Details from Left to Right
Beginning with the medal that has the Black and WHITE striped ribbon, the NZOSM or New Zealand Operational Service Medal - The next one with the YELLOW in the ribbon, the Vietnam Medal - Then the one with the BLUE. RED and BLACK ribbon, the New Zealand Service Medal 1992 and finally the medal with the GREEN and WHITE striped ribbon, the South Vietnamese Campaign Medal.
NEW ZEALAND OPERATIONAL SERVICE MEDAL
The New Zealand Operational Service Medal (NZOSM) is a New Zealand campaign medal awarded to New Zealanders who have served on operations since 3 September 1945.
On the Medal it has a shield quartered with the Southern Cross, a wheat sheaf, a suspended fleece and mining hammers crossed divided by three ships, surmounted by the Royal Crown with a European woman carrying the NZ flag on one side, and a Māori Rangatira holding a taiaha on the other side. This is the Coat of Arms of New Zealand.
VIETNAM MEDAL
The Vietnam Medal was instituted in 1968 to recognise both Australian and New Zealanders who served in the Vietnam War. The Vietnam Medal was awarded to servicemen who had 28 days in ships or craft on inland waters or off the coast of Vietnam. One or more days on the posted strength of a unit or formation on land. One operational sortie over Vietnam or Vietnamese water by aircrew on the posted strength of a unit. It was designed and produced in Australia.
The ribbon has a centre Yellow portion with Three Red lines down the middle, that portion represents the South Vietnam Flag. The equal width bands of Dark Blue, representing the Navy, the Red band, representing the Army and the Light Blue band represents the Air Force.
NEW ZEALAND GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL 1992
This medal was instituted in 1992. It was issued in silver to recognize service in warlike operations for which no separate New Zealand or British Commonwealth campaign medal was issued. By the time it was replaced in 2002, four clasps had been issued for warlike operations between 1956 and 1991 in the Suez Canal region, Malaya, Vietnam and Kuwait. First issued in 2008 to Vietnam Veterans.
- 34 YEARS AFTER THE VIETNAM WAR -
It has since been awarded to New Zealand Entertainers who entertained troops in Vietnam during the war. Don't ask me why, they certainly didn't serve any warlike service. Read what the black stripe represents.
SOUTH VIETNAMESE CAMPAIGN MEDAL
The South Vietnamese Campaign Medal was awarded by the Government of South Vietnam to all foreign forces who served for six months in Vietnam between 1964 and 1973. The Sovereign approved the wearing of the South Vietnamese Campaign Medal by eligible New Zealand personnel in 1966.
The ribbon of the medal is green, representing Freedom, with three vertical white stripes that represent Purity. The metal Device (1960- ) signifies the year this Medal was first issued to members of the South Vietnamese military for wartime service. In May 1966, other allied foreign military personnel became eligible for the award.
The Medal is coloured in gold in the shape of a six-pointed white enamelled star with six-pointed gold rays between the arms of the star. In the centre of the star is a green disc bearing a gold map of Vietnam with three painted flames in red between North and South Vietnam, signifying the three regions of Vietnam
Ribbons are worn instead of medals when dress is not formal.