During the time of the Mexican War and thereafter, the Federal Government still showed a great reluctance to strike medals for soldiers and sailors. However, various states showed no such resistance. For example, the state of South Carolina struck 1000 silver medals for members of the Volunteer Palmetto Regiment who served in the Mexican War. […]
Military Medals History – GWOT, Liberation of Afghanistan and Iraq
The cruel and cowardly terrorist hijacking and attack on the World Trade Center led to a vigorous series of counter attacks on terrorists and their supporters. To recognize these efforts, the National Defense Service Medal was reauthorized in 2001 and two new awards, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Global War on Terrorism […]
How USMC Medals are Worn and Displayed
Wear of USMC Service Ribbons USMC Ribbons are authorized on Marine dress “B”, dress “A” or shirts when prescribed as an outer garment. They are normally worn in rows of 3 or rows of 4 when displaying a large number of awards. If the lapel conceals any ribbons, they may be placed in successively decreasing […]
Display of Appurtenances – Part 1 – Understanding US Military Awards
The next area in which the Services have gone their separate ways is in the prescribed arrangement of the various devices used on the ribbons of decorations and service awards. We have already discussed the devices used on U.S. ribbons, but of particular interest are the following: A. Additional award and campaign devices B. Bronze […]
Vietnam Medals (1961-1973) – Military Medals History
The first American advisors in the Republic of South Vietnam were awarded the new Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal which was created in 1961 to cover campaigns for which no specific military medal was instituted. However, as the U.S. involvement in the Vietnamese conflict grew, a unique award, the Vietnam Service Medal was authorized, thus giving […]
