kids encyclopedia robot

China Service Medal facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
China Service Medal
ChinaService.jpg
Presented by the Department of the Navy

The China Service Medal was a special award given to members of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. It was created on July 1, 1942. This medal honored military personnel who served in and around China during important times before and after World War II.

Who Received This Medal?

The China Service Medal was given to military members who served in China or in ships supporting operations there. There were two main periods when this medal was awarded:

  • First Period: From July 7, 1937, to September 7, 1939. This was for service during a time of conflict in China before World War II officially began for the U.S.
  • Second Period: From September 2, 1945, to April 1, 1957. This period covered service in China right after World War II ended.

To receive the medal, a person had to be on permanent duty with a Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard unit. This unit had to be officially recognized for its part in operations in China. Simply visiting or passing through China did not count.

If a service member earned the medal for both periods, they could wear a small bronze service star on their medal ribbon. This showed they had served during both important times. Only one medal was ever given to a person, even if they qualified for both periods. The China Service Medal is no longer awarded today.

What Does the Medal Look Like?

The China Service Medal was designed by an American sculptor named George Holburn Snowden. It is made of bronze and is about 1.25 inches wide.

  • Front (Obverse): The front of the medal shows a traditional three-sailed Chinese junk boat. This type of boat was common in China. The boat is sailing on waves. Around the boat, the words "China Service" are written in a special Asian-style font.
  • Back (Reverse): The back of the medal features a bald eagle, which is a symbol of the United States. The eagle is holding laurel branches, which represent honor and victory. It is perched on an anchor. On the left side of the eagle, it says "For," and on the right, it says "Service." Above the eagle, there are different words depending on who received the medal:
    • "United States Navy" for sailors.
    • "United States Marine Corps" for Marines.

The ribbon for the medal is gold with red stripes on each side.

See also

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
China Service Medal Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.