View source for Special Service Medal (South Vietnam)

{{Infobox Military Award
|name=Vietnam Special Service Medal
|image=Special Service Medal (South Vietnam).png
|image_size=200px
|caption=Special Service Medal with device
|presenter={{flag|South Vietnam}}
|type=
|eligibility=Military personnel only
|awarded_for=Performing an act of outstanding meritorious service to the Vietnamese State
|campaign=
|status= No longer awarded
|description=
|clasps=
|established= August 15, 1950
|firstawarded= 1950
|lastawarded= 1974
|total_awarded=
|total_awarded_posthumously=
|total_recipients=
|individual=
|higher=[[Meritorious Service Medal (Vietnam)|Meritorious Service Medal (Army, Air Force, and Navy)]]<ref name=warriors>{{cite book|last=Martin|first=Michael N.|title=Warriors of the Sea|year=2001|publisher=Turner Publishing Company|isbn=1-56311-663-4|pages=61}}</ref>
|same=
|lower=[[Gallantry Cross (Vietnam)|Gallantry Cross]]<ref name=warriors/>
|related=
|image2=Vietnam Special Service Medal ribbon.svg
|image2_size=100px
|caption2=Ribbon of the Special Service Medal with device
}}
The '''Special Service Medal''' ({{langx|vi|Biệt-Công Bội-Tinh}}) was a decoration of [[South Vietnam]] which was issued between the years of 1950 and 1974.  The decoration was awarded to any military service member who performed an act of outstanding meritorious service to the Vietnamese State.  The Special Service Medal was also awarded to members of foreign militaries and was presented frequently to members of the [[United States Armed Forces]] during the years of the [[Vietnam War]].
The U.S. military considered the Special Service Medal to be the equivalent of the [[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]].  When awarded to U.S. personnel, the decoration was permitted for wear on U.S. uniforms after all [[Awards and decorations of the United States military|United States military awards]].
In 1975, with the fall of [[Saigon]], the South Vietnamese military effectively ceased to exist and the Special Service Medal became obsolete.  Today, it is only available by private purchase through military insignia dealers.
==See also==
*[[List of military decorations#South Vietnam .28former.29|Military awards and decorations of South Vietnam]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071227144552/http://www.saintjohn.nbcc.nb.ca/host/vietnam/ Military Orders, Decorations, and Medals of the Republic of Vietnam]
{{ARVN}}
[[Category:Military awards and decorations of Vietnam]]