Even more so than in the Korean War, members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served in the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) during the Vietnam Conflict were frequently tasked with jobs assisting the government handle non-military affairs. As a result, the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal was established as a way to award individuals and units with outstanding achievements conducting and managing civil procedures. While members of the Republic of Vietnam Military Force were obviously eligible for this new award, it could also be awarded to Allied military personnel or units.
The unit citation was created in May, 1964 and awarded by the Vietnamese government for outstanding meritorious service, with an eligibility period of 1 March 1961 to 28 March 1974. When it was awarded to an individual, the recipient was authorized to wear the medal; personnel assigned to a unit which was honored with the medal are authorized to wear the unit-award emblem featuring a gold frame and a palm. The emblem came in two classes, First Class for Officers and Second Class for enlisted personnel, with two narrow red stripes in the center of the emblem denoting the Officer’s award.