Gallantry Cross

Not long after Operation Texas. That's me receiving the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star from Major General Lam of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. I was told that the award was related to Operation Texas, but didn't receive the text for it until after I left Vietnam. At the time, I thought that was pretty impressive. Now of course, the Republic of Vietnam doesn't even exist. And to top it off, I discovered a few years ago that those of us who were recommended for US medals for our actions on Operation Texas had our awards downgraded (Silver Star to Bronze Star, etc.) since we were receiving South Vietnamese awards for the same events. Now who exactly was the bureaucrat with that brilliant idea?