Merchant Marine Vietnam Service Medal
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Awarded forService in waters adjacent to Vietnam.
Presented byUnited States Maritime Administration
CampaignVietnam War
| Merchant Marine Vietnam Service Medal (Ribbon) | |
|---|---|
 Merchant Marine Vietnam Service Medal | |
| Type | Military medal Service medal |
| Awarded for | Service in waters adjacent to Vietnam. |
| Presented by | United States Maritime Administration |
| Ribbon |  |
| Reverse |  |
| Campaign | Vietnam War |
| Status | inactive |
| Established | May 20, 1968 |
| Total | 5,000+ |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Merchant Marine Korean Service Medal |
| Equivalent | Vietnam Service Medal Vietnam Civilian Service Award |
| Next (lower) | Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal |
The Merchant Marine Vietnam Service Medal (Ribbon) is a decoration of the United States Merchant Marine authorized on May 20, 1968.[1]
The decoration is awarded to officers and men for service aboard merchant vessels flying the American flag in Vietnam waters between July 4, 1965 and August 15, 1973.
Design
Prior to 1992, the Merchant Marine Vietnam Service Medal was a ribbon-only decoration. Afterwards, a medal was affixed to the ribbon. As follows is a design note: "the dragon is traditionally associated with Vietnam, the shoreline denotes service in the coastal waters adjacent to Vietnam, and the anchor symbolizes maritime service."[2]
