Peter Mitchell's Military Awards
The top ribbon/medal is the Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Unit Citation.
The wings are the Senior Aviator Badge.
The ribbons/medals are from top to bottom, left to right – Bronze Star (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (7th Award), Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (Silver Star), Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Unit Citation
U.S. Military units were individually cited for award of the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross; however, the Vietnamese Government issued the award to all units subordinate to Military Assistance Command (MACV) during the period 8 February 1962 and 28 March 1973 and to U.S. Army Vietnam and its subordinate units for the period 20 July 1965 to 28 March 1973. This permits all personnel who served in Vietnam to wear the RVN Gallantry Cross unit citation.
A Army Aviator is an individual who must have satisfactorily completed the prescribed training and proficiency tests, and must have been designated as an aviator in orders issued by the appropriate headquarters. A Senior Aviator is an aviator, who is medically qualified and instrument qualified may apply for the Senior Aviator Badge as long as the aviator has served seven years of rated aviation service, served 84 months in operational flying duty assignments and accumulated 1,000 hours of flight time.
The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the military of the United States after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
Awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who distinguished themselves by outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to 16 January 1969. Normally, the acts or services rendered must be comparable to that required for the Legion of Merit but in a duty of lesser though considerable responsibility.
The Army Commendation Medal is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States other than General Officers who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service. Award may be made to a member of the Armed Forces of a friendly foreign nation who, after 1 June 1962, distinguishes himself by an act of heroism, extraordinary achievement, or meritorious service which has been of mutual benefit to a friendly nation and the United States. Awards may be made for acts of valor performed under circumstances described above which are of lesser degree than required for award of the Bronze Star Medal. These acts may involve aerial flight. An award may be made for acts of noncombatant-related heroism which do not meet the requirements for an award of the Soldier’s Medal.
The Air Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the armed forces of the United States, shall have distinguished himself by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Awards may be made to recognize single acts of merit or heroism or for meritorious service.
National Defense Service Medal
The National Defense Service Medal has been awarded for honorable active service four times in our nations history. The first was during the Korean War. The second was for Vietnam. It was again authorized during the Southwest Asia period between 02 August 1990 and 30 November 1995. This coincides with Desert Storm and all related actions. The fourth time it was authorized was for Operation Enduring Freedom period starting 11 September 2001 and has no end date as of the time this was written.
Awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States serving in Vietnam and contiguous waters or airspace thereover, after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973.
Awarded for honorable and satisfactory service as a member of one or more of the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces of the United States for a period of 10 years within a 12-year period. Upon completion of the fourth 10-year period, a gold hourglass followed by a bronze hourglass shall be awarded.
The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal is awarded to personnel who served in the Republic of Vietnam for six months during the period of 1 March 1961 and 28 March 1973.
