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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

Stewy,

Thank you for your reply.

Bob

Good for me too. Stewy

My vote is good too, but unissued, which is actually the more common way to find these.

William Kramer

Thank you for your reply.

Bob

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

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

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

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

A Senior Custom Officer Hat Badge. It is 2-1/8 in. wide and 2-5/16 in. high.

Bob

Chris,

Glad you liked the book A lot of time goes into publishing a book plus it gets expensive doing it in color.

Bob

Bob,

Got my copy today! YOu did a terrific job on a very big subject! It takes lots of courage to do the "second book" on iraq military stuff (Marty's being the first). Well worth the $$ it was good to get the ID of some of the insignia I didn't know.

Lemme know when you start vol. 2

Chris

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

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

People's Army of Vietnam Cap Badge. It is made of aluminum and is 1-1/16 in. diameter.

Bob

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

A vintage Chairman Ho Chi Minh Badge made of brass, 15/16 in. wide and 1-5/16 in. high.

Bob

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

A 1-1/4 in. diameter aluminum badge which says-Resolved to Fight, Resolved to Win, American Aggression, 1968.

Bob

Chris,

You have a nice collection going. Keep up the good work.

Bob

Lorenzo,

Is the Staff College Stripe on the shoulderboards in post # 8 a velvety material or a coarse material?

Bob

NVA 316th Battalion Special Forces Sapper Branch Badge. It is made of aluminum and 1-1/8 in. diameter.

Bob

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

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

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

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

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

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