bmsm Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 The following items are from my collection and are for the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) or also known as People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN). I will start off with the campaign badges. First is the Order for Dien Bien Phu. This campaign badge celebrates the victory of the Viet Minh over the French at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. This badge is made of aluminum, 1-1/4 in. diameter and is also found in a smaller size. It has Spring,1954 at the top, decisive battle -resolved to win on flag and Soldier of Dien Bien Phu at the bottom. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 5, 2011 Author Share Posted March 5, 2011 First Tet Offensive, 1968 Campaign Badge, 1 in. wide, 1-1/4 in. high and made of aluminum. Resolved to win on flag and Victory 1968 on the bottom Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 5, 2011 Author Share Posted March 5, 2011 1972 Nguyen Hue Campaign Badge . It was known in the West as the Easter Campaign. It is 1-3/16 in wide, 1-7/16 in. high and made of aluminum. It has resolved to win on the flag and victory 1972 on the bottom. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 5, 2011 Author Share Posted March 5, 2011 1975, Spring General Offensive campaign Badge. It is 1-1/4 in. wide, 1-7/16 in. high and made of aluminum. It has resolved to win on the flag and total victory,spring 1975 on the bottom. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 5, 2011 Author Share Posted March 5, 2011 Ho Chi Minh Campaign 1975. The badge is 1-1/4 in. wide, 1-5/16 in. high and made of brass. This is a heavy badge compared to the previous ones. It has Ho Chi Minh on the bottom of the badge. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 5, 2011 Author Share Posted March 5, 2011 Heroes who Protect Country (on bottom of badge) Badge. It is 7/16 in. wide, 1-3/16 in. high and made of alumunum. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 5, 2011 Author Share Posted March 5, 2011 (edited) 108th Missle Air Defense Battalion, 1966 aluminum badge. It is 13/16 in. wide, 1-1/8 in. high and in pretty bad shape. It shows and anti-aircraft gun, missile and a burning B-52 falling out of the sky. Bob Edited March 5, 2011 by bmsm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 5, 2011 Author Share Posted March 5, 2011 NVA 316th Battalion Special Forces Sapper Branch Badge. It is made of aluminum and 1-1/8 in. diameter. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullseye Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 Superb stuff Bob! Chris aka zvez Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 6, 2011 Author Share Posted March 6, 2011 A 1-1/4 in. diameter aluminum badge which says-Resolved to Fight, Resolved to Win, American Aggression, 1968. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 6, 2011 Author Share Posted March 6, 2011 A Brass Fortress of the Fatherland Commemorative Badge for the 330th. and 338th. Division. It is 1-3/8 in diameter and appears to be made of plastic. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 6, 2011 Author Share Posted March 6, 2011 A vintage Chairman Ho Chi Minh Badge made of brass, 15/16 in. wide and 1-5/16 in. high. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 6, 2011 Author Share Posted March 6, 2011 A Warrior to be Emulated Pin (badge) with the 1972 date bar. The date bar runs from 1960-1982. The pin (badge) is made of aluminum,1-1/8 in. diameter and is 1-13/16 in. high. It was awarded for superior achievements in effective combat, good morale and believing in the political agenda. Half of the red enamel is missing around the star. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 8, 2011 Author Share Posted March 8, 2011 People's Army of Vietnam Cap Badge. It is made of aluminum and is 1-1/16 in. diameter. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 8, 2011 Author Share Posted March 8, 2011 A Cong An (security) Field Grade Officer Hat Badge. It is made of brass and aluminum, 2-1/8 in wide and 1-5/8 in. high. The Cong An were responsible for border and coastal security and provided prison guards in the Second Indochina War. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 8, 2011 Author Share Posted March 8, 2011 PAVN Field Grade Officer Air Force Cap Badge. It is made of aluminum, 2-1/8 in. wide and 1-1/2 in high. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 8, 2011 Author Share Posted March 8, 2011 A Senior Custom Officer Hat Badge. It is 2-1/8 in. wide and 2-5/16 in. high. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 8, 2011 Author Share Posted March 8, 2011 A Heroes Determined for Victory Badge. Only issued in one class, -1/16 in. wide, 1-1/8 in. high and suspended from a suspension bar 13/16 in wide and 3/16in. high. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 9, 2011 Author Share Posted March 9, 2011 An International Duty Decoration which was awarded for service outside the country. Many were awarded for duty in Cambodia during the Third Indochina War. It is made out of thin aluminum, 1-1/16 in. wide and 1-3/4 in. high. The inscription on the bottom reads "For Duty International". Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 9, 2011 Author Share Posted March 9, 2011 A PAVN Honor Medal which was awarded to families of those who died or suffered hardship in what was called Military Region 7 (Saigon) during the final push at the end of the Second Indochina War. The medal is made of aluminum,1-1/2 in wide and 2-1/2 in. high and Region 7 is on the top bar. On the reverse is "Honor Decoration, Heroes who Suffered Adversity in Eastern Nambo". Nambo is the name for the Southern part of South Vietnam and parts of Cambodia and Laos. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 10, 2011 Author Share Posted March 10, 2011 This is an Armed Assault Youth Commemorative Medal. It is made of aluminum, 1-9/16 in. diameter and 2-7/16 in. high. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 12, 2011 Author Share Posted March 12, 2011 (edited) This is the Gold Star Order which is the highest honor awarded and is equivalent to the Hero of the Soviet Union Medal. Very few of these Orders have been awarded (16 as of 1997). It is approximately 1-1/2 in. from point to point and is gilt plated. This example was purchased in 2003 from a dealer in Hanoi as an original example from the Vietnam War era would be almost impossible to obtain. I have posted this example here to show what they look like. The Vietnam Wat Era fastening pin would be a simple bent wire. There are many reproductions of this award claiming to be "original Vietnam War" for sale but some of them don't even have the wreath and laurel branches on the reverse or they are too large and sloppily done. According to Edward J.Emering, in 2007 there was a major change in the Awards of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (combined North and South Vietnam). He has written an article about the changes in the January-February Issue of the Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America. Bob Edited March 12, 2011 by bmsm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 12, 2011 Author Share Posted March 12, 2011 This is the obverse showing the complete Order and the fastening pin. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 12, 2011 Author Share Posted March 12, 2011 People's Armed Forces Hero Decoration, 1-11/16 in. from point to point, 2-1/4 in high and made of aluminum. It is awarded to PAVN members for heroism and is the second highest award . It could also be awarded to units. Above-heroes Below-Peoples Armed Forces Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmsm Posted March 12, 2011 Author Share Posted March 12, 2011 Close up of the Peoples Armed Forces Hero Decoration. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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