Any person who served in the Vietnam Conflict and either currently serves in any branch of the United States Armed Forces or was honorably discharged from such service may apply for special motor vehicle license plates for any motor vehicle such person owns, either solely or jointly, other than an apportioned motor vehicle or a commercial motor vehicle licensed in excess of twenty-four thousand pounds gross weight. Any such person shall make application for the special license plates on a form provided by the director of revenue and furnish such proof of service in the Vietnam Conflict and status as currently serving in a branch of the Armed Forces of the United States or as an honorably discharged veteran as the director may require. Upon presentation of the proof of eligibility and annual payment of the fee required for personalized license plates prescribed by section 301.144, and other fees and documents which may be required by law, the director shall then issue license plates bearing letters or numbers or a combination thereof as determined by the advisory committee established in section 301.129^*, with the words “VIETNAM VETERAN” in place of the words “SHOW-ME STATE”. Such plates shall also bear an image of the Vietnam service medal. The plates shall be clearly visible at night and shall be aesthetically attractive, as prescribed by section 301.130. There shall be no limit on the number of license plates any person qualified under this section may obtain so long as each set of license plates issued under this section is issued for vehicles owned solely or jointly by such person. License plates issued pursuant to this section shall not be transferable to any other person except that any registered co-owner of the motor vehicle may operate the motor vehicle for the duration of the year licensed in the event of the death of the qualified person.