Viet Nam Campaign Set (Logistic and Support >6mos)

The Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975 was instituted for the purpose of according recognition to those who rendered service in warlike operations between 1945 and 1975. The medal is nickel plated with the obverse featuring a Federation Star surrounded by the legend ‘THE AUSTRALIAN ACTIVE SERVICE MEDAL 1945 - 1975.' The reverse has a wreath of mimosa surrounding a plaque showing the recipient's details. The ribbon has a central thin red stripe flanked by stripes of yellow, pale blue, dark green and purple, these colours being representative of the ribbon colours of the Imperial awards previously issued for campaign service.

The Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal was established in 1993, to recognise those who had served in Vietnam during the time of the Vietnam War for relatively short periods of time in support of Australian operations and who had not received any recognition for that service. In December 2012 approval was given for RAAF members serving on the Royal Thailand Air Force Base at Ubon in Thailand during the period 25 June 1965 until 31 August 1968 to be awarded the medal. Personnel eligible for the Vietnam Medal are not entitled to the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal.

The medal is nickel plated and almost identical to the Viet Nam Medal, with the effigy of the Queen on the obverse and a plain suspender. The reverse bears the words ‘VIETNAM’ above the symbolic representation of the ideological war in Vietnam depicted by the figure of a man between spherical shapes.

The Australian Defence Medal: Sometimes called the ‘4 Year Medal,’ the ADM was struck in 2006 to recognise service with the defence forces of Australia, the eligibility criteria includes former ADF members who completed their initial enlistment period, or four years service, whichever is the lesser. The criteria also recognises National Servicemen and those who could not serve the four-year qualifying period because of the ADF’s workplace and enlistment policies of the time. The expanded criteria also includes those who die/died in service or are medically discharged due to permanent injury and unable to reach four years or complete their initial period of enlistment.

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal was issued by the Government of the Republic of Vietnam for service in the prescribed area of operations in Vietnam during the period commencing on 31 July 1962 and ending on 28 March 1973 for Australian personnel. The Australian government maintained the basic qualifying criteria specified by the Republic of Vietnam for allied troops. To be eligible for the medal a person must have completed a minimum period of 181 days, either continuous or aggregated, unless:

• killed on active service
• wounded in action i.e. classified as a Battle Casualty and evacuated as a result of those wounds, or
• captured and later released or escaped.