Military Order of Foreign Wars
The Medal The Latin American Campaigns Commemorative Medal was licensed by the Military Order of Foreign Wars to recognize the contribution of America’s naval forces in achieving political and economic stability in Latin America during the turbulent first two decades of this century.
Period of Service
This medal recognizes military service in five separate campaigns extending from October 6, 1906 and ending on June 15, 1920.
Designer
The Latin American Campaigns 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
A female figure overlooking a scene of mountains, coastline and water is shown on a bronze medallion. She is depicted holding a torch in her right hand and a trident in her left. At the top of the medal, and below the suspension ring, is a group of banana leaves. On the right side of the medal, in four lines, is the inscription LATIN / AMERICAN / CAMPAIGNS /1906-1920.
The female figure is Columbia, who represents the United States of America. The mountains, coastline and water represent the varied geography of Latin America. The torch in her right hand stands for enlightenment, while the trident represents naval prowess. The banana leaves symbolize commerce and trade. Columbia is shown facing in the direct of the United States, thus alluding to her presence in defense of democratic ideals, and the absence of implements of war in the scene speaks to America’s desire to foster strong local political and economic institutions rather than to act as a military force or occupying power.
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 Navy battle streamer for the Latin American campaigns. The ribbon consists of three equal bands of red, blue and red. The blue band in the center contains two gold stripes. The blue and gold represent the United States Navy, and the red represents sacrifice.
Campaigns
In response to internal upheaval and European threats of intervention to satisfy inter-national debts, the United States Navy was called upon to help establish political and economic stability in Latin America during the first two decades of the Twentieth Century. The Navy’s battle streamer for the Latin American Campaigns bears one silver star for the following five campaigns:
The Dominican Campaign (May 5 to December 4, 1916)
It is interesting to note that each of these individual campaigns was also commemorated by an official Navy campaign medal; however, those specific campaign medals (with the exception of the Mexican Campaign) are not represented by their own battle streamers.