This page contains featured Medals of the Month for 1997 from my Home Page. In an effort to decrease the load time for my Home Page I have archived these medals here. I have discovered that these graphics take a few minutes to load. Please be patient, I think you will find them worth the wait.
As always, I welcome questions, comments and suggestions. Please feel free to contact
me at: medalman@cyberhighway.net
| Medal of the Month - December 1997 | |
Silver Star |
|
| The Silver Star stands as the United States' third highest
award for combat valor. Established on July 16, 1932, the Silver Star actually traces its
history back to the silver Citation Star, established on July 9, 1918. The Citation Star
was a silver star device which was attached to the service ribbon of the campaign medal
for which the individual was cited in official orders for gallantry in action. Most Citation Stars are found on World War I Victory Medals. To convert their Citation Stars to Silver Star medals, service members were required to present copies of the official orders which made them eligible for the Citation Star. While the degree of heroism required to earn the Silver Star is less than that required for the Medal of Honor or Distinguished Service Medal, it must nevertheless have been performed with marked distinction. |
|
| As with the Bronze Star Medal, first production navy Silver Stars are thicker than their army counterparts. In addition, the first contracts for army Silver Stars had the planchets stamped on the lower arm of the star with a serial number. The most collectable army style Silver Stars are those made by the firm of Bailey, Banks & Biddle; who stamped their company logo on the suspender knob. BB&B also produced the initial rum of 50,000 army Silver Stars-all of which are serial numbered. | |
| Medal of the Month - November 1997 | |
Bronze Star Medal |
|
 |
The Bronze Star Medal began with a suggestion from General
George C. Marshall that a decoration be established that would be within the reach of
enlisted men-particularly infantrymen, who face the hardships and dangers of combat on a
daily basis. Marshall outlined his ideas in a memo to President Roosevelt on February 3, 1944, and the following day the President signed Executive Order 9419 authorizing the Bronze Star Medal. Award of the Bronze Star Medal can be made for acts of Valor in combat or for acts of meritorious service within a combat theater. In 1947 award of the Bronze Star Medal was authorized retroactively for every soldier who had been awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge or the Combat Medic's Badge during World War II. When the Bronze Star Medal is awarded for acts of combat valor, a bronze "V" device if attached to both the suspension ribbon and the ribbon bar. Addition awards of the Bronze Star Medal are recognized by the addition of an Oak Leaf Cluster to the ribbon. |
| In 1947 award of the Bronze Star Medal without the
"V" device was authorized for personnel who had been awarded the Combat
Infantrymen's Badge and the Combat Medic Badge during World War II. More recently,
retroactive award of the Bronze Star Medal was authorized for the defenders of Bataan. From a collector's standpoint there are several varieties of the Bronze Star Medal. The most noticeable variation is the thicker planchet fount on Navy and Marine Corps Bronze Star Medals. In addition, war-time issues of Navy and Marine Corps Bronze Star Medals are found with the characteristic wrap brooch; whereas Army Bronze Stars were first produced with the slot brooch. |
|
| Medal of the Month - October 1997 | |
Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal |
|
| The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal came about as a result of the efforts
of Major William C. Wise, Jr. Major Wise presented a proposal to the Commandant of the
Marine Corps in April 1919 for a series of seven ribbons to recognize service in various
expeditionary landings. The proposal met with a favorable response and was adopted the following month. In its
final form, the award was modified to a single ribbon with the addition of bronze
numerals-later changed to bronze campaign stars-to represent multiple awards. Specific
expeditions qualifying for the award were identified dating back to the Hawaiian
expedition in 1874. The addition of a metal pendant was authorized in 1921. However, due to delays in accepting a design and final approval by the Navy Department, the first medals were not produced until 1936. |
|
Original issues of the USMC Expeditionary Medal were issued with "M.No." prefixed serial numbers stamped on the rim. See the Campaign Medals page of this site for illustrations of how the ribbon colors have changed slightly over the years. Since its inception, there have been over sixty expeditions that have qualified for award of the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal. A complete list of all expeditions can through 1993 be found in "The Call of Duty" by John Strandberg. |
|
| Medal of the Month - September 1997 | |
Distinguished Flying Cross |
|
|
The Distinguished Flying Cross was established by Act of
Congress on July 2, 1926. From that time until the outbreak of World War II, the DFC was
used primarily to recognize the feats of aviation pioneers. The first Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded to Captain Charles Lindberg for his solo flight across the Atlantic in 1927. That same year Admiral Richard Byrd became the first member of the Navy to receive the DFC. Byrd's DFC was awarded for his flight to the North Pole in 1926. Current award criteria for the DFC require heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. From a collector's stand point, there are several varieties of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Early varieties of the DFC were numbered on the reverse at the six o'clock position and the jump-ring at the 12 o'clock position on the pendant was actually soldered to the medal, whereas later production pieces had the ring cast as part of the pendant. In addition, pendants on DFCs produced during World War II for the Navy were actually slightly thicker and had a frosted appearance. Army DFCs were slightly thinner than those of the Navy, and had a smoother surface. |
| Medal of the Month - August 1997 | |
Mexican Service Medal - Navy and USMC |
|
| The Mexican Service Medal for Navy and Marine Corps personnel
was originally authorized 11 February 1918 for award to officers and enlisted men who
served ashore during the Vera Cruz expedition between April 21 and 23, 1914. Eligibility was quickly expanded to include personnel serving aboard 121 specific ships during specified periods from 21 April to 26 November 1914 and from 14 March 1916 to 7 February 1917. Navy and Marine Corps personnel who served in engagements with hostile Mexican forces outside those specific time periods were also eligible for award of the Mexican Service Medal. Originally issued Mexican Service Medals were produced my the U.S. Mint and were serial
number on the rim opposite the suspension ring. U.S. Mint serial numbers were with out a
prefix. Following the end of World War I, the Navy issued a contract to civilian
manufacturers for additional medals, these have the prefix "M. No." before the
serial number. In all, about 16,000 Navy personnel were awarded the Mexican Service Medal
with "United States Navy" on the reverse and about 2,500 Marines received the
medal with the United States Marine Corps reverse. |
|
| A complete list of all ships qualifying for the Mexican Service Medal can be found in "The Call of Duty" by John Strandberg. | |
| Medal of the Month - July 1997 | |
Purple Heart |
|
| General George Washington established the original heart-shaped Badge for
Military Merit on August 7, 1782. Only three NCOs are known to have received the original
award, which was a patch of purple cloth with a lace or binding border. The Badge for
Military Merit was intended as a permanent order to recognize and foster "every
species of military merit." However the Badge quickly lapsed into disuse. The Purple Heart was revived by presidential order in War Department General Orders No. 3 dated February 3, 1932 and the announcement was timed to coincide with the 200th anniversary of Washington's birthday. |
|
| The Purple Heart was initially awarded to those soldiers and
civilian personnel who were wounded in World War I. However, from December 7, 1941, to
September 2, 1942, the Army also awarded the Purple Heart for meritorious service.
Following the introduction of the Legion of Merit, the Army
discontinued this policy. When the Purple Heart was first introduced, it ranked below all other decorations for valor or meritorious service. In 1985, Congress elevated it to a position immediately behind the Bronze Star. This change was a result of the widely held belief that wounds received in combat deserved more recognition than honors for peacetime achievement. Of interest to collectors is the fact that the original Army contracts for Purple Hearts specified that serial numbers be stamped on the edge of the medal. The highest contract number known to have been specified is 600,000. Navy Purple Hearts were not numbered. However, in 1945 the Navy was running low on Purple Hearts and borrowed 60,000 numbered Purple Hearts from the Army. Another difference between World War II Navy Purple Hearts and those of the Army is the fact that the initial order of Navy Purple Hearts, which were produced by the U.S. Mint, were sterling silver and gold plated. Army Purple Hearts were gold plated bronze. |
|
| Medal of the Month - May 1997 |
Vietnam Service Medal |
| Authorized by Executive Order 11231on July 8, 1965 and awarded to all
service members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served in Vietnam and the
contiguous waters, and airspace, in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia or airspace in direct
support of military operations in Vietnam between July 3, 1965 and March 28, 1973. Personnel previously awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for services between July 1958 and July 1963 could exchange these medals for the Vietnam Service Medal. Both medals could not be worn for the same service. Award criteria was very lax. To be eligible an individual regularly assigned to an organization for 1 day which participated in or operated in direct support of military operations in the above areas qualified for award of the Vietnam Service Medal. There were a total of 17 campaigns for which service stars were authorized for the Vietnam Service Medal. In addition, Navy personnel involved in ground combat are authorized the Fleet Marine Force Combat Operations Insignia (a miniature USMC emblem). |
 |
| Medal of the Month - April 1997 |
Legion of Merit |
|
Authorized on July 20, 1942, and amended on March 15, 1955, the Legion of
Merit was developed to serve several distinct purposes which came about as the United
States became more deeply involved in WWII. President Roosevelt wanted a decoration to honor foreign military personnel without diminishing the importance of the Distinguished Service Medal. To serve such a purpose, the Legion of Merit was designed in four grades: Chief Commander, Commander, Officer and Legionnaire. The Legionnaire grade is shown. The Legion of Merit remains the only American decoration that has different degrees - although only the Legionnaire grade can be awarded to US service personnel. |
| Among the first to receive the Legion of Merit - Chief
Commander, was Generalissimo Chiang Kaisheck of China. General Amaro Soares Bittencourt of
Brazil was the first to receive to Commander grade. Following the end of the Vietnam war, the Legion of Merit has become the award of choice to recognize field grade officers and senior enlisted personnel upon their retirement. Despite the changes in the award criteria, the Legion of Merit remains the second highest peacetime award in the United States' "pyramid of honor." Those who have earned it are recognized as having made a significant contribution to the mission of the Armed Forces of the United States. |
|
|
If you are interested in learning more about American medals, "The
Call of Duty" is the book you need. Used by the Smithsonian, US Air Force Academy
Museum, Washing Naval Yard Museum and many others. "The Call of Duty" is the
single best reference book on American military awards available today. Over 380 pages.
Nearly 1,000 photographs. Every military award authorized by the federal government since
the Revolutionary War is photographed in full color--front and back. $59.95 + $3.00 S/H in USA John Strandberg 6831 SE Renada Street Milwaukie, OR 97267 USA |
THANKS FOR EVERYTHING MOM!
Special thanks to Jerry Gorman for allowing the use of his ribbon images.
