Vietnamese
Military Merit & Gallantry Cross Medals

The following letter advising Lance Corporal Terry L. Smith he had been nominated for the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry was probably written for his participation in Operation Kingfisher during September 1967 prior to him being assigned to Hill 881S.  This was later upgraded to also include the Vietnamese Military Merit Medal (equivalent to the United States Medal of Honor).
 

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
HEADQUARTERS
3D MARINE DIVISION (REINFORCED), FLEET MARINE FORCE
---------------------FLEET POST OFFICE, SAN FRANCISCO 96602
7G/JRB/ghf
1650---------
12 Jan 1968
From:  Commanding General
To:      Lance Corporal Terry L. SMITH 2306818 USMC
Via:     Commanding Officer, 3d Battalion, 26th Marines

Subj:   Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, award of

Ref:     (a) SECNAVINST P1650.23
            (b) MCO P5000.3, MARCORPERSMAN, PAR 15114

1.  You have been nominated for the subject decoration for your achievements in support of the Armed Forces of Vietnam in their struggle against the Communist insurgents.

2.  Your nomination has been approved by this Headquarters, and by the Commanding General, 1st (ARVN) Division.  Decrees and citations are normally received from Vietnamese authorities within three to seven months from the time the nominations have been submitted.  At such times as they are received by this Headquarters, they will be translated and forwarded to via your Commanding Officer.

3.  As a matter of information, you are advised that normally, unless the Vietnamese authorities present the subject medal to you at a ceremony, they do not otherwise provide one.  Procurement of the Medal then becomes a matter of individual acquisition from local sources.  Approved ribbon bars are available and may be purchased from U. S. sources.

4.  In accordance with the instructions contained in reference (a), you are authorized to accept and wear the subject decoration as of the date of this letter.  Your Commanding Officer will make the appropriate entries in your service records in accordance with the provisions of reference (b).

/s/ R. McC. Tomkins

Major General, U. S. Marine Corps
Commanding

Copy to:
CMC (DL)
CMC (DGH)


 
 
REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
No. 463/TT/SL.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

Considering the Constitution of the Republic of Vietnam, dated 1 April 1967;

Considering Decree #234/TT/SL, dated 25 May 1968, prescribing the composition of the Government;

Considering Edict #10-b, dated 15 August 1950, creating the MILITARY MERIT MEDAL;

Considering Decree #74-b/QT, dated 15 August 1950, prescribing the procedures for awarding the MILITARY MERIT MEDAL;

Following the recommendation of the Chief of the Joint General Staff, Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces;

DECREES THAT:

ARTICLE I:  This formalizes the posthumous award of the MILITARY MERIT MEDAL to the U. S. Marine Corps personnel whose names appear below with the following meritorious citation:

"Servicemen of courage and rare self-sacrifice, they displayed at all times the most tactful cooperation while aiding the Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam to repel the Red wave undermining South Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

With a ready zeal and commendable response, they fought on to the end in every mission and set a brilliant example for their fellow soldiers.

They died in the performance of duty.  Behind them they leave the abiding grief of their former comrades-in-arms, Vietnamese as well as American."

Webmaster's note; A total of 71 names appeared on the list, only the names of Marines contained in the Warriors of Hill 881S Roster are shown.
 

Cpl. Homer Taylor, Jr. 2228139/0311 18 Feb 1968
Cpl. Terry Lee Smith 2306818/2533 20 Feb 1968
PFC. Robert Ellis Dooley 2372552/0211 22 Feb 1968
GySgt. Eugene Charles Wire 660510  /0369 23 Feb 1968
GySgt. Paul Edward Robitaille 1446009/0369 23 Feb 1968
Cpl. Robert Arthur Wiedeman 2333496/0311 25 Feb 1968
PFC. Frank Adam Szymanski 2229675/0311 25 Feb 1968

THESE POSTHUMOUS AWARDS ARE TO INCLUDE THE GALLANTRY CROSS WITH PALM.

ARTICLE II:  The Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense and Veterans' Affairs are charged with the execution of this Decree.

Saigon, 23 September 1968
Signed: NGUYEN VAN THIEU

OFFICIAL:
Secretary General
Signed: NGUYEN VAN HUONG

CERTIFIED COPY:
Saigon, 1 October 1968
Chief of Correspondence
Office of the Prime Minister
PHAM VAN PHANG
/Signed and Sealed/

I certify that this is a true translation.

/s/ W. A. Runkle

WILLIAM A. RUNKLE
LT                         USN
Chief, MACAG Translation Division

The above two letters submitted by:
    Dorothy Smith, mother of Cpl. Terry L. Smith

Terry L. Smith's History Index

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