Military Order of Foreign Wars
The Medal The Barbary Wars Commemorative Medal was licensed by the Military Order of Foreign Wars to recognize the contribution of America’s naval forces in securing freedom of the seas from Barbary pirates.
Period of Service
This medal recognizes naval service in the Barbary Wars from May of 1801 through 1815.
Designer
The Barbary Wars Commemorative Medal was designed by Nadine Russell, the Chief of Creative Heraldry at the Army’s Institute of Heraldry and the designer of many of this Nation’s campaign and service medals. This medal was privately commissioned by the Military Order of Foreign Wars.
Symbolism
Obverse
In the foreground of a bronze medallion, a rising lion’s head is seen facing to the viewer’s left. In the background, the Rock of Gibraltar is depicted beneath an anchor which is crossed by a Mameluke. Following the contour of the medal, the inscription 1801-1805 · BARBARY WARS · 1815 in raised letters. The lion’s head symbolizes the courage and reckless bravery of the American naval officers who set valorous examples for the young naval service and who earned widespread respect for the new American nation. The Rock of Gibraltar represents the theater of operations of the Barbary Wars in the Mediterranean. The crossed anchor and Mameluke commemorate the actions in Tripoli Harbor and highlight the newly acknowledged prowess of the United States Navy.
Reverse
The reverse bears the seal of the Military Order of Foreign Wars: In the center of a bronze medallion, a shield bearing four swords pointing downward, two at an angle from the left, and two at an angle from the right. Above the swords is an American eagle with its wings spread, shown behind a battlement. Behind the shield is a field of thirteen stars amid a cloud formation, and above the shield is a mural circlet from which arises an arm in armor holding four thunderbolts. Beneath the shield is a banner bearing the motto, DEUS ET LIBERTAS, and beneath the banner appears the date 1894 (the date being separated, right and left). Surrounding the entire central theme is another banner, this one bearing the inscription, MILITARY ORDER OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES, and surrounding this banner is a circle of bullets.
Ribbon
The ribbon consists of a field of blue with equal stripes of white in the center and inside each edge. The white stripe in the center is edged in gold. The blue represents the seas in general and naval service in particular; the white alludes to the high ideal of freedom of the seas, and the gold stands for achievement.
Background
The North African Barbary States of Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli had plundered seaborne commerce for decades. They demanded tribute money, seized ships, and held crews for ransom or sold them into slavery. The European States found it easier to pay the pirates “protection money” than to fight them. Under the Washington and Adams administrations, the United States also paid tribute to the Barbary States. In the Fall of 1793, Barbary corsairs seized eleven American merchant vessels and held over one hundred Americans taken from the ships. In the aftermath of this insult, Congress passed the Naval Act in March of 1794, which provided for the construction of six frigates. When tensions between the United States and the Algerian pirates abated, only three of the frigates were finished. When Tripoli later raised the amount of tribute it expected, the United States did not comply and in May of 1801 Tripoli declared war. The United States was the only maritime nation to resist the Barbary States. Thomas Jefferson sent naval squadrons into the Mediterranean. Under the leadership of Commodore Richard Dale and Commodore Edward Preble, the Navy blockaded the enemy coast, bombarded his shore fortresses, and engaged in close, bitterly contested gunboat actions.
Lieutenant Stephen Decatur’s exploit in destroying the captured frigate USS Philadelphia, and Captain Richard Somers attempt with the fire-ship USS Intrepid to blow up enemy vessels in Tripoli Harbor, set valorous examples for the young naval service. Gradual withdrawal of the U.S. Navy led the Barbary powers to renew their age-old piracy. Following the War of 1812, two naval squadrons under Commodore Decatur and Commodore Bainbridge returned to the Mediterranean. Diplomacy (backed by resolute force) soon brought the rulers of the Barbary States to terms and gained widespread respect for the new American Nation.
The Navy’s battle streamer for the Barbary Wars bears four bronze stars for the actions listed below.
Blockade of the Tripolitan Coast
Destruction of the Captured USS Philadelphia (February 16, 1804)
Operations Against Algiers (1815)