CHAPTER X

MEDALS, BADGES AND RIBBONS

In all of the nations of the world it is customary to recognize special acts of gallantry upon the field of battle, marked devotion to duty in the service of the country and long and faithful service in the armies and navies by promotion, by granting special honors or orders, or by the conferring of medals and decorations.

In the military and naval service of the United States there are a number of authorized medals and badges presented to the officers and enlisted men in recognition of their gallant services and deeds in the wars in which our country has been engaged.

In addition to the medals conferred for war service there are medals for long and faithful service with the colors and special badges awarded for excellency at target practice both on land and sea.

These medals and badges are proudly worn and highly prized by their recipients and are often handed down to posterity as valued heirlooms.

Medals and badges are usually suspended from a small section of ribbon, the colors of the ribbon being distinctive for each medal.

In accordance with the regulations and orders for the various services medals are to be worn with special full dress and full dress uniforms on the left breast in one horizontal line, suspended from a single holding bar, each medal being attached to the bar by the distinctive ribbon authorized for it, and the upper edge of the bar being on a horizontal line one inch below the point of the shoulder, which should bring it between the first and second buttons of the full dress coat for officers.

There is a specified order for the arrangement of the medals upon the holding bar, the medal of the oldest date being worn nearest the center line of the coat and the others in order of precedence, according to the date of the event for which conferred, toward the left shoulder of the wearer.

With undress and service uniforms in lieu of the medals and badges sections of the ribbons from which they are suspended are worn. These ribbons of medals and badges are each equal in length to the full width of the ribbon and three-eighths of an inch wide. Ribbons of medals and badges are worn on the left breast of the coat in the same relative position as the medals and badges which they represent. In case the wearer has received so many that there is not room on the coat to wear them in one row, they are arranged in two rows.

The medals and badges, or the ribbons worn in their stead with undress and service uniforms, show the special military honors which have been conferred upon the wearer and the wars and campaigns in which he has seen active service, and a knowledge of the designs of these bits of metal and of the bright colored strips of silk will often give a fair idea of the services and honors of the man who wears them.

The founders of the United States of America looked askance upon anything that savored of monarchical government and as a result we find that the Constitution provides that,

“No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States; and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them shall, without the consent of Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office or title of any kind whatever, from any king, prince or foreign state.”

Following out this early mandate the regulations of the present day forbid the _wearing_ by the officers and enlisted men of the services of the United States of any medal or decoration granted by any foreign state or ruler, although the Congress has in a number of instances authorized officers and enlisted men to _receive_ such decorations.

In the early days of the republic Congress on several occasions passed resolutions of thanks to commanders on land and sea whose forces had won notable victories, and these resolutions generally provided for the striking of a medal to commemorate the victory and for a sword of honor to be presented by the government to the victorious commander, but these medals were not intended to be worn with the uniform.

It was not until 1861 that Congress authorized the first medal to be worn as a special badge of honor by soldiers who had especially distinguished themselves in the military service of the country. This decoration was officially styled the “Medal of Honor.”

This was followed in later years by the enactment of laws prescribing other decorations and medals and the promulgation of regulations and orders as to the manner in which they should be worn.

The following medals and badges are authorized by Act of Congress or by executive order and in accordance with the regulations of the military and naval services are worn by the officers and enlisted men upon whom they have been conferred.

1. Medal of Honor, U. S. Army. 2. Medal of Honor, U. S. Navy, U. S. Marine Corps, and U. S. Coast Guard. 3. Medal commemorating the Battle of Manila Bay, May 1, 1898. 4. Medal commemorating the Naval Engagements in the West Indies during the War with Spain, 1898. 5. Special Meritorious Medal for Services during the War with Spain, other than in Battle. 6. Certificate of Merit Medal. 7. Civil War Campaign Medal. 8. Indian Campaign Medal. 9. Spanish War Campaign Medal. 10. Congressional Medal for Philippine Service. 11. Philippine Insurrection Campaign Medal. 12. Army of Cuban Occupation Medal, 1898-1902. 13. China Relief Expedition Medal. 14. Gold Life-Saving Medal. 15. Silver Life-Saving Medal. 16. Cuban Pacification Medal. 17. Nicaraguan Campaign Medal. 18. Haitian Campaign Medal, 1915. 19. Good-Conduct Medal, U. S. Navy. 20. Good-Conduct Medal, U. S. Marine Corps. 21. Medals and Badges for Excellence in Gunnery. 22. Medals and Badges for Excellence in small-arms target firing as follows: (a) Expert Rifleman’s Badge, Army and Marine Corps. (b) Sharpshooter’s Medal, Navy and Marine Corps. (c) Expert Rifleman’s Bar Badge, Navy. (d) Pistol Expert Badge, Army and Marine Corps. (e) Expert Pistol-shot’s Bar Badge, Navy. (f) Distinguished Marksman’s Medal, Marine Corps. (g) Sharpshooter’s Badge, Army and Marine Corps. (h) Marksman’s Badge, Army and Marine Corps. (i) Division Competition Medal. (j) Medals given by the National Rifle Association in matches held under its cognizance.

The designs of the various medals and badges and the colors of their distinctive ribbons are shown in the accompanying illustrations.

Laws have been passed authorizing the wearing of the badges of certain societies composed of men who have served in the War of the Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the War with Spain, the Philippine Insurrection and the China Relief Expedition, but the regulations prohibit the wearing of these badges while in uniform when medals and badges presented by the government are worn.

_The Medal of Honor, U. S. Army._—The Medal of Honor for the Army was first authorized by Act of Congress in 1861 and is awarded to officers and enlisted men of the Army in the name of Congress for particular deeds of most distinguished gallantry in action. In order that an officer or enlisted man may receive a medal of honor he must have performed in action a deed of most distinguished personal bravery or self-sacrifice, above and beyond the call of duty, so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish him for gallantry or intrepidity above his comrades in arms, involving risk of life or the performance of more than ordinarily hazardous service. This medal is of bronze with the wreath in green enamel.

_The Medal of Honor_, U. S. Navy and Marine Corps. The Medal of Honor for the Navy, including the Marine Corps, was authorized by Act of Congress in 1862, which provided that enlisted men of the Naval Service distinguishing themselves in battle, or by extraordinary heroism in the line of their profession, may be promoted to forward warrant officers, upon the recommendation of their commanding officer, approved by the Flag Officer and the Secretary of the Navy; and that upon such recommendation they shall receive a Medal of Honor and a gratuity of one hundred dollars. This law provided the medal of honor and its accompanying gratuity for enlisted men only, but the Act of Congress of March 3, 1915, extended it to officers by the following proviso: “The President of the United States is hereby empowered to prepare a suitable Medal of Honor to be awarded to any officer of the Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard who shall distinguish himself in battle or display extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession.” The Navy Medal of Honor and the anchor from which it is suspended are of bronze.

Medals of Honor for both the Army and the Navy, being the highest decorations awarded by the United States government, are worn suspended from the neck by a ribbon of light blue studded with white stars so that the medal will be at the center of the neck opening of the coat.

_The Medal Commemorating the Battle of Manila Bay._—This medal, popularly known as the “Dewey Medal,” was the next one authorized by Congress after the Medal of Honor, and was struck in accordance with a joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives approved by the President on June 3, 1898, reading as follows:

“_Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled_, That the Secretary of the Navy be, and he hereby is, authorized to present a sword of honor to Commodore George Dewey, and to cause to be struck bronze medals commemorating the battle of Manilla Bay, and to distribute such medals to the officers and men of the ships of the Asiatic Squadron of the United States under command of Commodore George Dewey on May first, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight.”

The front or “obverse” of this medal bears the bust of Admiral Dewey in low bas-relief and the legend, “The gift of the People of the United States to the Officers and Men of the Asiatic Squadron under command of Commodore George Dewey,” while the back, or “reverse,” bears the figure of a sailor and a great gun with the inscription, “In Memory of the Victory of Manila Bay, May 1, 1898,” and the name of the ship in which the recipient served during the battle. The medal is suspended from a bronze bar by three links of chain and is backed by its distinctive ribbon, blue, yellow, blue.

_The Medal Commemorating the Naval Engagements in the West Indies during the War with Spain._—This medal, usually known to the service as the “Sampson Medal,” was struck in accordance with a joint resolution of Congress approved by the President on March 3, 1901, reading as follows:

“_Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled_, That the Secretary of the Navy be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause to be struck medals commemorative of the naval and other engagements in the waters of the West Indies and on the shores of Cuba during the War with Spain, and to distribute the same to the officers and men of the Navy and Marine Corps who participated in any of said engagements deemed by him of sufficient importance to desire commemoration; _Provided_, That officers and men of the Navy or Marine Corps who rendered specially meritorious service, otherwise than in battle, may be rewarded in a like manner.”

The medal commemorating the Naval engagements in the West Indies is of bronze, the obverse bears the bust of Rear Admiral Sampson in low bas-relief and the inscription “U. S. Naval Campaign West Indies 1898. William T. Sampson Commander in Chief,” and the reverse bears a representation of a gun’s crew in bas-relief; the medal is suspended by its distinctive ribbon, red, blue, red, from a bronze bar bearing the name of the engagement in which the recipient participated. In case the recipient took part in more than one engagement an additional bar is added for each engagement.

_Special Meritorious Medal for Services in the War with Spain Other than in Battle._—This medal was struck in accordance with the joint resolution of Congress of March 3, 1901, quoted above, the portion of that resolution authorizing it being as follows:

“_Provided_, That officers and men of the Navy or Marine Corps who rendered specially meritorious service, otherwise than in battle, may be rewarded in like manner.”

This medal is of bronze in the form of a maltese cross with a medallion centerpiece. The centerpiece bears a foul anchor surrounded by a laurel wreath and the inscription “U. S. Naval Campaign West Indies,” and the arms of the cross bear the words “Specially Meritorious Service 1898,” on the obverse side. On the reverse side is engraved the name of the recipient and the act for which the medal was awarded.

_The Certificate of Merit Medal._—This medal is conferred upon enlisted men of the Army by executive order of the President in cases where the recipient thereof has distinguished himself in the service of the country and has been recommended therefor by the commander of his regiment or the chief of the corps to which he belongs. It is of bronze with a Roman eagle surrounded by the inscription “_Virtutis et audaciae monumentum et praemium_” on the obverse side and on the reverse a wreath with the words “United States Army” surrounding it and the words “For Merit” enclosed in it. The ribbon has a narrow white stripe through the center with red, white and blue stripes on each side.

_The Distinguished Service Cross._—This decoration, authorized by the President January 12, 1918, is awarded by him or in his name by the commanding general of the American Expeditionary Forces to any person serving with the Army for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy after April 6, 1917, under circumstances not justifying the award of the medal of honor. It is a bronze cross surcharged with an eagle with a scroll below the eagle bearing the words “For Valor.” The ribbon is blue with narrow stripes of white and red at the edges.

_The Distinguished Service Medal._—This bronze medal, authorized by the President January 12, 1918, is awarded by him to any person serving with the Army for exceptionally meritorious service in duty of great responsibility or in military operations against an armed enemy. Its obverse bears the coat of arms of the United States surrounded by the words “For Distinguished Service.” The ribbon has a wide central stripe of white with a narrow stripe of blue on each side of it and a red stripe at each edge.

The distinguished service cross medal may be awarded posthumously to persons killed in the performance of acts that merit the award or who die prior to such award, the cross or medal being given to the nearest relative of the deceased person.

A person who holds a distinguished service cross or distinguished service modal is entitled to wear upon the ribbon for each additional citation in War Department orders a bronze oak leaf and for citation for gallantry by a general officer’s headquarters a silver star.

_Congressional Medal for Philippine Service._—This bronze medal, authorized by Act of Congress in 1899, was conferred upon officers and men of the Army distinguishing themselves in action during the Philippine Insurrection. On the obverse is a group of three soldiers facing to the left, the central one bearing the colors and the other two with rifles at the “shoulder,” surrounded by the inscription “Philippine Insurrection, 1899.” On the reverse are the words “For Patriotism, Fortitude and Loyalty” enclosed in a circle composed of a branch of pine on the left and a branch of palm on the right. The ribbon is blue with narrow bands of white, red, white near each edge.

_Gold Life-Saving Medal._—This medal, established by Act of Congress, June 20, 1874, is awarded to “those who by extreme and heroic daring have endangered their lives in saving or endeavoring to save lives from the perils of the sea.” The obverse has a design of a boat’s crew rescuing a man from a stormy sea, surrounded by the inscription “United States of America. Act of Congress, June 20, 1874.” The reverse bears a scroll surmounted by an eagle and supported at the left by the figure of Victory and at the right by an anchor and a ship’s sails, surrounded by the inscription, “In testimony of heroic deeds in saving life from the perils of the sea.” The medal is suspended from a clasp of gold representing the head of an eagle and the clasp is suspended by a scarlet silk ribbon.

_Silver Life-Saving Medal._—This medal, established by Act of Congress, June 20, 1874, is awarded to “those who have endangered their lives in saving lives from the perils of the sea or in succoring the shipwrecked.” The obverse bears an allegorical design of a rescue from the sea, surrounded by the inscription “United States of America. Act of Congress, June 20, 1874.” The reverse has a wreath surrounded by the words, “In testimony of heroic deeds in saving life from the perils of the sea.” The medal is suspended from a silver clasp representing the head of an eagle, the clasp being suspended by a light blue silk ribbon.

_Civil War Campaign Medal._—This is the first of the campaign medals or badges. It is of bronze and was awarded to all officers and men who participated with honor in the Civil War. The Army medal has on its obverse side the head of Lincoln, nearly in profile, facing to the right, surrounded by the inscription, “With malice toward none, with charity for all,” and on the reverse a wreath of oak and olive branches enclosing the words “The Civil War” and dates “1861-1865.” The Navy medal bears on its obverse a scene from the battle of the _Monitor_ and the _Merrimac_ and the inscription, “The Civil War, 1861-1865,” and on the reverse an eagle perched on a foul anchor with the words “For Service” below, the whole surrounded by a circle composed of a branch of oak and a branch of olive leaves in the lower half and in the upper half the words “United States Navy” or “United States Marine Corps,” according to the service of the wearer. The ribbon is blue and gray.

The reverse side of all Navy campaign medals is the same as for the Civil War medal; all Army campaign medals, with the exception of the Civil War medal, have on the reverse a trophy composed of an eagle perched on a cannon supported by five standards, rifles, an Indian shield, spear and quiver of arrows, a Cuban machete and a Sulu kriss, with the words “For Service” below, the whole surrounded by a circle of the words “United States Army” in the upper half and thirteen stars in the lower half.

_Indian Campaign Medal._—This bronze medal was given to all officers and men of the U. S. Army who participated with honor in the campaigns against hostile Indians. Its obverse bears a mounted Indian, facing to the right, with a spear in his right hand and wearing a war bonnet, all surrounded by a circle composed of the words “Indian Wars” above and a buffalo skull below with arrowheads completing the circle. The ribbon is red with a narrow black band near each end.

_Spanish War Campaign Medal._—This bronze medal was conferred upon officers and men of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps who saw active and honorable service in the War with Spain in 1898. The obverse of the Army medal bears a conventional castle with two round corner towers surrounded by a circle of the words “War with Spain” above and the date 1898 below with a branch of tobacco plant to the left and stalk of sugar cane to the right. The obverse of the Navy medal bears the Morro Castle at Havana surrounded by the inscription “Spanish Campaign, 1898.” A medal of the same design but with the inscription “West Indies Campaign, 1898,” was presented to officers and men of the Navy and Marine Corps who participated in the naval operations in the West Indies in 1898. The ribbon is blue, yellow, blue, with narrow yellow edges.

_Philippine Insurrection Campaign Medal._—This bronze medal was given to officers and men of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps who saw active service in the Philippine Insurrection, 1899 to 1903. The obverse of the Army medal bears a cocoa palm tree with a Roman lamp on the left and balanced scales on the right, surrounded by the words “Philippine Insurrection, 1899”; that of the Navy medal has the Santiago gate at Manila surrounded by “Philippine Campaign, 1899-1903,” and two palm branches. The ribbon is crimson, blue, crimson, with narrow blue edges.

_Army of Cuban Occupation Medal._—This bronze medal was given to the officers and men of the U. S. Army which occupied Cuba during the U. S. Military Government from 1898 until the establishment of the Cuban Republic in 1902. On the obverse is the coat of arms of the Cuban Republic surrounded by the words “Army of Occupation Military Government of Cuba,” with the dates 1898-1902 above the shield. The ribbon is red, blue, red, with narrow blue edges, the central blue stripe having narrow yellow edges.

_China Relief Expedition Medal._—This bronze medal was given to officers and men of the U. S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps who took part in the defense of the legations at Peking, China, and their relief in 1900. The obverse of the Army medal bears the Imperial Chinese five-toed dragon surrounded by the words “China Relief Expedition, 1900-1901”; and that of the Navy medal bears the Chienmen, the main gate of Peking, with a dragon below, all surrounded by the words “China Relief Expedition, 1900.” The ribbon is yellow with blue edges.

_Cuban Pacification Medal._—This bronze medal was given to officers and men of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps who took part in the “second intervention in Cuba,” 1906-1909. The obverse of the Army medal bears the coat of arms of the Cuban Republic with the words “Cuban Pacification” above and the dates 1906-1909 below it. The obverse of the Navy medal bears an allegorical design representing “Columbia” tendering the olive branch of peace to “Cuba.” The ribbon is olive-drab edged with narrow stripes of red, white and blue.

_Nicaraguan Campaign Medal._—This bronze medal was given to officers and men of the Navy and Marine Corps in the expedition which established stable government in Nicaragua in 1912. The obverse shows Mount Momotombo, surrounded by the inscription “Nicaraguan Campaign, 1912.” The ribbon is blue, crimson, blue, with narrow crimson edges.

_Mexican Service Campaign Medal._—This bronze medal was given to officers and men of the military and naval services who participated in the operations in Mexico, the Vera Cruz expedition of 1914, the punitive expeditions of 1916-17, or who were between 1911 and 1917 present at engagements where there were casualties to U. S. troops. The obverse of the Army medal bears the Mexican yucca plant in flower with mountains in the background, surrounded by the inscription “Mexican Service, 1911-1917.” The obverse of the Navy medal bears the castle of San Juan de Ulloa at Vera Cruz, surrounded by the inscription “Mexican Service, 1914.” The ribbon is yellow, blue, yellow, with narrow green edges.

_Haitian Campaign Medal._—This bronze medal was given to officers and men of the Navy and Marine Corps who took part in the operations in Haiti between July 9 and December 6, 1915. The obverse shows Cape Haitien with the sea in the foreground and mountains in the background with a palm tree at the left; above the design encircling it are the words “Haitian Campaign” while below the design is the date, 1915. The distinctive ribbon is blue with two narrow red stripes through the center.

_The Good-Conduct Medal_, U. S. Navy.—This medal is bestowed upon enlisted men of the Navy who have served a complete enlistment of four years with such constant and especially meritorious attention to duty and efficiency as to win the recommendations of their commanding officers for “Good-Conduct.” It is of bronze, its obverse side showing an anchor surmounted by a central medallion bearing a representation of the U. S. S. _Constitution_ and surrounded by an anchor chain and the words “United States Navy.” It is suspended by a ribbon of crimson.

_The Good-Conduct Medal_, U. S. Marine Corps.—This medal is bestowed upon enlisted men of that service under similar conditions to those prescribed for the Navy. It is of bronze and its obverse side bears an anchor surmounted by a central medallion showing a marine at the breech of a rapid-fire gun and surrounded by an anchor chain and the words “United States Marine Corps,” with the motto of the Marine Corps, “Semper Fidelis,” on a scroll between the flukes of the anchor. It is suspended by a miniature rifle from a bar by the distinctive ribbon of red, blue, red; the bar bearing the inscription “U. S. Marine Corps.”

_Wound Chevrons._—A gold chevron, each arm one-half inch wide and two inches long, worn on the right sleeve below the elbow, is given to each officer and enlisted man who is wounded in action or disabled by gas.

_War Service Chevrons._—A similar chevron, to be worn on the left sleeve below the elbow, is given for each six months of active service in the zone of the advance in the present war.