American Campaign Medal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids American Campaign Medal |
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| Presented by | U.S. Department of War and U.S. Department of the Navy |
The American Campaign Medal was a special military award given to members of the United States Armed Forces. President Franklin D. Roosevelt first created this medal on November 6, 1942. Its purpose was to honor military members who served in the American area during World War II.
Another medal, the American Defense Service Medal, was given for service before the U.S. joined World War II.
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History of the American Campaign Medal
President Franklin D. Roosevelt officially created the medal on November 6, 1942. Rules for getting the medal were first shared on January 1, 1943. This meant people could wear the ribbon even before the medal itself was designed. More detailed rules were released on March 25, 1948.
During World War II, people only received a ribbon for this award. The actual medal was not given out until 1947. The very first person to receive this medal was General George C. Marshall, Jr..
In January 2020, the United States Air Force allowed the Civil Air Patrol to display a special flag streamer. This streamer honors the Civil Air Patrol's important work. They helped patrol the coasts between May and August 1943, looking for enemy submarines.
Who Earned the American Campaign Medal?
To earn the American Campaign Medal, a person had to serve in the American area between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946. Here are some ways they could qualify:
- Served permanently outside the main part of the United States.
- Was part of a ship's crew sailing in the ocean for at least 30 days in a row, or 60 days spread out.
- Traveled or worked temporarily outside the main U.S. for 30 days straight, or 60 days over time.
- Fought in actual battles against the enemy and received a special award for combat, or a certificate from a high-ranking general.
- Served inside the main part of the United States for a total of one year.
What the Medal Looks Like
The Medal's Design
The medal is made of bronze and is about 1.25 inches (32 mm) wide. Thomas Hudson Jones designed the front side of the medal. It shows a Navy cruiser sailing with a B-24 Liberator bomber flying above. You can also see an enemy submarine sinking and a city skyline in the distance. The words AMERICAN CAMPAIGN are at the top.
The back of the medal was designed by Adolph Alexander Weinman. It features an American bald eagle with the years 1941 – 1945 and the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. This same design was used for other World War II medals.
The Ribbon's Colors and Meaning
The ribbon is about 1.375 inches (35 mm) wide and is mostly oriental blue. In the center, there's a thin stripe of old glory blue, white, and scarlet, about 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) wide. On either side of this, there are smaller stripes of white, black, scarlet, and white, each about 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) wide.
The blue color on the ribbon stands for the Americas. The blue, white, and red stripes in the middle show that America continued its defense after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The white and black stripes represent the conflict with Germany in the Atlantic Ocean. The red and white stripes stand for the conflict with Japan in the Pacific Ocean.
Special Stars for Combat
Small bronze stars, about 3/16 inch (4.8 mm), could be added to the ribbon. These stars were for service members who fought against Axis forces in the American area. This often included those who helped patrol the Atlantic Ocean, looking for enemy submarines during the Battle of the Atlantic.
Campaigns and Service Stars
Service members could earn a bronze star for participating in certain important operations. These included protecting ships, fighting submarines, and other special missions. The Army also awarded bronze stars for taking part in antisubmarine efforts. This meant being part of a unit that helped fight enemy submarines.
See also
In Spanish: Medalla de la Campaña Americana para niños
