NVA and/or VC Awards

Viet Cong Most Excellent Soldier Medal.

The medal is a rectangle of black cloth overlaid with a piece of squared paper and encased in clear plastic secured with machine sewing.

Two long strips of red cotton cloth hang from the medal. On the paper is the written inscription 'CHIEN SI THI DUA Nam 1966 TiEu doan 445'. There are Sellotape marks on the red cloth strips.

Associated with 36130 Lieutenant Frederick D L Greenway, Second in Command, Detachment 1 Division Intelligence Unit South Vietnam, from 8 April 1968 to 2 April 1969.

The item was captured from Viet Cong forces in Phuoc Tuy Province during this period.

Liberation Armed Forces Hero Decoration

Highest award given to Viet Cong, established in 1963. Only higher communist award is Gold Star Order (below), but only 16 of those have ever been awarded, and none to NLF personnel.

Worn on the left breast, above all other orders and decorations.

	Gold Star This simple medal, established on June 6, 1947, is the highest honour conferred by the SRV on both individuals and units. It is equivalent to the Hero of the Soviet Union medal, although it in no way matches the quality or workmanship of its Soviet counterpart. During his 1965 interrogation, a PAVN colonel confirmed that this Order had only been conferred once. It had also been awarded to Ho Chi Minh, who had refused it until final victory was achieved. As of 1974, only two of these Orders had been awarded. One to Ho Chi Minh and the second to Vice President Ton Duc Thang, who received his Gold Star Order from Ho Chi Minh in August, 1958. Ton Duc Thang eventually succeeded Ho on his death. Although a total of 16 Gold Stars have been awarded to date, the only positively known recipients include: Ho Chi Minh, Ton duc Thang, Leonid Brezhnev and Aleksei Kosugin, who both received their awards in June, 1980; and the famous SRV military leader, Senior General Vo Nguyen Giap, who has often been photographed in uniform, wearing only the Gold Star Order.
	Ho Chi Minh Order This award was established on June 6, 1947 and was revised to its current style on August 28th, 1981. Since its revision, it is only issued in one class to both individuals and units. This medal would appear to be equivalent to the Soviet Order of Lenin, which was awarded in tandem with the Hero of the Soviet Union medal. The criteria for this award makes specific reference to the "revolutionary cause" of the people.
	Liberation Exploit Order. The NLF equivalent of the Military Exploit Order, it was established on September 23, 1963. It was also awarded in three classes on the same basis as the Military Exploit Order for combat action in the south. Note the presence of the essential small gold linking wreath. The inscription on this Order reads, QUAN CONG GIAI PHONG (Military Achievement Liberation). Recipients were also accorded the appellation of the Hero of the Liberation Front. Ribbon bar.
	Military Exploit Order Awarded in three classes to both units and individuals for outstanding performance in combat, this Order was established on May 15, 1947.
	Liberation War Exploits Order Awarded by the NLF to units and individuals for outstanding participation in armed combat in the south, this Order was established on September 23, 1963. Its inscription reads, CHIEN-CONG GIAI-PHONG (Armed Achievements Liberation).
	Order of the Soldier of Glory Established on September 16, 1961, this Order is given to PAVN personnel for long periods of meritorious service after July 20, 1954. Its inscription reads, CHIEN SI VE-VANG (Soldier of Glory)
	Friendship Decoration Awarded to foreigners, who have aided the Vietnamese in defending and building their country, this decoration was established on June 20, 1960
	Banner of Resolution for Victory Decoration Established on October 27, 1984, this decoration serves to recognize longevity and is bestowed upon personnel who have served the PAVN for 25 years or more.
	Resolution for Victory Order This was another of the NLF awards for units and individuals who were separated from their families while involved in the liberation of the south. It was established on August 9, 1965.
	Victory Decoration (against the French)
	Oppose American Save Country Decoration The third in this series of NLF Decoration, this was also intended for award in two classes as denoted by the stars on the ribbon suspension bar. It is inscribed CHONG MY CUU NUOC (Oppose American Save Country).
	Resolution for Victory Decoration This NLF Decoration, established on August 9, 1965, was awarded in only one class to individuals separated from their families while participating in the resistance and liberation of the south. It was widely awarded to personnel participating in the Spring, 1975, General Offensive.
	Liberation Decoration It was awarded in two classes. It is inscribed GIAI PHONG (Liberation)
	Resolution for Victory Order This NLF award was for units and individuals who were separated from their families while involved in the liberation of the south. It was established Aug 9, 1965. It was first awarded to PAVN Colonel General Tran Van Tra, commander of NLF forces in Saigon during the entire war against the Americans.
	Liberation Order This NLF Order was established on August 9, 1965. It was awarded to units and individuals serving the cause of resistance and liberation in the south either in combat, production or some official capacity.
from http://www.vwam.com/vets/nvameds/goldstar.html