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NLF Women's Liberation Association Badge, made of aluminum, 3/4 in. wide and 15/16 in. high.

Bob

An Ninh Nhan Dan ( People Security) Badge made of brass, 1-9/16 in. wide and 1-1/16 in. high.

It was worn by NLF Police and security guards.

Bob

Thank you for posting these medals. Little is known or seen about them. Please continue posting as you get more items for this section of your collection.

Paul,

Do you think anyone would be interested in North Vietnamese Medals and Badges?

Bob

This is an An Ninh (security) pith helmet badge for the NLF. This is a very well made badge, made of brass and is 1-1/2 in. diameter.

The North Vietnam An Ninh served as Military Police Force.

Bob

A NLF Pith Helmet Badge made of (brass?) and is 1-3/16 in. diameter.

Bob

A NLF Cap Badge made of aluminum and 1-1/16 in. diameter.

Bob

Are these actual awards or are they more like propaganda/commemorative tinnies?

Paul,

The above smaller badges are more like a "tinnie" and given out to military and civilians alike. I have listed the different types of badges that I know and give an example or two when possible. As you have noticed the overall theme is "resolved to fight, resolved to win" on most of the badges.

Commemorative- Junction City Badge on post # 31, Ap Bac Badge on post # 39

Campaign- First Tet Offensive, 1968. This is a North Vietnamese Badge and is not listed yet.

Political- NLF Party Badge- post # 44

Local- coming later

Cultural-coming later

The commemorative, campaign and political badges were (are?) worn on the right breast. There is no information if they could be worn on civilian clothes.

The political badges could be worn on military and civilain clothes.

There is no information on the local and cultural badges as to the wear of them. Perhaps as Paul said they are more of a propaganda item to award the civilians int the war effort.

Bob

Hello Mervyn,

A fasinating weapon from an equally fasinating culture. A culture still living in the stone age within our living memory. Well, the living memory of you and me.

I agree that there may be enough interest in ancient weaponry among the membership to support a section for such items and discussion. Many of the military tactics that worked successfully in the recent past had their roots in the tactics employed in the distant past.

Thank you for posting this interesting artifact and broaching the suggestion of a new section.

Regards

Brian

Brian,

Sorry,I didn't see your reply to Mervyn's post before I posted a new topic on if we should have a seperate Forum or section for "items that don't fit".

Bob

Vintage NLF Party Badge 3/4 in. wide, 1-1/4 in high and made of metal. Inscription reads "Emulate, Resolved to Fight, Resolved to Win and Denounce America".

Bob

An aluminum badge 1-1/4 in. diameter with the inscription "Resolved to Fight, Resolved to win, Against American Aggression".

Bob

AP BAC Commemorative Badge. It is made of brass and is 1 in. diameter. It has the same design as the medal but has color added.

Bob

This is an Ap Bac Medal with the alternate ribbon. The planchet itself is 1-1/2 in. wide. It was awarded to the 261st National Liberation Front Battalion for a battle that took place at AP BAC on January 2, 1963 against the Army of the Republic of Vietnam 7th division.

The NLF ended up destroying four helicopters including a Cobra gunship and damaging fourteen others. Numerous armored personnel carriers were left burning in the rice paddies and 80 ARVN and 3 US Military Advisors were killed by the end of the day.

The planchet is a stylized star with AP BAC 2-1-1963, profile of a male and female VC fighter on the right side and a burning helicopter and armored personnel carrier on the left side.

Bob

They seem to have a lot of different medals for the same thing. (Victory and fighting the war) There do not seem to be any specific "Valor" or Meritorious service medals. Were different people eligible for various medals?

Have you ever seen an assembled medal bar or verified grouping?

Paul,

The Decorations of the PLF were often presented as unit or collective awards. An example would be the "hero " Decoration for Hero who Destroy Americans. If a unit killed a certain number of Americans it counld be awarded the decoration in a class (according to regulations)and would receive an accompaning document . If an individual killed a certain amount of Americans by himself, he could receive the decoration according to the what the regulations required. He would also receive documentation of the award and may receive a promotion or a small material gift.

Subsequent awards to the same unit were somtimes pinned on the unit flag.

Soldiers in uniform would wear the pentagonal ribbon awards in rows on the left breast and the "hero" awards above. The other awards and badges were worn on the right breast.

Civilians could also be awarded medals like the Order of Labor.

In the book "The Orders and Medals of The Communist Governments of Indochina" by John Sylvester Jr. there are several pictures of North Vietnamese and PLF Forces wearing the Orders, Decorations and badges and there are no medal bars just the awards pinned on the uniform in rows.

Bob

This is a badge for the NLF Special Forces for the 756th Sapper Branch of Saigon -Gia Dinh Province. It is a 1-3/16 in. diameter aluminum badge. Inside the flag is Quyer Thang (resolved to win) 1968.

Bob

This is a anodized aluminum 1-1/8 in. diameter badge commemorating 30 years after the Battle of Binh Gia. The battle took place Dec. 28,1964 - Jan. 1,1965. The Viet Cong 9th Division held it's ground and mauled the best units that the South vietnamese Army sent against them. Wikipedia goes into more detail of the battle.

Bob

NLF Warrior to be Emulated Decoration. It has CHIEN SI THI DUA which means Soldier Emulation below the flag staff.

It was awarded for superior performance and devotion to duty.

Bob

This is a Viet Cong members of the F-100 Commandos Medal. It is made of annodized aluminum and is 1-5/16 in. diameter. This youth group operated out of Saigon and Cu Chi / An Tinh and were responsble for sabotage in the Saigon area including shootings of US military Personnel and bombings of bars frequented by US Military.

A Viet Cong defector led a Special Forces and ARVN to a tunnel complex at An Tinh which turned out to be the headquarters of the F-100 Commandos. All Viet Cong were killed or captured and paper clippings of the commandos bombings and assinations were found along with a note book listing all the agents names, cover names, addresses and message drop information. Some of the agents were working with the ARVN in Saigon. News of the find of the names reached the agents but 70 of them were rounded up and most were executed.

Most of these medals were awarded post - war and posthumously.

This information came from the seller strike-force -7 on eBay. If members would like more detailed information about this medal, check out his web site.

Bob

This is an Operation Junction City commemorative badge made of metal. It is 1-3/16 in wide and 1-5/8 in high.

This was a 82 day operation by U.S. and ARVN forces and was the largest airborne operation since WW II. It was a search and destroy

operation with the hopes of clearing the Peoples Army of Vietnam and Viet Cong units out of war zone c (northwest of Saigon to cambodia).

It was also hoped to capture the PAVN / NLF Central Office for South Vietnam (COSVN) which controlled all enemy activities in the south of the border regions of Laos, Cambodia and South Vietnam.

The PAVN and NLF Forces withdrew to Cambodia and the COSVN stayed there as long as the U.S. stayed in South Vietnam.

Wikipedia has a more detailed account on the operation.

I am sure this is a reproduction of the original badge as it is in very good shape and the reverse is too shiny. Originals are well worn and much of the paint is missing.

Bob

NLF Liberation War Exploit Order in First Class. It was awarded in three classes for outstanding participation in the Liberation of South Vietnam by units and individuals.

The inscription below the flag staff reads CHIEN CONG GIAI PHONG (Armed Achievements Liberation). This is another heavy made medal.

Bob

NLF Soldier of Liberation Order. It is only issued in one class with a red ribbon and three blue stripes.

Inscription below flag staff - CHIEN SI GIAI PHONG (Soldier of Liberation).

Bob

NLF Liberation Exploit Order- Second Class. It was awarded in three classes for combat in South Vietnam. This is one of the heavier made orders. Even though it has rust on the reverse, it is not magnetic.

Inscription below flag staff - QUAN CONG GIAI PHONG (Military Achievement Liberation).

Bob

Resolution for Victory Order, First Class. This order is for the NLF and is awarded in three classes. It was awarded to individuals and units that were seperated from their families while fighting for thr liberation of South Vietnam.

Inscription in the middle-QUYET THANG which means "resolved for victory",

Bob

A close up of the reverse of the medal.

Bob

Bob,can You show China medal too.Thanks !

This is actually a Chinese Medal-Second class for merit in protecting the border area against Vietnamese Aggression and made of anodized aluminum. It was issued to troops of the Guangzhou Military District that took part in the 1979 war against Vietnam.

I don't have any more information on this medal. The medal is 1-1/2 in. diameter and the ribbon in the frame is 1-3/8 in long and 15/16 in. high.

Bob

Emulation Decoration. The size is 1-1/4 in diameter. It is not known for sure how many classes of this award. No more information on this award is known. This is one of the heavier made decorations.

Bob