FROM: CMC
261139Z/47 (MAY 1970)
TO: ALMAR
UNCLAS //NO1650//
MCBUL 1650. REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM ARMED FORCES MERITORIOUS UNIT CITATION OF THE GALLANTRY CROSS WITH
PALM; CASE OF THE III MARINE AMPHIBIOUS FORCE
1. THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY HAS APPROVED THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE SUBJECT AWARD FOR THE III AMPHIBIOUS
FORCE TO INCLUDE ALL NAVY, MARINE CORPS AND COAST GUARD UNITS ATTACHED TO OR SERVING THEREWITH DURING
THE PERIOD 8 MARCH 1965 THROUGH 20 SEPTEMBER 1969
2. THE BUREAU OF NAVAL PERSONNEL, NAVY DEPARTMENT WILL PROMULGATE THIS AWARD IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE
LISTING ALL UNITS OF THE NAVY, MARINE CORPS AND COAST GUARD ENTITLED TO THE AWARD INCLUDING THEIR DATES OF
PARTICIPATION
3. SECNAV ALSO APPROVED THE ASSEPTANCE OF THSI AWARD FOR ARMY AND AIR FORCE UNITS ATTACHED TO AND SERVING
WITH III MAF DUREING THE PERIOD IN QUESTION. BY SEPARATE CORRESPONDENCE SECNAV REQUESTED THE DEPTS OF
THE ARMY AND AIR FORCE TO PROMULGATE THE AWARD TO ARMY AND AIR FORCE UNITS ENTITLED THERETO
4. ALTHOUGH INDIVIDUAL UNIT AWARDS WERE ALSO PRESENTED IN THE FIELD TO THE BELOW-LISTED UNITS, TO
PRECLUDE DUPLICATION OF AWARDS, SECNAV APPROVED ACCEPTANCE OF ONLY THE III MARINE AMPHIBIOUS FORCE AWARD.
THESE AWARDS WILL BE RETAINED AT HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS WITH NO FURTHER ACTION TAKEN
3D BATTALION, 4TH MARINES 15JUL-3AUG66
1ST MARINE DIVISION APR66-MAY69
3D MARINE DIVISION MAR65-JAN69
9TH MARINE REGIMENT JAN-DEC68
4TH MARINE REGIMENT JUL-OCT66
III MARINE AMPHIBIOUS FORCE 1JAN-15DEC68
(CANCELED)
5. ALL MARINE CORPOS UNITS UNDER THE OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF THE III MARINE AMPHIBIOUS FORCE DURING
THIS PERIOD ARE ENTITLED TO THIS AWARD AND AS SUCH ARE CONSIDERED CITED UNITS WITHIN THEMSELVES AND
ALL SUCH UNITS WHICH ARE AUTHORIZED FLAGS ARE ENTITLED TO FLY THE STREAMER OF THE GALLANTRY CROSS WITH
PALM
6. ALL PERSONNEL OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED UNITES DURING THE PERIOD IN QUESTION WHO WERE PRESENT AND
SERVING IN VIETNAM ARE AUTHORIZED TO WEAR THE GALLANTRY CROSS RIBBON BAR WITH PALM AND FRAME. COMMANDING
OFFICERS WILL DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FROM ENTRIES IN SRB'S AND OQR'S, AUTHORIZED THE WEARING OF THE RIBBON
AND ENTER SUCH AUTHORITY IN SRB'S OF ENLISTED MEN AND IN THE CASE OF OFFICERS, FORWARD A COPY OF THE AUTHORIZING
LETTER TO CMC (CODE DGH) FOR FILE ON THEIR OFFICIAL RECORD. WHERE RECORDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO MAKE DETERMINATIONS
FROM, APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS (CODE DL)
7. THE RIBBON BAR WILL NOT BE ISSUED BY THIS HQ, BUT MAY BE PURCHASED AT MARINE CORPS EXCHANGES AND MILITARY
SHOPS
8. EXTENSIONS OF TOURS OR AN ADDITIONAL TOUR WITH ONE OR MORE UNITS ENTITLED TO THIS AWARD WILL NOT
CONSTITUTE A BASIS FOR A SECOND AWARD OF THE SUBJECT CITATION; NOR IS A DEVICE AUTHORIZED FOR A FUTURE/ADDITIONAL
AWARD OF THIS DECORATION
9. THIS BULLETIN IS APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE
10. THIS BULLETIN IS CANCELED ON 30 NOVEMBER 1970.