THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON
The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in presenting the
NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION to
THE NAVAL ADVISORY GROUP, VIETNAM
AND
THE MARINE CORPS ADVISORY UNIT, VIETNAM
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
For exceptionally meritorious service from 10 May 1965 to 28 March 1973 in connection with combat operations against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam. During this period, advisors from the Naval Advisory Group and the Marine Corps Advisory Unit, attached to Commander United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, provided guidance and assistance to the Vietnamese Navy and Vietnamese Marine Corps throughout the Republic of Vietnam. These advisory teams successfully achieved the transition of the Vietnamese Navy from a fledgling force of 8,000 men to a strong, dynamic, and aggressive force of 42,000 men; concurrently, the Vietnamese Marine Corps was reorganized into a first-class combat force. Participating in hundreds of combat, psychological and pacification operations, U.S. Navy and Marine Corps advisors contributed to the high state of training and readiness of the Vietnamese Navy and Marine Corps and their notable record of achievement. Through a concerted effort, the ACTOV (Accelerated Turnover to Vietnamese) Program was completed and all logistic and intermediate support bases were turned over to the Vietnamese Navy. The courage and devotion to duty displayed by U.S. Navy and Marine Corps advisors throughout this period reflected great credit upon themselves and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and United States Naval Service.
John W. Warner
Secretary of the Navy