Australian Active Service Medal 1945 -1975 with Vietnam Clasp
Notice given to local members on 24 September 1997. Letters Patent: C.A.G. S18 dated 19 January 1998.
The Australian Active Service Medal 1945 - 1975, with Clasps denoting areas of service, is awarded to members of the Australian Defence Force and certain Australian civilians for service in specified areas overseas. There are four approved Clasps for this medal, Korea, Malaya, Malaysia and Vietnam, each with respective qualifying areas and periods.
Name of Award:
The Australian Active Service Medal 1945 - 1975 with Clasp, Vietnam
Description of Ribbon:
A narrow central red stripe flanked by two narrow yellow stripes, which are in turn flanked by two light blue bands. On the outer edges are stripes of purple with dark green stripes on their inner edges.
Clasp or Emblem Worn (if Awarded)
Clasp, Vietnam
Conditions of Award
Awarded to members of the Australian Defence Force, civilian members of the Department of Defence, civilian contractors of the Department of Defence, members of the Australian Merchant Navy; members of an Australian Surgical and Medical Team; Australian War Correspondents; members of the Salvation Army, Australian Red Cross, Australian Young Men's Christian Association and Australian Campaigners for Christ, who qualified for the General Service Medal 1962 with Clasp South Vietnam, the Vietnam Medal or the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal for service in South Vietnam between 24 December 1962 and 27 January 1973.
A Review of Service Entitlement Anomalies, in respect of South-East Asian Service 1955-75 has resulted in a series of recommendations to extend entitlements for service medals.
Eligibility for the Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75 has been extended to:- RAN personnel who served with the Far East Strategic Reserve (FESR) during the Malayan Emergency. These personnel will also be eligible for the Naval General Service Medal; Official, uniformed war correspondents and war artists who served with ADF personnel during the Malayan Emergency; ADF personnel awarded the General Service Medal 1962 with Clasp ‘Brunei’ for service during the Indonesian Confrontation; RAN personnel serving in HMAS Vampire during the Indonesian Confrontation; ADF members serving on the Thai Malay border immediately after the Malayan Emergency, between 1 August 1960 and 27 May 1963; ADF members seconded to the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces during the Indonesian Confrontation; Australian Army Air Dispatch serving with 55 AD Coy RASC or ‘Miscellaneous Australian Detachments unit of FARELF’; Personnel who served at RAAF Base Ubon in Thailand between 26 June 1965 and 31 August 1968; and QANTAS crew members who served on RAAF charter flights during the Vietnam War from 1964-73.
Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal
Name of Award:
Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal
Description of Ribbon
Three narrow red stripes on a broad central yellow band. Bordered on the left by a red stripe with an inner dark blue stripe. Bordered on the right by a light blue stripe with an inner stripe of dark brown.
Clasp or Emblem Worn (if Awarded)
Nil
Conditions of Award
Awarded to members of the Australian Armed Forces who rendered service in support of the Australian Armed Forces in operations in Vietnam between 29 May 1964 and 27 January 1973. May also be awarded to Accredited Civilian War Correspondents, Australian Entertainers, Civilian Surgical Aid Teams, Civilian Defence Contractors, QANTAS Flight Crew and members of the Merchant Navy, who rendered service in support of the Australian Armed Forces in Vietnam. Actual service within Vietnam is required.
Persons eligible for the Vietnam Medal are not eligible for the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal.
Qantas Cabin Crew and Flight Crew Members who volunteered for RAAF troop charters to Vietnam may apply for the above medals.
How to apply for these medals
There is no specific application form for QANTAS Aircrew. All thats required is a
letter from the applicant which must include the following:
- Date of Birth
- Year and Month that the flights were undertaken
- Home address
- If either one of the above Medals have already been awarded
- The VLSM must have been issued or have been applied for before the AASM can be applied for.
Once completed, the letter of application should be forwarded to:-
- The Directorate of Honours and Awards
T-1-49 Russell Offices
Department of Defence
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Telephone 1800 111 321
Certificate of Appreciation
"Their Service, Our Heritage"
Certificates of Appreciation are currently available to members of the Qantas Community who contributed to Australia's effort during:
- World War II
Vietnam War
Indonesian Confrontation
Korean War
Malayan Emergency
British Commonwealth Occupation Forces in Japan
Eligibility criteria are:
- Qualifying service for the purpose of the Certificate may be either military or civilian;
It must be demonstrated that the nominee made a direct contribution in terms of time and effort towards the national effort, or indirectly through activities which raised morale;
The service for which the Certificate is issued may have been in Australia or overseas;
Family members or friends may nominate a person who they think is eligible for a Certificate.
If you consider yourself eligible, or if you have a friend or family member who may be eligible, please contact your electorate office for an application form.
Civilian Service in World War II
Proof of service for the Civilian Service Medal 1939–1945
The Civilian Service Medal 1939–1945 is available for those who served in a civilian organisation, were required to work in arduous circumstances, and were subjected to military style arrangements and conditions of service. To be eligible for the award of a medal an applicant must have had at least 180 days service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945 with one of the organisations listed below.
Airfield ground staff
Applying for the award
The award of the medal is administered by the Medals Validation Unit, a part of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The address for applications is:
Medals Validation Unit
Awards and National Symbols Branch
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
3–5 National Circuit
Barton ACT 2600
Civilian Service organisations for which personnel records are held, QANTAS Empire Airways Ltd - Canberra (only for those who went on to serve with QANTAS into the 1950s)