ESTABLISHING LEGISLATION
The Vietnam MIA Medal was established by Act of Congress (Section 1267 of Public Law 98-94, 98th Congress) on September 24, 1983.
EVENT COMMEMORATED
This medal commemorates the military service of those who are missing in action in Vietnam and whose status remains unknown. It was presented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate jointly, on behalf of the Congress, to those American personnel listed as missing or otherwise unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, to be accepted by their next of kin.
ORDER OF PRECEDENCE
This medal commemorates the military service of those who are missing in action in Vietnam and whose status remains unknown. It was presented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate jointly, on behalf of the Congress, to those American personnel listed as missing or otherwise unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, to be accepted by their next of kin.
DEVICES
No devices were authorized for this medal.
DESIGNER
The Vietnam MIA medal was designed by Thomas Mason Nielson.
FIRST AWARD
The first Vietnam MIA Medal was presented to Colonel Earl P. Hopper, U.S. Army (Retired), whose son, Lieutenant Colonel Earl P. Hopper, Jr., USAF, was listed as missing in action after his F-4 was shot down on January 10, 1968. The medal was presented on July 21, 1984.
DESCRIPTION AND SYMBOLISM
Obverse
In the center of a bronze medallion three inches in diameter, an eagle is shown partially concealed in a bamboo grove. Around the edge of the medal, in incised letters, is the inscription MISSING WHILE SERVING IN THE DEFENSE OF FREEDOM IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. At the base of the medal, the words POW< and MIA, separated by a five pointed star, point-up. The words POW and MIA are separated by the remainder of the inscription by two stars on each side.
The eagle in the bamboo grove represents the American in captivity. The bamboo suggests the geographic area of Southeast Asia.
Reverse
In the center of a bronze medallion three inches in diameter, a medal is displayed beneath the words, YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN. Below the medal and to its right are the words, BY ACT OF CONGRESS SEPTEMBER 1983. Forming a circle above the medal and inscription, the words HONORING AMERICANS STILL MISSING, with two five-pointed stars at the beginning and end of the inscription. Completing the circle, the date 1961 followed by the words VIETNAM, LAOS, and CAMBODIA, followed by the date 1973. The names of each place is separated by a five pointed star.
The medal is the Vietnam Service Medal waiting to be picked up by the missing service man who earned it. The dates are the dates of the Vietnam War, and the three countries are those in which the missing personnel disappeared or were captured.
Ribbon
The ribbon is identical to that of the Vietnam Service Medal, and is taken from the flag of the President of South Vietnam. This is a decorative ribbon and is not intended for wear.