Awards of
World War IIThe World War II Victory Medal was developed and approved as a commemorative award for members of the United States Army and the Philippine Islands who served during World War II.
Materials
Bronze.
Artist
Thomas Hudson Jones.
Awarded to
Service members of all branches of the U.S. military and members of the armed forces of the Philippine government.
Reasons for awarding
Acting active duty during World War II War.
The award was established by an Act of Congress on July 6, 1945. The World War II Victory Medal was awarded to all military personnel who served in military units and subunits for at least one day between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946.
This award was established as a commemorative award for soldiers and officers of the United States and the Philippines in honor of the great victory over the aggressors in World War II. It is a bronze circle depicting a woman in a dress, holding a sword broken in half, against a sunray backdrop, one foot resting on her helmet, and the inscription "WORLD WAR II." On the reverse, around the circle, is the inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1941-1945" in the center of the inscription "FREE FROM FEAR AND NEED" and "FREE SPEECH AND RELIGION" separated by a laurel branch.