The American Defense Service Medal was a military award of the United States Armed Forces, established by Executive Order 8808, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, on June 28, 1941.[1][2] The medal was intended to recognize those military service members who had served on active duty between September 8, 1939, and December 7, 1941.
The American Defense Service Medal was established by Executive Order 8808, on 28 June 1941, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and announced in War Department Bulletin 17, 1941. The criteria for the medal was announced in Department of the Army Circular 44, on 13 February 1942. The service ribbon design was approved by the Secretary of War and the Secretary of Navy on January 7, 1942. The medal was designed by Mr. Lee Lawrie, a civilian sculptor from Easton, Maryland. The model was approved by the Commission of Fine Arts on May 5, 1942.[2][3]
Criteria
The medal is authorized to military members who served on active duty between President Roosevelt's declaration of a limited national emergency on September 8, 1939, and the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Members of the United States Army, to include those in the Organized Reserve and National Guard, received this medal for any length of service during the eligibility period, provided that they were on orders to active duty for a period of twelve months or longer.[1] The United States Navy excluded those reservists who were on active duty for less than ten days during the eligibility period, but otherwise the Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard awarded the medal to all personnel who served on active duty at any time during the eligibility period, Regular or Reservist, provided they passed their initial physical examinations, such as in the case of those Reservists called back to extended active duty prior to the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, or enlisted recruits or officer candidates who entered the Navy or Marine Corps during the same period.[4]
Appearance
Medals awarded to Douglas Alan Clark; the American Defense Service Medal is second from right, with an "A" Device, indicating belligerent contact with Axis Powers in the Atlantic Ocean between June 22 and December 7, 1941.
The bronze medal is 1+1⁄4 inches (32 mm) in diameter. On the obverse is a female Grecian figure symbolic of defense, holding in her sinister hand an ancient war shield in reverse and her dexter hand brandishing a sword above her head, and standing upon a conventionalized oak branch with four leaves. Around the top is the lettering "AMERICAN DEFENSE". The reverse is the wording "FOR SERVICE DURING THE LIMITED EMERGENCY PROCLAIMED BY THE PRESIDENT ON SEPTEMBER 8, 1939 OR DURING THE UNLIMITED EMERGENCY PROCLAIMED BY THE PRESIDENT ON MAY 27, 1941" above a seven-leafed spray of laurel.[2][3]
The suspension and service ribbon of the medal is 1+3⁄8 inches (35 mm) wide and consists of the following stripes: 3⁄16 in (4.8 mm) Golden Yellow 67104; 1⁄8 in (3.2 mm) triparted Old Glory Blue 67178; White 67101; and Scarlet 67111; center 3⁄4 in (19 mm) Golden Yellow; 1⁄8 in (3.2 mm) triparted Scarlet; White; and Old Glory Blue 67178; and 3⁄16 in (4.8 mm) Golden yellow. The golden yellow color was symbolic of the golden opportunity of the youth of the United States to serve the National colors, represented by the blue, white and red pin stripes on each side.[2][3]
Devices
The American Defense Service Medal was authorized with the following devices:
Foreign Service Clasp: Issued by the United States Army for military service outside the continental limits of the United States, including service in Alaska. The foreign service clasp is a bronze bar 1⁄8 inch (3.2 mm) in width and 1+1⁄2 in (38 mm) in length with the words FOREIGN SERVICE, with a star at each end of the inscription.[1]
Fleet Clasp: Issued by the Navy, Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard for service on the high seas while regularly attached to any vessels of the Atlantic, Pacific, or Asiatic fleets as well as vessels of the Naval Transport Service and vessels operating directly under the Chief of Naval Operations.[4] The Fleet clasp is a bronze bar 1⁄8 inch (3.2 mm) in width and 1+1⁄2 in (38 mm) in length with the words FLEET inscribed.
Sea Clasp: Issued by the Coast Guard for all other vessels and aircraft, not qualifying for the Fleet Clasp, which regularly conducted patrols at sea.[4]
"A" Device: Awarded to any member of the Navy who served duty in actual or potential belligerent contact with Axis Powers in the Atlantic Ocean between June 22 and December 7, 1941.[4] The "A" Device was also worn on the medal's uniform ribbon.
Service star: Worn in lieu of clasps when wearing the American Defense Service Medal as a ribbon on a military uniform.[1][3][4]
Foster, Frank C. (2002). A complete guide to all United States military medals, 1939 to present. Fountain Inn, S.C.: MOA Press. ISBN978-1-884-45218-5. OCLC 54755134.
Kerrigan, Evans E. (1971). American war medals and decorations. New York: Viking Press. ISBN978-0-670-12101-4. OCLC 128058.
Kerrigan, Evans E. (1990). American medals and decorations. Noroton Heights, CT: Medallic. ISBN978-0-792-45082-5. OCLC 21467942.
Robles, Philip K. (1971). United States military medals and ribbons. Rutland, VT: C. E. Tuttle. ISBN978-0-804-80048-8. OCLC 199721.
References
^ abcd(PDF). Washington, DC: Headquarters Department of the Army. 24 June 2013. p. 70. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-04-10. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
^ abcd. The Institute of Heraldry. Archived from the original on 2014-01-10. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
^ abcd. Air Force Personnel Center. 2 August 2010. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
^ abcdef(PDF). Washington, DC: Department of the Navy. 1953. pp. 57–59. NavPers 15,790. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-16. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
External links
FOR SERVICE IN THE DEFENSE OF AMERICA:THE AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL
External links
Media related to American Defense Service Medal at Wikimedia Commons
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The American Defense Service Medal was a military award of the United States Armed Forces established by Executive Order 8808 by President Franklin D Roosevelt on June 28 1941 1 2 The medal was intended to recognize those military service members who had served on active duty between September 8 1939 and December 7 1941 American Defense Service MedalObverseTypeService MedalAwarded forService between 8 September 1939 and 7 December 1941Presented byDepartment of War and Department of the NavyEligibilityMilitary personnel onlyStatusInactiveEstablishedExecutive Order 8808 June 28 1941First awardedSeptember 8 1939 retroactive Last awardedDecember 7 1941 retroactive Total recipientsabout 2 000 000Service ribbon and StreamerPrecedenceNext higher Army Army of Occupation of Germany MedalAir Force Air Force Recognition RibbonNavy Marine Corps Coast Guard China Service MedalNext lower Army Women s Army Corps Service Medal Navy amp Marine Corps American Campaign Medal Air Force American Campaign MedalA similar medal known as the American Campaign Medal was established in 1942 for service in the American Theater during the World War II era Contents 1 History 2 Criteria 3 Appearance 4 Devices 5 See also 6 Bibliography 7 References 8 External links 9 External linksHistory EditThe American Defense Service Medal was established by Executive Order 8808 on 28 June 1941 by President Franklin D Roosevelt and announced in War Department Bulletin 17 1941 The criteria for the medal was announced in Department of the Army Circular 44 on 13 February 1942 The service ribbon design was approved by the Secretary of War and the Secretary of Navy on January 7 1942 The medal was designed by Mr Lee Lawrie a civilian sculptor from Easton Maryland The model was approved by the Commission of Fine Arts on May 5 1942 2 3 Criteria EditThe medal is authorized to military members who served on active duty between President Roosevelt s declaration of a limited national emergency on September 8 1939 and the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7 1941 Members of the United States Army to include those in the Organized Reserve and National Guard received this medal for any length of service during the eligibility period provided that they were on orders to active duty for a period of twelve months or longer 1 The United States Navy excluded those reservists who were on active duty for less than ten days during the eligibility period but otherwise the Navy United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard awarded the medal to all personnel who served on active duty at any time during the eligibility period Regular or Reservist provided they passed their initial physical examinations such as in the case of those Reservists called back to extended active duty prior to the December 7 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor or enlisted recruits or officer candidates who entered the Navy or Marine Corps during the same period 4 Appearance Edit Medals awarded to Douglas Alan Clark the American Defense Service Medal is second from right with an A Device indicating belligerent contact with Axis Powers in the Atlantic Ocean between June 22 and December 7 1941 The bronze medal is 1 1 4 inches 32 mm in diameter On the obverse is a female Grecian figure symbolic of defense holding in her sinister hand an ancient war shield in reverse and her dexter hand brandishing a sword above her head and standing upon a conventionalized oak branch with four leaves Around the top is the lettering AMERICAN DEFENSE The reverse is the wording FOR SERVICE DURING THE LIMITED EMERGENCY PROCLAIMED BY THE PRESIDENT ON SEPTEMBER 8 1939 OR DURING THE UNLIMITED EMERGENCY PROCLAIMED BY THE PRESIDENT ON MAY 27 1941 above a seven leafed spray of laurel 2 3 The suspension and service ribbon of the medal is 1 3 8 inches 35 mm wide and consists of the following stripes 3 16 in 4 8 mm Golden Yellow 67104 1 8 in 3 2 mm triparted Old Glory Blue 67178 White 67101 and Scarlet 67111 center 3 4 in 19 mm Golden Yellow 1 8 in 3 2 mm triparted Scarlet White and Old Glory Blue 67178 and 3 16 in 4 8 mm Golden yellow The golden yellow color was symbolic of the golden opportunity of the youth of the United States to serve the National colors represented by the blue white and red pin stripes on each side 2 3 Devices EditThe American Defense Service Medal was authorized with the following devices Foreign Service Clasp Issued by the United States Army for military service outside the continental limits of the United States including service in Alaska The foreign service clasp is a bronze bar 1 8 inch 3 2 mm in width and 1 1 2 in 38 mm in length with the words FOREIGN SERVICE with a star at each end of the inscription 1 Base Clasp Issued by the U S Navy and United States Marine Corps for service outside the continental limits of the United States service in either Alaska or Hawaii qualified 4 Fleet Clasp Issued by the Navy Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard for service on the high seas while regularly attached to any vessels of the Atlantic Pacific or Asiatic fleets as well as vessels of the Naval Transport Service and vessels operating directly under the Chief of Naval Operations 4 The Fleet clasp is a bronze bar 1 8 inch 3 2 mm in width and 1 1 2 in 38 mm in length with the words FLEET inscribed Sea Clasp Issued by the Coast Guard for all other vessels and aircraft not qualifying for the Fleet Clasp which regularly conducted patrols at sea 4 A Device Awarded to any member of the Navy who served duty in actual or potential belligerent contact with Axis Powers in the Atlantic Ocean between June 22 and December 7 1941 4 The A Device was also worn on the medal s uniform ribbon Service star Worn in lieu of clasps when wearing the American Defense Service Medal as a ribbon on a military uniform 1 3 4 See also EditCode of Federal Regulations National Defense Service MedalBibliography EditFoster Frank C 2002 A complete guide to all United States military medals 1939 to present Fountain Inn S C MOA Press ISBN 978 1 884 45218 5 OCLC 54755134 Kerrigan Evans E 1971 American war medals and decorations New York Viking Press ISBN 978 0 670 12101 4 OCLC 128058 Kerrigan Evans E 1990 American medals and decorations Noroton Heights CT Medallic ISBN 978 0 792 45082 5 OCLC 21467942 Robles Philip K 1971 United States military medals and ribbons Rutland VT C E Tuttle ISBN 978 0 804 80048 8 OCLC 199721 References Edit a b c d Army Regulation 600 8 22 Military Awards PDF Washington DC Headquarters Department of the Army 24 June 2013 p 70 Archived from the original PDF on 2017 04 10 Retrieved 2014 01 10 a b c d American Defense Service Medal The Institute of Heraldry Archived from the original on 2014 01 10 Retrieved 10 January 2014 a b c d American Defense Service Medal Air Force Personnel Center 2 August 2010 Archived from the original on 6 November 2013 Retrieved 10 January 2014 a b c d e f Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual PDF Washington DC Department of the Navy 1953 pp 57 59 NavPers 15 790 Archived from the original PDF on 2012 02 16 Retrieved 2014 01 10 External links EditFOR SERVICE IN THE DEFENSE OF AMERICA THE AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDALExternal links Edit Media related to American Defense Service Medal at Wikimedia Commons Portals Heraldry United States World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title American Defense Service Medal amp oldid 1126281304, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
