How to correctly wear the Army of the Republic of Vietnam unit citation cords.

In the Army, there are four ranks of unit citation cords (also known as Gallantry Citation Cords):

• Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation
• Military Merit Unit Citation
• National Order Citation (Bảo Quốc Huân Chương)
• Combined Color Citation Cord (Tam Hợp)

The decree authorizing the issuance of citation cords is promulgated by the General Staff (BTTM). Divisions and Corps may only submit recommendations. Final approval rests solely with the Republic of Vietnam General Staff Leadership (either the Minister of Defense or the Chief of the Joint General Staff), based strictly on the unit’s combat achievements on the battlefield, and on no other grounds. For ease of understanding, the unit referenced here will be at the battalion level.

1. Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation Cord (Anh Dũng Bội Tinh)

For a battalion to wear the Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation Cord, its battalion colors (flag) must have been cited twice at the Army level (equivalent to receiving two Palm Leaves).

The cord consists of two colors: half yellow and half red.

Each time the battalion colors receive an Army-level citation (one Palm Leaf), the battalion commander is also individually awarded a Palm Leaf.

All personnel serving within that battalion are authorized to wear the unit citation cord. However, only those who served in the battalion prior to the date the unit colors were cited are authorized to retain and wear the cord after transferring to another unit (with official certification signed by the Battalion Commander and filed in personal records). Personnel assigned to the battalion after the citation date are not authorized to wear the cord after transferring out.

2. Military Merit Unit Citation Cord (Quân Công Bội Tinh)

For a battalion to wear the Military Merit Unit Citation Cord, its colors must have been cited four times at the Army level (four Palm Leaves).

The cord colors are half green and half yellow.

Eligibility and authorization rules are the same as those for the Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation.

The 2nd Marine Battalion was the first unit in the Vietnamese Marine Corps to be awarded the Military Merit Unit Citation Cord in 1966, following the Battle of Phung Dư in 1965.

• Battalion Commander: Major Hoàng Tích Thông
• Regimental Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Nguyễn Thành Yên

Decree No. 282/QP/NĐ dated April 19, 1966 authorized the 2nd Battalion to wear the Military Merit Unit Citation Cord.

In that same battle, the 2nd Marine Battalion also became the first in the Marine Corps to receive the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) awarded by U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966.

3. National Order Citation Cord (Bảo Quốc Huân Chương)

To qualify for the National Order Citation Cord, the battalion colors must have been cited six times at the Army level with Palm Leaves.

The cord consists of predominantly red with a smaller portion of yellow.

Eligibility and authorization follow the same regulations as the Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation.

The 2nd Marine Battalion received its 5th Army-level citation on December 31, 1967, for victory at Cái Thia Canal, Giáo Đức District, Định Tường Province.

• Battalion Commander: Major Ngô Văn Định
• Task Force Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Tôn Thất Soạn

In 1968, the battalion received its 6th Army-level citation for its actions in the Tet Offensive in Saigon. The Marine Division Command directly led the operation.

Upon earning its 6th Army citation, the 2nd Battalion became the first unit in the division authorized by the General Staff to wear the National Order Citation Cord in 1968 (two-thirds red, one-third yellow).

The award ceremony was held on October 1, 1968, at the Division Headquarters, 15 Lê Thánh Tôn, Saigon, where Lieutenant General Khang personally affixed the National Order Citation Cord and Palm Leaves to both the unit colors and Lieutenant Colonel Ngô Văn Định.

4. Combined Color Citation Cord (Tam Hợp)

To be authorized to wear the Combined Color Citation Cord, a unit must be cited eight times by the Army (eight Palm Leaves).

The cord consists of three colors: yellow, green, and red.

Authorization rules are the same as for previous citations. There are two authorized ways to wear this distinction:

1. A single three-color braided cord (yellow, green, red), or
2. Three separate cords worn together: Cross of Gallantry + Military Merit + National Order.

The 2nd Marine Battalion received its 7th citation in September 1968 for victories at Khiêm Hạnh and Bời Lời (Tây Ninh).

• Battalion Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Ngô Văn Định
• Brigade Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Tôn Thất Soạn

In 1970, the battalion received its 8th Army-level citation for victory at Prey Veng, Cambodia, becoming the first and only Marine Division unit authorized by the General Staff to wear the Combined Color Citation Cord.

Command leadership at that time:

• Battalion Commander: Major Nguyễn Xuân Phúc
• Brigade Commander (147th Brigade): Colonel Hoàng Tích Thông

When the battalion flag received its 8th Palm Leaf, Battalion Commander Major Nguyễn Xuân Phúc was also personally awarded the Cross of Gallantry with Palm Leaf.