Title
North Vietnamese Army Military Medal for Women
Description
A rectangular, bronze medal with a woman holding both rice and a rifle with an outline of Vietnam in the background. The words 'nguoi phu nu moi xay dung bao ve to quoc' surround the image. ''Người phụ nữ mới xây dựng bảo vệ tổ quốc" roughly translates as 'new women build and protect the homeland.'
Collection
James "Doc" Pueschel Collection
Context
This piece was picked up and collected by James "Doc" Pueschel during his Vietnam service. A Navy corpsman attached to the 1st Marine Division, 3rd Battalion, Mike Company during the Vietnam War, Pueschel was one of many Navy medical personnel attached to a Marine unit.
Ultimately only in country 75 days (March 17 -June 1, 1968) Pueschel was attached to Mike Company, tasked with protecting truck convoys along Route 9 to and from Khe Sanh Combat Base. On May 31st, 1968, a booby-trapped M-16 set off an explosion that tore through the company.
After the explosion and sustained firefighting with the Viet Cong, backup arrived, and Pueschel was medevac'd with all the Mike Company marines. Mike Company took 100% casualties, with their Navy corpsman taking four injuries while attempting to patch men up during combat.
Ultimately only in country 75 days (March 17 -June 1, 1968) Pueschel was attached to Mike Company, tasked with protecting truck convoys along Route 9 to and from Khe Sanh Combat Base. On May 31st, 1968, a booby-trapped M-16 set off an explosion that tore through the company.
After the explosion and sustained firefighting with the Viet Cong, backup arrived, and Pueschel was medevac'd with all the Mike Company marines. Mike Company took 100% casualties, with their Navy corpsman taking four injuries while attempting to patch men up during combat.
Accession #
2024.43