enduringfrag ing done with patches, which are often close in appearance to the
ments and momentoes ofhistory. Vietnamese originals.
This book is intended to illustrate and describe all the Some typical prices on the American militariamarketin
awards of the Republic ofVietnam. It also includes those of its 1995 for Vietnamese awards areas follows. (For historical refer
allies for the war, along with pertinent French and local ones. ence, prices are included in parentheses as paid by Major John
Included are short histories relevant to each ofthese medals and Harrell, according to an old list ofhis, for these awards when he
other information that puts them in context. bought them in Saigon in 1964.) -- National Order Grand Cross
sash and badge $400 ($13), Grand Officer star, also called, in
Thecolorplates and the written descriptions ofthe Viet French a plaque $250 ($10), Commander on the cravat neck rib
namese awards are in the order of precedence. The Republic of bon$200($10),OfficerorFourthClasswiththerosette$80,Knight
Vietnam had separate precedence for the military and civil med orFifthClass $65 ($3.90); Navy DSOFirstClass with the rosette
als,butasetofmilitaryribbonbarswouldhavethemilitaryawards $90 ($3.50); AirForceDSOFirstClass with therosette$80 ($3);
first and the civil medals following. Examples ofthe ribbons are Navy Gallantry Cross $65 ($2.90); Gallantry Cross $15 ($0.45);
shown on the backcover. MilitaryMeritMedalofEmperorBaaDai$65($2.15),oftheFirst
Republic $100 ($0.90), of the Second Republic $20 ($0.45);
Foreachmedal, an EnglishandtheVietnameseorother Chuang-MyFirstClasswiththerosette$60($0.45);HamletCom
original name are given, followed by its number ofclasses and mon DefenseMeda~$150($0.50); Orderofthe Dragon ofAnnam
the date of the establishment of the award. The purpose of the Knight, French or local-made $85 ($1.80).
award as officially described or best understood is given. Then
follows adescriptionofthe planchet, whichisasmallmetaldisk Compared to the drastic effectofcondition on the price
whichmayormay nothavearaised edge, and oftheribbon with ofcoins, minor wear to medals does not usually hurt their value
a listing of the various classes. The ribbon colors are given in on the militaria market. Real damage to the medals and soiling
millimeter width except for the American ones which are in ofthesuspensionribbon, however, adversely affects theprice. A
inches. Background comments are added with an indication of group ofmedals made up for wear has additional value, but the
thedifferencesbetweentheVietnameseand American-madever authe~ticity ofthe group needs to verified by questions and in
sions. All pictures are oforiginal medals. spection.
The relative rarity, and thus arough guide as to the cost, Original Vietnamese award certificates are notcommon,
ofthese medalsis indicatedby ascaleofR (rarity) 1to 10.R-l is andwhenpairedwiththeaward,thevalueissignificantlyincreased.
the most common award seen on the militaria market, and R-1O The higher orders sometimes came in special presentation boxes
therarest andmostcostly. Theserarity scales arefor the original which should add to the price. Thelower awards usually came in
madeawards, notfor American orrecentmadecopies. Rarity can flimsycardboardboxes,sometimeswithinterestingmanufacturer's
beaffectedatany timeby therelease to themarketofanaccumu printed labels on them.
lation oftheseawards by amanufacturer orcollector.
Sinceitis now over20yearsafterthefall ofSaigon, you
The rarity of the Vietnamese medals on the collectors can expectto find fewer original south Vietnamese awards avail
marketdoes notcorrespondto their valueas an award when actu able. The knowledge and information on the Republic's awards
ally presented in Vietnam. The most common ofthe Vietnamese system is also disappearing. We hope this book will preserve the
medals now seenfor saleare theCampaignMedal, the SecondRe- memory ofthe Republic and ofits awards.
5
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ANATOMY AND SYMBOLISM OF THE
DECORATIONS AND MEDALS
Orders,decorations,and South Vietnamese medals come with a brooch on the ribbon for
medals can all be roughly de wearing purposes.
scribed as awards, although
they are differentincharacter. The ribbons, used to suspend the awards for wear, were de
Orders originated as symbols signed in different colors that quickly identified the award. As it
of membership in religious/ became too cumbersome to wear the medals on the uniform, the
military societies, or brother- custombeganinthe19thcenturytowearsmallpiecesofthedistinc
hoods,suchastheOrderofthe tiveribbons onthe uniformas servicebars.Examples ofeachRVN
Knights ofMalta. Today the highest awards ofsome countries medal ribbon barareshown on the back cover.
are termed orders, and signify selection into an elite group of
great distinction. They are normally given to people of high The ribbon can be made offine silk, with or withouta
civil or military rank. Decorations, traditionally in the shape of cloud-like moire pattern, or crude cotton weave, as are most
crosses or stars, are awards given to an individual for valor or Vietnamese ribbons. Occasionally stars or other symbols are
merit. Medals are generally given for servicein amilitary cam woven in, or the stripes may be diagonal (as on several ofthe
paign, for good conduct, orfor otherpurposes, and usually sig Vietnamese medals.) Sometimes the number or pattern of
nify alesserlevel ofdistinction than adecoration. Medals, usu stripes may be used to indicate the respective classes of the
ally round in shape, can be either for wear or not, the latter award. Most Vietnamese service ribbons were sized 36mm by
often called table medals or medallions. IOmm.
Napoleon, whenhefoundedtheFrenchLegionofHonor The red and yellow of the ribbon of the Vietnamese
in five classes, set the pattern for orders around the world, in Cross ofGallantry are traditional auspicious colors ofVietnam
cluding the Republic of Vietnam National Order. The Grand and China, the same colors as the flag ofthe Republic ofViet
Cross or First Class is worn across the shoulder with a wide nam. Thedesign ofthe ribbon also resembles thatoftheFrench
ribbon of about IOOmm. In addition, a star, called in French a Croix de Guerrefor overseas operations, on which the Cross of
plaque, is worn on the right orleftbreast. The Grand Officeror Gallantry was modeled. The green and yellow stripes of the
Second Class is usually just the staralone. The Commander or French Indochina Medal are the same colors, but reversed, of
Third Class is worn from a ribbon around the neck called a the ribbon for the Tonkin Medal (given in the last century to
cravat, sometimes in awiderwidth ofabout50mm. TheOfficer the French army and navy as they originally conquered Viet
orFourth Class is worn from aribbon with alarge rosette (kind nam).
of a circular tuft of ribbon). The Knight or Fifth Class has a
suspension ribbon without arosette. MostFrenchand Vietnam The design ofan order, decoration, or medal and the
ese ribbons are about 35mm in width. ribbon reflects symbolism by the form and ornamentation.
Swords, anchors, or propellers on the planchetorin the angles
Decorations will sometimes have separate awards or of the cross may indicate awards respectively for the army,
classes for officers and for enlisted personnel. The South Viet navy, and airforce. A caduceus and a red cross indicatemedi
namese usually distinguished awards for officers as first class cal awards, and in Vietnam, as well as other parts of sinitic
and for enlisted personnel as second class. Enlisted personnel Asia, a dragon, scholar's scrolls, and bats all have auspicious
could qualify for first class under certain conditions. meanings.Laurel leavesaresymbols ofhonorfrom theGreeks
and Romans. Palm wreaths are symbols of courage and
Medals area term sometimes applied to the entirefield strength.
ofdecorations, but should only be applied to any award hang
ing from a ribbon. They may be gold, silver, bronze metal, etc., On the suspension ribbon and the service bar, there
sometimes enamelled orgilded. The servicemedals are usually may be devices or rosettes to indicate the class of the award.
circularalthoughtheVietnameseusedmanyshapes,takingsome Devicesmay indicatethe numberoftimes it has been awarded,
patterns from French medals. or just be a part of the design of the whole medal. For in
stance, on the ribbon of the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry,
Orders, decorations and medals mayor may not have a following the practice of the French Croix de Guerre, there
design or inscription on the back (reverse). Some South Viet may be a bronze palm leaf, or a gold, silver, or bronze star
namese medals have a plain back. Those that do have, may indicating each award and the level ofcommand at which the
have asimple inscription, often written around the word VIST medal was bestowed.
NAM.
Themedal may haveaspecial suspension piece tyingitto
South Vietnamese medals are mounted for wear in the the ribbon above. In the case ofthe Vietnamese Cross ofGal
same style as the French. The medal ribbon has a "u" shaped de lantry, this is asmall design ofdragons and clouds, both auspi
vicewithsharppins for stickinginto theuniform. American-made cious symbols in the Far East. The French Indochina Medal is
6
suspended also by a dragon, indicating in this case, that the sign, or have a simple inscription as in the case of the French
medal pertains to war in Vietnam. Indochina Medal with a wreath and CORPS EXPEDITION
NAIRE D'EXTREME ORIENT for the troops who received it.
Thefront orobverseoftheplanchetofthe award is the Miniatures are smaller scale versions of the full decorations
main visible design, usually with special symbolism. The Viet and medals. There was a vogue in Europe about the turn ofthe
nameseCrossofGallantryresemblestheFrenchCroixdeGuerre century for wearing half-scale medals, in part, perhaps just to
with the basic cross, but with dragons, swords, a map of Viet avoid the weight ofall the awards on the uniform! But minia
nam, and an appropriate motto added to distinguish it. The tures now are intended exclusively for wearing with evening
FrenchIndochinaMedalhasthenameoftheRepublicofFrance, dress, either on the left lapel or breast. The Vietnamese fol
the inscription INDOCHINE, a three-headed elephant called lowed the French practicein wearing miniatures of 14mmsize.
theErawansymbolizingLaos,andtheseven-headedcobracalled Americans miniatures, and ourminiature copies ofVietnamese
a Naga symbolizing Cambodia. The back or reverse of the ones, are larger.
planchet, the less visible side, may be plain, have its own de-
SYMBOLISM OF DECORATIONS AND MEDALS
Ribbon ofa Medal
The ribbon (orriband) ofamedal is awoven silkribbon withor patterns (such as the diagonal bands on the RVN StaffService
withoutmoire or ofothermaterial, and ofdifferent widths and Medal.) The ribbon can have extrastripes or bands to indicate
colors. Occasionally stars orsymbols are woven into theribbon. theclassofthe award. Additionally arosette ordevices of
The colors are usually symbolic and can be arranged in different differentmetals can be used to denote the classes ofthe awards.
Symbolism andDevices
Dragons, swords, palms, anchors,
even bats, are often used to link the
riband and the medallion. The
dragon here represents Vietnam.
Symbols on the Medal
In this case, the Naga, the
seven-headedcobra,repre
sents Cambodia; the three
headed elephant represents
Laos.
Name ofthe Medal
Swords
Sometimesexpressed on theface orbackofthe
Denote amilitary orcombat award.
medal, orin many cases metaphorically displayed.
The Republic ofVietnam Gallantry Cross The French Indochina Medal
7
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STATE AND REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
AND THE LOSS OF THE SOUTH
TheStateofVietnamwas bornasFrancegrewincreas that their officers were "perhaps abnormally inclined to van
ingly frustrated in the protracted war with the Viet Minh. Fi ity, pretentiousness, and personal rivalries." The famous half
nally reconciled to passing ameasure ofautonomy to the Viet Vietnamese Colonel Jean Leroy, who trained the Catholic mi
namese, the Elysee Accords ofMarch 8, 1949, made Vietnam litia of Ben Tre, was reported as commenting that "the Viet
an Associated State of the French Union, although retaining namese army was concerned much more with tailoring ofuni
Frenchcontroloverforeign policyandmilitaryaffairs. OnJune forms and unearned decorations than with the primary purpose
14, Bao Dai and High Commissioner Pignon formalized the of combatting the Communist enemy." One problem was that
agreementthrough an exchangeofletters.FewVietnameseNa many ofthe upper class officers did not understand their peas
tionalists were impressed with the extent of French conces ant troops. Morale often was poor; for instance, one whole bat
sions. Bao Dai, unable to find a prestigious person who would talion mutiniedduring Operation Atlante near Tuy Hoa in April
join him, was forced initially to take the prime ministership 1954.
himself. The State of Vietnam had its own flag, but over its
first five years had weakgovernments which wereall too iden By the time ofthe Geneva Conference the French gov
tified with the French. Internal unity was also undercut by the ernment had essentially decided to abandon Vietnam, and thus
feudal baronies of the sects in the south, and of the Dai Viet on June 4, 1954, "perfected" the independence ofVietnam. The
areas and theCatholic bishoprics ofPhatDiem and Bui Chu in StateofVietnamatGenevaprotestedthepartitioningofitspeople
the north (with their militia called the "Mobile Units for the and territory and said it would not accept limits on "organizing
Defense ofChristendom"). its defense in the manner it believes the mostin conformity with
its national interest." Bao Dai on June 14 offered the prime
The French Army hoped that the new Vietnamese Na ministership to the stubborn and self-confident exile, Ngo Dinh
tional Army createdin its own imagewould relieve theExpedi Diem.WithUSsupport,Diemorganizedthehugeexodusofrefu
tionary Forces ofmuch ofthe static defenseduties. By the mili gees from the north and reconstituted a government in the south.
tary conven,ion of December 30, the new army's 1st Division Surprisingly he was able to buy offor beatdown the sect armies
was to be stationed in the south, the 2nd and 3rd Divisions in (Cao Dai, with some 15,000troops; the Hoa Hao with 8,000; the
the north, and the 4th, amountain division, stationed in Central BinhXuyenbanditswith2,000).HealsoreplacedGeneralNguyen
Vietnam. There were to be 54 infantry and 2 parachute battal Van Hinh, aFrenchcitizen, and displaced EmperorBaoDai after
ions and 4 artillery groups. Itwas formed partly byconscription a rigged referendum. The Republic ofVietnam was proclaimed
and partly by incorporation ofthe militias, including the troops on October26, 1955.
ofthesects. ByNovember 1953,thereweresome200,000in the
NationalArmy,50,000"supplementifs"orcontractsoldiers,and Diem, the Catholic mandarin, was honest and patri
78,000in the police and militia, as well as 100,000Vietnamese otic, but also autocratic, conservative, and an ineffectual ad
in the French regular forces. ministrator. His Can-Lao Nhan-Vi (Labor Personalist) Party
was built up by his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu to provide an orga
While many ofthese troops fought well, overall they nizational base and an instrument against Diem's enemies.
wereadisappointment. TheAmericanGeneralO'Danielnoted Diemfavored theCatholicminority and alienated thus theother
8
elements of the varied Vietnamese society. His land reform The 1971 ARVNincursion intoLaos, calledLam Son 719, ended
programhad only limited success and the succeeding attempts with the ARVN units congregated in that inhospitable terrain by
to improve rural security through the founding of large the Ho Chi Minh road network. In the spring of 1972, the North
agrovilles and then Malayan-type strategic hamlets were sub Vietnamese undertook a major offensive. In central Vietnam, the
ject to poor execution and communist harassment. The Viet PAVN (Communist People's Party ofVietnam) broke the ARVN
nameseArmy was steadilyexpanded, butDiem was suspicious 3rd Division and seized most of Quang Tri province, but were
ofthe generals and valued personal loyalty over competence. stopped by the able General Ngo QuangTruoungafterhardfight
The Vietnamese Army suffered a humiliating and revealing ing. At An Loc, just north ofSaigon, ARVN and RF units, with
setback in January 1963 in the battle of Ap Bac against a the help of B-52's used tactically, withstood a bitter siege. But
smaller communist force. withthedepartureoftheallies, thenumberofcombatdivisionson
the side ofthe South had fallen from 22 to 13.
In May 1963,anincidentatHuebroughttheBuddhiststhere
into conflict with the regime. The heavy-handed suppression by After the 1973 "Peace Agreement" the ARVN and PAVN
Nhu'sSpecialForcesprovokedwidespreadcriticismofDiemboth jostled for territory. In January 1975, the North Vietnamese seized
inVietnamandabroad.ThegeneralsthendecidedtoremoveDiem. Phuoc Long province. When this did not bring a US reaction, the
On November I, 1953, in a smoothly run coup led officially by PAVN wentahead with plans for a majoroffensive. Aftergrinding
General Duong Van Minh, Diem and his brother were killed and and inconclusive combat north of Hue in early 1975, the PAVN
the First Republic ended. attacked Banmethuot in the highlands in March. President Thieu
decided to abandon the highlands and also withdraw the Airborne
TheSecondRepublicundertheMilitaryRevolutionaryCoun Division from central Vietnam for use in reserve. While perhaps
cil began inauspiciously with aseries ofchanges ofpoweramong strategically sound, these moves provoked panic, and South Viet
the generals, first with the mini-coup ofGeneral Nguyen Khanh namcrumbled.Individualsunitsfoughtwell,notablytheRFinBinh
on January 29, 1964. This was followed by a continued slide of Dinhand theAirborneand 18thDivision atXuan Loc, butthe mo
security in the countryside and by renewed Buddhiststruggle. On mentum ofthe PAVN carried them to Saigon. Thieu resigned and
February 20, 1965 the generals decided,to oust Khanh. The fol theAmericansflew out.AlastminutepeacegovernmentofGeneral
lowing civil regime ofDr. Phan Huy Quat was later replaced by DuongVan Minh was contemptuously swept up by the victors and
one led by Air Force General Nguyen Cao Ky. He, in turn, took the Republic ofVietnamdied.
second placeunder General Nguyen Van Thieu in the presidential
election in September 1967.
By 1973, the ARVN had grown to 450,000in 11 infantry,
one Marine, and one Airborne division, plus some 25 Ranger
battalions, oneSpecialForcesgroup, 35 artillery battalions, and
6independentarmoredcavalryregiments.TheNavy had40,275
personnel and the Air Force 50,000. Some 285,000 Regional
Forceswerein 1,700rifle companiesand250,000PopularForces
in 7,500 village defense platoons. Of the divisions, the highly
regarded Ist, the newly formed 3rd, and the 2ndwere inICorps
in Central Vietnam; the 22nd was in the highlands and the 23rd
on the coast of II Corps; the 5th, 18th, and 25th in III Corps;
the 7th, 9th, and 21st in the Delta in IV Corps; and the excel
lentAirborneDivisionandMarineDivisioninstrategicreserve.
The elite units were noticeable for their berets; green for Ma
rines, red for paratroops, blackfor armored troops, and maroon
for Rangers.
With the infusion of American arms, advice, and train
ing, the ARVN and RF/PF steadily improved. The enthusiastic
American units, however, tended to push the ARVN aside to get
into battle, asituation the ARVN, knowing it was a long war, was
pleasedtoaccept. By 1969,whentheUSdecidedtobackoutofthe
war, the ARVN had not built the requisite experience and confi
dence.TheARVNofficercorpsandcommandersvariedtoowidely
in quality. Nevertheless many of the ARVN units, ranging from
the Airborne to individual RF companies, were excellent.
While the ARVN remained steadilyengaged through the
Tet battles and afterwards, the first major campaign on its own
tookplaceinCambodiain 1970undertheflamboyantandcapable
General Do Cao Tri, who was later killed in a helicopter crash.
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