D-05 LIBERATION ARMY DECORATION
  Huy Chương Quân Giải Phóng Việt nam

The Liberation Army Order and Decoration were established on 2 February 1958 to reward officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army who made meritorious contributions to the construction of the army and fought during the period before the August Revolution in 1945. (for the Order see here)

There are three classes of the order and one class of the decoration. It was awarded to cadres and soldiers who joined the Revolutionary Armed Forces in the period prior to the August Revolution in 1945, have afterwards continued to work in the Army for at least 5 years, and have not committed any serious errors during their service or elsewhere. The class is awarded based on the recipents rank and contribution. Servicemen who are disabled or injured in combat or are unable to continue in the army for a full period of time are exempt from the time condition. It may be awarded posthumously.

No known actual examples have been seen, nor have they been observed in any pictures. The only known picture is a drawing from the SRV Institute of Orders book Orders and Decorations of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. It may never have been produced or awarded.

It was not included in the 2003 reorganization of SRV awards system.

5/A INITIAL DESIGN
  one classe - established 2 February 1958; obsoleted 26 November 2003;
  For: officials and soldiers who helped construct and fought in the army before the revolution of August 1945
  Design: eight-pointed rounded star, gold, 49mm across, with hero suspension;
    Obverse: gold star of eight blunt points with five short rays in the angles with central red disk with gold star and inscription bellow QUÂN GIẢI PHÓNG and below that in larger letters VIỆT-NAM;
    Reverse: plain;
  Ribbon: 25mm, light blue 1.5mm edges, red 22mm center, with 3mm yellow stripe in center; "hero" style;

The decoration is awarded those who directly commanded units from the Platoon or more, and soldiers in units before August who were not qualified for the order.

 


References (Please let me know others at rdavemail-medals@yahoo.com) :

1 The Orders and Medals of the Communist Governments of Indochina, Revision II, John Sylvester Jr., 1994. (JS94) [Out of Print]
2 Orders and Decorations of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Nước Cộng Hòa Xã Hội Chủ Nghĩa Việt Nam), Institute of Orders (Viện Huân Chương). (Does anyone know the date of publication ?)
3 Orders, Decorations and Badges of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, Edward J. Emering, 1997. (EE97) Availalbe at https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764301438/
4 Encyclopedia of the Orders, Decorations, Medals and Badges of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Edward John Emering, 2000. (EE00) Available at http://www.themedalhound.com/books/titles.html
5 Orders and Decorations of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: An Update, Edward John Emering, 2008. (EE08) Available at http://www.themedalhound.com/books/titles.html
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