Medals and Ribbons
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Below is a list of decorations that SPARS personnel could receive
for their service generally and for service in campaigns during WWII.
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American Campaign
Medal
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Awarded for service within the American Theater
from 7 December 1941 past the end of World War II. The American Campaign
Medal was established per Executive Order 9265, dated 6 November 1942,
by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The American Campaign Medal was first
issued as ribbon only.
The ribbon design was approved by the Secretary
of War on 24 November 1942. The blue color represents America. The
blue, white and red stripes in the center (taken from the American Defense
Service Medal ribbon) refers to the continuance of American defense after
Pearl Harbor. The white, red and black stripes refer to the German flag
colors (the enemy on the Atlantic Coast) while red and white stripes are
for the Japanese colors and refer to that part of the conflict on the Pacific
Coast.
The American Theater included North America,
the Caribbean and certain Atlantic and Pacific islands and South America.
The service had to last at least a period of 30 consecutive days or 60
nonconsecutive days.
On 17 December 1947, the first medal was presented
to General of the Army George C. Marshall. |
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Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
Medal
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Awarded for service within the Asiatic-Pacific
Theater from 7 December 1941 past the end of World War II. The Asiatic-Pacific
Campaign Medal was established per Executive Order 9265 in November 1942
by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The ribbon design was approved by the Secretary
of War on 24 November 1942. The white and red stripes on each side
represent the Japanese colors. The blue, white and red stripes in the center
are adopted from the American Defense Service Medal ribbon and refer to
the continuance of American Defense after Pearl Harbor. The medal was first
issued as ribbon only.
The Asiatic-Pacific Theater included Hawaii and
other Pacific Ocean islands, Alaska, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand,
Indonesia, New Guinea and southeast and south Asia as well as the eastern
Soviet Union. Therefore, SPARS who were serving in Alaska or Hawaii could
be awarded with this medal. The service had to last at least a period of
30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days. On 17 December 1947, the
first medal was presented to General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. |
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WW II Victory Medal
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Awarded to all military personnel
for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946. The World War
II Victory Medal was established by an Act of Congress on 6 July 1945 (Public
Law 135, 79th Congress).
The specified ending date on December 31, 1946
was the date of the official termination of hostilities as proclaimed by
President Truman.
The Victory Medal was first issued as a ribbon,
and was referred to simply as the "Victory Ribbon" By 1946, a full medal
had been established which was referred to as the World War II Victory
Medal. |
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I. Development ] [ II. Facts about
the SPARS ] [ III. Uniforms
] [ IV. Sources
]
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