Military Order of Foreign Wars
The Medal The Mexican War Commemorative Medal was licensed by the Military Order of Foreign Wars to recognize the contribution of America’s military and naval forces, including the Revenue Cutter Service, during the Mexican War.
Period of Service
This medal recognizes military and naval service in the Mexican War between April 25, 1846 (when the first blood was shed) and May 30, 1848 (when ratification of the peace treaty was exchanged by the United States and Mexico).
Designer
The Mexican War 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 center of a bronze medallion, an eagle grasping a snake in its right talon is depicted atop a landscape represented by cacti and a mountain surrounded by water. Above the eagle is a banner bearing the inscription 1846 MEXICAN WAR 1848 in raised letters. The eagle grasping the snake is suggested by the Mexican coat of arms, as depicted on the Mexican flag. According to legend, the Aztecs selected what is now Mexico City as their home in response to a prophecy that instructed them to settle where they saw an eagle holding a serpent in its talons. This symbol was adopted as the national emblem of Mexico in 1821. The cacti, mountain and water alludes to the theater of operations of the Mexican War. The water surrounding the mountain symbolizes the joint amphibious operations of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Revenue Cutter Service; a consolidation of forces that assured victory.
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 is adapted from the Army and Navy streamers for the Mexican War and consists of a field of green bisected by a stripe of white. The green and white are taken from the Mexican flag.
Background
The Mexican War grew out of the annexation of Texas in 1845. Although prior to its annexation by the United States Texas was widely acknowledged as a free state, it was considered by Mexico to be a part of its territory. Thus, when the United States announced that it intended to annex Texas, Mexico replied that doing so would be the equivalent of a declaration of war. When Texas was annexed, Mexico protested and severed diplomatic relations with the United States. The proximate cause of the war, however, was a dispute over the western boundary of Texas. Texas claimed that its western boundary was the Rio Grande River to its source, and from there due north to the 42nd degree of north latitude. Mexico, however, claimed that the true boundary was the Nueces River, which was one hundred miles to the east. When Texas was annexed, the United States accepted Texas’s boundary claim and President James K. Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor to proceed to the eastern bank of the Rio Grande. On April 25, 1846, a group of Mexican soldiers crossed the Rio Grande and engaged American troops on the eastern boundary. After a contentious debate, Congress declared war on Mexico.
Campaigns
Army
The war was fought in four main areas: along with Rio Grande, where American forces fought under the command of General Zachary Taylor; in California, under the command of Captain John C. Fremont and Commodore Robert F. Stockton; in New Mexico, under Colonel Stephen W. Kearny; and from Veracruz to Mexico City, under the command of General Winfield Scott. The Army’s battle streamer is embroidered with the following ten actions:
Chapultepec 1847
Navy
During the Mexican War the Navy’s Home and Pacific Squadrons blockaded Mexico’s east and west coasts, seized numerous ports, and conducted amphibious operations. From the Gulf of Mexico, Commodore M.C. Perry, with his small flotilla of sidewheel steamers and schooners, fought his way up torturous rivers to capture Frontera, San Juan Bautista and other enemy strongholds and supply sources. Sailors for the Pacific Squadron under Commodore John Stoat and Commodore Robert Stockton, landed at Monterey, San Francisco, and San Diego, assuring success in the California campaign. Veracruz, the key to ultimate victory on the Gulf, fell before a brilliantly executed amphibious assault planned by Commodore David Conner. Over twelve thousand troops were put ashore with their equipment in a single day, and at the request of General Winfield Scott, naval gunners and their heavy cannon also landed ashore. Joined by guns of the fleet and Army artillery, the naval battery pounded the enemy into submission and opened the way for the subsequent capture of Mexico City and the successful prosecution of the War. The Navy’s battle streamer for the Mexican War bears four bronze stars for the actions listed below:
West Coast Blockade and Operations in California