Awards of
World War IIThe American Campaign Medal is awarded to all branches of the United States military that participated in the defense of the American continent during World War II.
Materials
Bronze.
Artists
Thomas Jones, Adolph Weinman.
Awarded to
Service members of all branches of the military.
Reasons for awarding
Participation in the defense of the American continent from December 7, 1941 – November 8, 1946 Years ago.
The requirements for the American Campaign Medal were to serve more than 30 consecutive days, or 60 days in total, on a ship, or to have completed long-distance flights over the ocean, as well as to have served on the mainland for a year. The first recipient was General George Marshall.
The medal was established for all branches of the armed forces that directly participated in the defense of the American continent during World War II. The obverse of the medal depicts a U.S. warship and bomber aircraft, as well as a sinking enemy submarine, against a backdrop of a city coastline, with the inscription "AMERICAN COMPANY" along the upper edge. The reverse of the medal replicates the reverse of the medals for the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign. It depicts an eagle perched on a rock, flanked by the dates 1941-1945, and the inscription in English "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." The medal is attached to a blue ribbon decorated with small stripes of white, red, and black.