National Order of Vietnam
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The National Order of Vietnam (Template:Langx) was a combined military-civilian decoration of the State of Vietnam and its successor, the Republic of Vietnam. It was considered the highest honor that could be bestowed upon an individual by the Republic of Vietnam government.
The decoration was created in 1950 and was awarded to any person who performed "grandiose works, remarkable deeds, exhibited bravery, or for those who have honored and served the country by lofty virtues and outstanding knowledge."
The National Order was modeled after the French National Order of the Legion of Honour, and as such it was issued in five degrees:<ref name="RVN Medals"/><ref name="Sylvestor">Template:Cite book</ref>
- Grand Cross – wore the badge of the Order on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star of the Order on the right stomach or just the star of the Order on the left stomach
- Grand Officer – wore the star of the Order on the right stomach
- Commander – wore the badge on a necklet
- Officer – wore the badge on a ribbon with rosette on the left chest
- Knight – wore the badge on a ribbon on the left chest
Both the badge and the star had the same design, as shown in the top right of this page. The ribbon was red with yellow borders. It was, in fact, the ribbon of the former Order of the Dragon of Annam when awarded by the Emperor of Annam himself (when awarded by the French Government the ribbon was green with orange borders).
During the Vietnam War, the National Order of Vietnam was bestowed on several members of the United States military, most of whom were senior military and political advisors to the South Vietnamese government. The decoration could also be awarded posthumously.
Since the National Order of Vietnam was both a civil and a military decoration, it was displayed above all other awards when worn on a military uniform. A purely military equivalent of the decoration was the Vietnam Military Merit Medal, awarded only to members of the military.
Notable recipients
- Alfredo M. Santos, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
- Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia
- Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. (1902–1985)
- Cao Văn Viên (1921–2008), Army of the Republic of Vietnam General, Commander of III Corps
- Alexander Haig (1924–2010), United States Secretary of State
- Hồ Văn Nhựt (1905–1986), Founder of the Southern Red Cross of Vietnam
- Thanom Kittikachorn, Prime Minister of Thailand
- Đỗ Cao Trí, ARVN General, Commander of I, II and III Corps
- Sharon Ann Lane (1943–1969), U.S. Army nurse
- Rembrandt C. Robinson (1924–1972), Commander Cruiser/Destroyer Group, U.S. Seventh Fleet
- Ted Serong (1915–2002), Australian Army counter-insurgency expert, served in Vietnam 1962–1975