While the need for national defense began almost at once to suppress internal rebellions such as Shays’ Rebellion (1786-1787), the Whiskey Tax Rebellion in 1794 and a Pennsylvania protest against war taxes called Fries’ Rebellion in 1799, the country relied almost exclusively on volunteer or militia forces. The idea of a standing Army seemed a […]
Category: Military History
Medal of Honor Military Medal
The Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor is the highest military award for bravery that can be given to any individual in the United States of America. Conceived in the early 1860’s and first presented in 1863, the medal has a colorful and inspiring history which has culminated in the standards applied today for […]
Air Medal History & Overview
Air Medal History Service: All Services Instituted: 1942 (Retroactive to 8 September 1939) Air Medal Criteria: Heroic actions or meritorious service while participating in aerial flight, but not of a degree that would justify an award of the Distinguished Flying Cross Devices: Army: Bronze Letter “V” (for valor) effective 29 February 1964, Bronze Numeral; Air […]
Air Transport Command – ATC
A Medals of America customer recently asked what the military insignia was on the bottom of the lapel on his father’s World War II Army Air Forces uniform (ATC1) While it was unclear and grainy in the photo, it was identified as the Air Transport Command (ATC insignia) (ATC2). When you look at the image, […]
Disparate Regulations
Military Awards and Decorations Regulation As the next post in this “Dissertation on Diversity”, the following differences in ribbon wear between the various Armed Services are submitted without further comment: A. The Air Force is the only Branch of the Service to authorize the wear of miniature ribbon bars on the uniform. B. The Air […]