French medalbar, what kind of medals?

[_The_General_]

Could someone tell me more about these medals?




Thanks

[Dave Danner]

1. Croix de Guerre 1939-45 with bronze star
2. Croix du Combattant (Combatant's Cross)
3. Médaille Coloniale (Colonial Medal) with bar "Extreme Orient" (Far East)
4. Médaille commémorative française de la Guerre 1939-1945 (French Commemorative Medal of the War, 1939-45), with bars "France" and "Liberation".
5. Médaille commémorative de la Campagne d'Indochine (Commemorative Medal for the Indochina Campaign)
6. State of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with bronze star.

The State of Vietnam existed as a French colonial territory from 1949-55. The Gallantry Cross, the Vietnamese equivalent to the Croix de Guerre, continued as a decoration of the Republic of Vietnam. Many Americans received it, and virtually every US unit in Vietnam received it as a unit citation.

Regarding the Far East bar to the Colonial Medal, Hendrik Meersschaert states that it was "awarded to those that participated in the fighting against the Japanese (who attacked garrisons and barracks of the French forces in Indochina by surprise on 9 March 1945) between 9 March and 18 September 1945 and against "rebels" from 23 September 1945 onwards. These so-called rebels are in fact the Viet-minh of the Ho Chi Minh government which was installed on 20 August. France would never be able to completely subdue them ... Recipients of this bar were also eligible for the Commemorative Medal for Indochina."

[_The_General_]

Thanks, very good and detailed info

This is the uniform it is on:






Can you tell me some more about it?

[Dave Danner]

It is a captain's uniform.

I can't tell what unit because I don't know how to read the colors on the collar insignia. 5th Regiment of something. Perhaps the 5ème Régiment de Cuirassiers, which served in French Indochina (it's not a Legion uniform, so not the 5e REI).