 | ||
The Vietnam Meritorious Service Medal was a military decoration of South Vietnam that was issued between the years of 1950 and 1974. Each of the three Vietnamese military services issued its own version of the Meritorious Service Medal.
The medal was intended to recognize significant military achievement, both in combat and non-combat service, which surpassed the degree required for the Vietnam Gallantry Cross but did not warrant receipt of the higher decorations such as the National Order of Vietnam or the Vietnam Military Merit Medal.
The Vietnam Meritorious Service Medal was occasionally bestowed to foreign militaries, with several United States military members receiving the decoration during the years of the Vietnam War. The decoration became obsolete with the fall of South Vietnam in 1975, and is today only available for purchase through private dealers of military insignia.