Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce early Vietnam War Army Distinguished Service Cross group of eleven attributed to Major Antonio L. Haenni, Artillery, attached Special Forces


Army Distinguished Service Cross, slot brooch; Legion of Merit, Legionnaire, crimp brooch; Bronze Star, slot brooch; Purple Heart, enamelled, slot brooch; Army Commendation Medal, crimp brooch; National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; South Vietnam, Gallantry Cross, with bronze palm on ribbon; Armed Forces Honour Medal, 2nd Class; Service Medal, enamelled, 1 clasp, 1960-; together with a National Society of the Sons of the Revolution Medal, awarded for Leadership and Excellence, bronze, reverse engraved, ‘Antonio Haenni’, very fine and better (11) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Named and Attributable American Medal Groups.

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Distinguished Service Cross citation: ‘Antonio L. Haenni, 802 631, Major, Artillery, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action. While on temporary duty assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), U.S. Army Special Forces, Vietnam (Provisional) and in transit with a recently organized Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) detachment en-route for advanced training at the Nha Trang Commando Center, Major Haenni’s motorized column came under hostile fire and sustained heavy casualties north of Cam Rahn Bay in the afternoon of September 1962. Major Haenni fearlessly exposed himself to enemy fire and received wounds to the left hand while personally returning to action an M40-AI 106mm recoilless rifle whose crew had been killed in action. By his act Major Haenni inspired the sorely beset CIDG forces and contributed to the repulse of the enemy assault until relief forces arrived the following day.’

Legion of Merit citation: ‘Antonio L. Haenni, 082 631, Major, Artillery, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services from August 1962 to October 1962, as a member of the Joint Operations and Evaluation Group, Vietnam attached to the U.S. Special Forces, Vietnam (Provisional).’

Bronze Star and Commendation Medal awarded in September 1962.

With copied citations. Together with three cloth and six metal badges/insignia for display purposes.

Also with a jacket bearing the name patch ‘Haenni’ and patches of the National Rifle Association Life Member and nine other shooting competition patches.


This lot is sold as seen and is not subject to return. Please see saleroom notice on lot 280 for fuller details.