American Campaign Medal

American Campaign Medal
American Campaign Medal
Awarded by Department of the Army Department of the Navy
Type	Service medal
Eligibility	served in the armed forces in the American theater area between the following dates: between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946
Status	Inactive
Statistics
First awarded	December 7, 1941
Last awarded	March 2, 1946
Precedence
Equivalent	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
Next (lower)	World War II Victory Medal
American Campaign Medal service ribbon and streamer

The American Campaign Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces which was first created on November 6, 1942 by Executive Order 9265 issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.^[1]^[2] The medal was intended to recognize those military members who had performed military service in the American Theater of Operations during World War II.^[2] A similar medal, known as the American Defense Service Medal was awarded for active duty service prior to the United States entry into World War II.

History

The American Campaign Medal was established per Executive Order 9265,6 November 1942, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and announced in War Department Bulletin 56, 1942. The criteria was initially announced in Department of the Army (DA) Circular 1, dated 1 January 1943, so that the ribbon could be authorized prior to design of the medal. The criteria for the medal was announced in DA Circular 84, dated 25 March 1948 and subsequently published in Army Regulation 600-65, dated 22 September 1948. The American Campaign Medal was issued as a service ribbon only during the Second World War, and wasn't issued as a full-sized medal until 1947.^[2]

The first recipient of the American Campaign Medal was General of the Army George C. Marshall, Jr.^[2]

Criteria

The requirements for the American Campaign Medal were for service within the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946 under any of the following conditions:^[1]

On permanent assignment outside the continental limits of the United States.
Permanently assigned as a member of a crew of a vessel sailing ocean waters for a period of 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days.
Outside the continental limits of the United States in a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days.
In active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that the Soldier actually participated in combat.
Within the continental limits of the United States for an aggregate period of 1 year.

The boundaries of American Theater are as follows: The eastern boundary is located from the North Pole, south along the 75th meridian west longitude to the 77th parallel north latitude, thence southeast through Davis Strait to the intersection of the 40th parallel north latitude and the 35th meridian west longitude, thence south along the meridian to the 10th parallel north latitude, thence southeast to the intersection of the Equator and the 20th meridian west longitude, thence south along the 20th meridian west longitude to the South Pole.

The western boundary is located from the North Pole, south along the 141st meridian west longitude to the east boundary of Alaska, thence south and southeast along the Alaska boundary to the Pacific Ocean, thence south along the 130th meridian to its intersection with the 30th parallel north latitude, thence southeast to the intersection of the Equator and the 100th meridian west longitude, thence south to the South Pole.

Appearance

The medal, made of bronze, is 1 1/4 inches wide. The obverse was designed by Thomas Hudson Jones. It shows a Navy destroyer underway with a B-24 Liberator bomber flying overhead. In the foreground is a sinking enemy submarine, and in the background is the skyline of a city. At the top of the medal are the words AMERICAN CAMPAIGN. The reverse of the medal, designed by Adolph Alexander Weinman, is the same design as used on the reverse of both the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. It depicts an American bald eagle between the dates 1941 - 1945 and the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.^[2]

The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide in oriental blue in the center is a 1/8 inch center stripe divided into thirds of old glory blue, white, and scarlet. Between the center and the edges are stripes of 1/16 inch in white, black, scarlet and white. The blue color represents the Americas; the central blue, white and red stripes, taken from the American Defense Service Medal ribbon, represents the continuance of American defense after Pearl Harbor. The white and black stripes represent the German part of the conflict on the Atlantic Coast, while the red and white stripes are for the Japanese colors and refer to that part of the conflict on the Pacific Coast.^[2]

Devices

3/16 inch service stars were authorized to service members who participated in combat with Axis forces within the American theater. This primarily applied to those service members whose units participated in anti-U-Boat patrols (Anti-submarine warfare) in the Atlantic.^[3]

Campaigns

Navy campaigns

Participation in these escort, antisubmarine, armed guard, and special operations entitle recipients to one campaign star for each participation:^[4]

Navy Campaigns

Name of campaign	Start Date	End Date
Convoy ON 67	21 February 1942	26 February 1942
USS Atik (AK-101) (antisubmarine operations)	27 March 1942	27 March 1942
USS Asterion (AK-100) (antisubmarine operations)	22 March 1942	31 January 1943
Task Group 21.13	12 July 1942	28 August 1942
Convoy TAG 18	1 November 1942	6 November 1942
Convoy SC 107	3 November 1942	8 November 1942
Task Group 21.14	27 July 1943	10 September 1943
Task Group 21.15	24 March 1944	11 May 1944
USS Frederick C. Davis (DE-136) (antisubmarine operations)	24 April 1945	24 April 1945
USS Atherton (DE-169) and USS Moberly (PF-63)	6 May 1945	6 May 1945

Army campaigns

A bronze service star is authorized for participation in the antisubmarine campaign. To qualify individuals must have been assigned to or attached to, and present for duty with, a unit with antisubmarine campaign credit.^[2]

Bibliography

Foster, Frank C. (2002). A complete guide to all United States military medals, 1939 to present. Fountain Inn, S.C.: MOA Press. ISBN 1-884-45218-3. OCLC 54755134.

Kerrigan, Evans E. (1971). American war medals and decorations. New York: Viking Press. ISBN 0-670-12101-0. OCLC 128058.

Kerrigan, Evans E. (1990). American medals and decorations. Noroton Heights, CT: Medallic. ISBN 0-792-45082-5. OCLC 21467942.

Robles, Philip K. (1971). United States military medals and ribbons. Rutland, VT: C. E. Tuttle. ISBN 0-804-80048-0. OCLC 199721.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to American Campaign Medal.

1 2 Army Regulation 600–8–22 Military Awards (PDF). Washington, DC: Headquarters Department of the Army. 24 June 2013. p. 68. Retrieved 2014-01-09. Check date values in: |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "American Campaign Medal". The Institute of Heraldry. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
↑ "Title 32 - National Defense § 578.50 American Campaign Medal.". Government Printing Office. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
↑ "American Campaign Medal". Navy History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 18 March 2013.

United States Campaign, Expeditionary and Service Medals

19th century	Civil War Campaign Medal Indian Campaign Medal Dewey Medal Sampson Medal Cardenas Medal of Honor West Indies Campaign Medal Spanish Campaign Medal Spanish War Service Medal Army of Cuban Occupation Medal Army of Puerto Rican Occupation Medal Philippine Campaign Medal Philippine Congressional Medal

Early 20th century	China Campaign Medal (Army) China Relief Expedition Medal (Navy) Army of Cuban Pacification Medal Cuban Pacification Medal Nicaraguan Campaign Medal Haitian Campaign Medal Dominican Campaign Medal

World War I era	Mexican Service Medal Mexican Border Service Medal World War I Victory Medal Texas Cavalry Medal Army of Occupation of Germany Medal

Inter war era	Navy Expeditionary Medal Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal Haitian Campaign Medal NC-4 Medal Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal Yangtze Service Medal Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal Second Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal United States Antarctic Expedition Medal

World War II era	China Service Medal American Defense Service Medal Women's Army Corps Service Medal American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal Medal for Humane Action

Late 20th century	National Defense Service Medal Korean Service Medal Antarctica Service Medal Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal Kosovo Campaign Medal Armed Forces Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal

21st century	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Afghanistan Campaign Medal Iraq Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Korea Defense Service Medal Air and Space Campaign Medal Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal

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