Palm branches have been a symbol of triumph and victory for more than two millennia. While the United States Department of Defense and the various branches of the Armed Forces of the United States have eschewed the palm branch in favor of oak and laurel leaves, it is used as a design element or appurtenance in the military medals of other countries, including Belgium, France, and the former Republic of Vietnam.
For the French Croix de Guerre 1914 – 1918, a bronze palm was issued with the award when the recipient had been cited in Army-level reports, and a silver palm was worn in lieu of five bronze palms. The 1939 – 1945 version of the French award uses bronze and silver palms in the same manner, but also has a gold palm attachment reserved only for those recipients mentioned by Free French Forces’ reports (and thus is only worn on this version of the medal. The Belgian Croix de Guerre employs bronze and silver palm attachments in the same manner, but its gold palm represents five silver palms.
On the Vietnam Gallantry Cross medal, a Palm is an indication that the award is for an achievement that is recognized at the Army level, with Gold, Silver, and Bronze stars indicating accomplishments recognized at lower organizational levels.
Miniature palms are worn on mini-medals.