ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The Certificate of Merit was established by Act of Congress on March 3, 1847; the Certificate of Merit Medal was authorized by War Department General Orders Number 4, January 11, 1905. EFFECTIVE DATES The Certificate of Merit was originally authorized for qualifying service in the war with Mexico (May 13, 1846 to May […]
ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The Department of Transportation Guardian Medal was established by Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. EFFECTIVE DATES The Department of Transportation Guardina Medal has been in effect since September 11, 2001. CRITERIA The Department of Transportation Guardian Medal may be awarded to senior government officials […]
ESTABLISHING LEGISLATION The United States Antarctic Expedition Medal (1939-1941) was created by Act of Congress (Public Law 185, 79th Congress) on September 24, 1945. EVENTS COMMEMORATED The United States Antarctic Expedition Medal (1939-1941) commemorates Antarctic exploration; more specifically, it was awarded to members of the United States Antarctic Expedition of 1939-1941 to recognize their contributions […]
ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was established by Executive Order 9265 signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on November 6, 1942, and implemented by War Department Bulletin 56 (1942) and Navy Department General Orders Number 253 (1942). EFFECTIVE DATES The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for qualifying service between December 7, 1941, […]
ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The Department of Transportation 9-11 Medal was established by Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. EFFECTIVE DATES The Department of Transportation 9-11 Medal was awarded for actions that took place between September 11, 2001 and September 11, 2002. CRITERIA The Department of Transportation 9-11 Medal […]
ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The Distinguished Service Cross was established by order of President Woodrow Wilson, as promulgated in War Department General Orders Number 6 of January 12, 1918, and formalized by Act of Congress on July 9, 1918 (Public Law 193, 65th Congress). EFFECTIVE DATES The Distinguished Service Cross has been in effect since April 6, […]
ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The War on Terrorism Service Medal was established by Executive Order 13289 signed by President George W. Bush on March 12, 2003 and implemented by a memorandum issued by Charles S. Abell, Principal Deputy Secretary of Defense, on October 28, 2003, subject: “Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals.” EFFECTIVE DATES Individuals […]
ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The Coast Guard Cross was established by Act of Congress (Public Law 111-281, approved on October 15, 2010 (which authorized 14 USC 491A). EFFECTIVE DATES The legislation establishing the Coast Guard Cross did not provide for retroactive award, so it must be considered as taking effect on October 15, 2010. CRITERIA The President […]
ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The Army Civil War Campaign Medal was established by paragraph (a) of War Department General Orders Number 12 dated January 21, 1907. EFFECTIVE DATES This medal was awarded for qualifying service between the inclusive dates of April 15, 1861, and April 9, 1865 (extended to August 20, 1866 for service in Texas). CRITERIA […]
ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The Brevet Medal was formally authorized on June 27, 1921 by Marine Corps Orders Number 26 which published an earlier order issued by the Secretary of the Navy on June 7, 1921 prescribing the Brevet Medal as an article of the Marine Corps uniform to worn by officers holding a brevet commission. EFFECTIVE […]
ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The Kosovo Campaign Medal was established by Executive Order 13154 signed by President William J. Clinton on May 3, 2000, and published in the Federal Register on May 5, 2000. EFFECTIVE DATES The Kosovo Campaign Medal may be awarded to United States military personnel for participating in the operations and campaigns listed below: […]
ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal was established by Executive Order 13289 signed by President George W. Bush on March 12, 2003 and implemented by Charles S. Abell, Principal Deputy Secretary of Defense, in a memorandum dated Ocotber 28, 2003, subject: “Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals,” as amended on February […]
ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The Armed Forces Reserve Medal was established by Executive Order 10163 signed by President Harry S. Truman on September 25, 1950, as amended by Executive Order 10439 on March 19, 1953. EFFECTIVE DATES The Armed Forces Reserve Medal has been awarded for qualifying service from September 25, 1950 to the present. CRITERIA The […]
BACKGROUND INFORMATION* The Army was created on June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress first authorized the muster of troops to serve under its own authority. Those soldiers came from the provincial forces of the colonies, which were at that time laying siege to Boston. From its birth, the American Army has relied on the […]
