Decorations and Medals

(I have obtained most of the medals listed below, as well as ribbons for all of the awards but the last one; I still need to scan them and add those images to this page. The medals and ribbons are mounted in a display case with Grandpa Hurley's dog tags and the "Ruptured Duck" that the National Personnel Records Center also sent to me.

Display case of replcement medals, with Bill Hurley's original dog tags.

Army Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with two Bronze Stars)
World War II Victory Medal
Philippine Defense Medal
Philippine Liberation Medal
Philippine Independence Medal
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation

Source for this information

Army Good Conduct Medal
Awarded on June 28, 1941 for exemplary conduct, efficiency and fidelity and awarded to Army personnel who, on or after August 27, 1940, had honorably completed three years of active Federal military service. The medal could also be awarded for one year of service after December 7, 1941 whle the U.S. was at war. The medal was not automatic and required certification by a commanding officer (usually a Battalion commander or higher).

The Army Good Conduct Medal was designed by Joseph Kiselewski with an eagle perched on Roman sword atop a closed book. Around the outside are the words EFFICIENCY, HONOR, FIDELITY. The reverse of the medal has a five pointed star just above center with a blank scroll for engraving the soldier's name. Above the star are the words: FOR GOOD and below the scroll is the word CONDUCT. A wreath of half laurel leaves, denoting accomplishment, and half oak leaves, denoting bravery, surrounds the reverse design.

The ribbon was designed by Arthur E. DuBois, the legendary Director of the Army Institute of Heraldry, and is scarlet with three narrow white stripes on each side. The ribbon is divided by the white stripes so as to form thirteen stripes representing the thirteen original colonies of the United States. During the Revolutionary War, the color scarlet symbolized the mother country and the white stripe symbolized the virgin land separated by force from the mother country.

Although the Good Conduct Medal was officially instituted by executive order in 1941 it really goes back to the Revolution. When George Washington established the badge of Military Merit in 1782 he also created an award called the Honorary Badge of Distinction. This was the first good conduct award since it was to be conferred on veteran noncommissioned officers and soliders of the Army who served more than three years with bravery, fidelity, and good conduct. General Washington directed that the good conduct badge be made of cloth and each soldier who received it sew a narrow piece of white cloth on the left arm of his uniform jacket. soldiers with more than six years service were to be distinguished by 2 pieces of cloth set parallel to each other. General Washington went on to express that this good conduct badge was a high honor and those who received it should be treated with particular confidence and consideration. However just as the Badge of Military Merit disappeared after the Revolution so did the Honorary Badge of Distinction (our first good conduct award).

There is often some discussion if the Army Good Conduct Medal is a decoration or service medal. Historically going back to World War II the Good Conduct Medal was considered a decoration and was one of the few medals to be manufactured throughout the war when service medal production was restricted due to the need to divert metal to the arms industry. Today however, it is considered a service award.

The Good Conduct Medal is especially interesting in that it is the last United States Army award established prior to Word War II. It was also the last medal that the War Department attempted to issue with a serial number (a practice dropped in World War II). It is the only United States Army medal awarded which specifically excludes officers from eligibility and is only authorized enlisted personnel.

American Campaign Medal
For service during World War II within the American Theater of Operations. The American Campaign Medal was established by executive order on 6 November 1942 and amended on 15 March 1946, which established a closing date. The medal is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces who served in the American Theater of Operations during the period from 7 December 1941 to 2 march 1946, or was awarded a combat decoration while in combat against the enemy. The service must have been an aggregate of one year within the continental United States, or thirty consecutive days outside the continental United States, or sixty nonconsecutive days outside the continental United States, but within the American Theater of Operations. Maps of the three theaters of operations during World War II were drawn on 6 November 1942 to include the American Theater, European-African-Middle-Eastrn Theater and Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

The American Campaign Medal was designed by the Army's Institute of Heraldry. The medal is a circular bronze disc showing a Navy cruiser, a B-24 bomber and a sinking enemy submarine above three waves. Shown in the background are some buildings representing the United States. Above is the raised inscription AMERICAN CAMPAIGN. The reverse of the medal shows an American eagle standing on a rock. On the left of the eagle are the raised inscribed dates: 1941-1945 and on the right: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The ribbon is azure blue with three narrow stripes of red, white and blue (United States) in the center, and four stripes of white, red (Japan), back and white (Germany) near the edges. Three-sixteenth inch bronze stars indicated particpation in specialized antisubmarine, escort or special operations. The American Campaign Medal is worn after the Women's Army Corps Service Medal by Army & Air Force personnel and after the American Defense Service Medal by the Naval Services.

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with two Bronze Stars)
Authorized on November 6, 1942 and amended on March 15, 1946. Awarded to members of the U. S. Armed Forces for at least 30 consecutive (60 nonconsecutive) days service (less if in combat) within the Asiatic-Pacific Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.

The front of the medal shows a palm tree amidst troops with an aircraft overhead and an aircraft carrier, batteship, and submarine in the background. The reverse has the American eagle, symbolizing power, on a rock, symbolizing stability, with the inscription, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on the eagle's back. The orange yellow of the ribbon represents Asia while the white-red stripes toward each edge represent Japan. The center blue, white, and red thin stripes are taken from the American Defense Service Medal, referring to America's continued defensse preparedness after Pearl Harbor. A bronze star denoted participation in a campaign....

[Grandpa Hurley was entitled to two bronze stars: one for the New Guinea campaign and one for the Philippines campaign.]

World War II Victory Medal
Authorized by an Act of Congress on July 6, 1945 and awarded to all members of the Armed Forces who served at least one day of honorable, active federal service between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, inclusive.

The front of the medal depicts the Liberty figure resting her right foot on a war god's helmet with the hilt of a broken sword in her right hand and the broken blade in her left hand. The reverse contains the words, FREEDOM FROM FEAR AND WANT, FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND RELIGION, and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1941-1945. The red center stripe of the ribbon is symbolic of Mars, the God of War, representing both courage and fortitude. The twin rainbow stripes, suggested by the World War I Victory Medal, allude to the peace following a storm. A narrow white stripe separates the center red stripe from each rainbow pattern on both sides of the ribbon. The World War II Victory Medal provides deserving recognition to all of America's veterans who served during world War II.

No attachments are authorized although some veterans received the medal with an affixed bronze star which, according to rumors at the time, was to distingiush those who served in combat from those who did not. However, no offical documentation has ever been found to support this supposition. Although eligible for its award, many World War II veterans never actually received the medal since many were discharged prior to the medal's institution.

Philippine Defense Ribbon and Medal
The Philippine Defense Ribbon was instituted by the Philippine Commonwealth (now The Philippine Republic) in 1944 and authorized for wear on the U.S. uniform by the United States Government in 1945. It is awarded for service in the defense of the Philippine Islands from 8 December 1941 to 15 June 1942.

To qualify, the recipient must: (a) have been assigned or stationed in Philippine territory or in Philippine waters for not less than 30 days during the above period and/or (b) participate in any engagement against the enemy on Philippine territory, in Philippine waters or in the air over the Philippines or Philippine waters during the above period.

Participation includes members of the defense garrison of the Bataan Peninsula, or of the fortified islands at the entrance to Manila Bay, or members of and present with a unit actually under enemy fire or air attack, or crew members or passengers in an airplane which was under enemy aeriel or ground fire. Individuals eligible under both (a) and (b) above are entitled to wear a bronze star on the ribbon bar.

The Philippine Defense Ribbon is classified as a foreign service award. Although not authorized for wear on the U.S. military unifrom, a medal was designed and struck for the Philippine Government by the Manila firm of El Oro and is a circular gold disc with an outer edge of ten scallops. The medal's center depicts a female figure with a sword and shield representing the Philippines. Above the figure are three stars and surrounding it is a green enamel wreath. At the bottom right of the medal is a map of Corregidor and Bataan. The reverse of the medal has the raised inscription: FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE PHILIPPINES in English set in four lines. The ribbon is red with a white stripe near each edge and, repeating the starred motif of the medal, three white five-pointed stars in the center.

[Grandpa Hurley's records indicate that he was barely in the first few months of his enlistment during this period, but the report prepared by the National Personnel Records Center shows that it had been awarded to him, and I did recieve the ribbon in the package of decorations sent to me in December of 2002.]

Philippine Liberation Ribbon and Medal
Awarded by the Philippine Commonwealth (now The Philippine Republic) for service in the liberation of the Philippine Islands from 17 October 1944 to 3 September 1945. In order to qualify, one of the following provisions must be met:

  1. Participation in the initial landing operation on Leyte and adjoining islands from 17-20 October 1944.

  2. Participation in any engagement against the enemy during the Philippine Liberation Campaign.

  3. Service in the Philippine Islands or in ships in Philippine Waters for not less than 30 days during the period from 17 October 1944, to 2 September 1945.

The Philippine Liberation Ribbon is classified as a foreign service award. Although not authorized for wear on the U.S. military unifrom, a medal was designed and struck by the Manila firm of El Oro for the Philippine Government. The medal is gold with a Philippine sword, point up, superimposed over a white native shield having three gold stars at the top and the word LIBERTY below. Below are vertical stripes of blue, white and red enamel with the sword being in the center of the white stripe. At the sides of the medal and below the shield are gold arched wings. The reverse of the medal has the raised inscription FOR THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES set in four lines (all inscriptions are in English). The ribbon is red with a narrow blue stripe and a narrow white stripe in the center.

[Grandpa Hurley qualified for this award and received its ribbon from the National Personnel Records Center, but when I wrote to the Embassy of the Philippines in November of 2002 to request medals, this is the only one that they sent to me; I still need to write to them about receiving medals and certificates for the Philippine Defense Ribbon and Medal and the Philippine Independence Ribbon and Medal.]

Philippine Independence Ribbon and Medal
Awarded by the Philippine Commonwealth to those members of the Armed Forces who received both the Philippine Defense Ribbon and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. The Philippine Independence Ribbon was authorized in 1946 by the United States and the Philippine Commonwealth. It is one of the more unusual awards presented to U.S. service personnel since it has two independent and totally applicable sets of award criteria. As originally promulgated, the ribbon was presented to those members of the United States Armed Forces who were actually serving in the Philippine Islands or in Philippine territorial waters on 4 July 1946. In 1954, the criteria were changed to grant the ribbon to all those who were previously awarded both the Philippine Defense Ribbon and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. Athough the award qualifications established in 1946 were removed from applicable regulations, no attempt was made to rescind the previous awards made under those earlier criteria. The Philippine Independence Ribbon is classified as a foreign service award. Although not authorized for wear on the U.S. military unifrom, a medal was designed and struck by the Manila firm of El Oro for the Philippine Government. The medal is a circular gold disc with a female figure in the center, dressed in native garb and holding the Philippine flag. There are flags on either side of the figure and she is surrounded by a circular border. Inside the border is a raised inscription PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE (in English) around the top and JULY 4 1946 at the bottom. The reverse contains the inscription: GRANTED PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA set in six lines (also in English). The ribbon is derived from the colors of the Philippine flag and consists of a medium blue base with a narrow white center stripe bordered by thin red stripes. There are thin, golden yellow stripes at each edge.

[Again, the summary of awards prepared by the National Personnel Records Center shows that this award is due to Grandpa Hurley, and they sent me the ribbon, but I have yet to take up getting a medal with the Embassy of the Philippines, based on whether they grant the Philippine Defense Ribbon and Medal.]

Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
The Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation was awarded to U.S. Armed Forces for services resulting in the liberation of the Philippines during World War II. The award was made in the name of the President of the Republic of the Philippes. It was also awarded to U.S. Forces who participated in disaster relief operations in 1970 and 1972. The ribbon has three equal stripes blue, white and red enclosed in a rectangluar gold frame with laurel leaves identical to U.S. unit awards. A three-sixteenths bronze star denotes receipt of an additional award.

[According to a document discovered by the U.S. Army Military History Institue, the 7th AAF RSM was awarded a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation: "PAM 672-1...indicates that the squadron particpated in the Leyte, New Guinea, and Southern Philippines campaigns. Further, it received the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation -- confirmed by issuance of Dep't. of the Army General Order 47 - 1950." (This comes from a hand-written note from a researcher at the CMH on October 10, 2001.)]

All of the above text, aside from notes within brackets, comes directly from the book "A Complete Guide to All United States Miltary Medals, 1939 to Present, 5th Ed." by Col. Frank Foster and Lawrence Borts (2000, Medals of America Press). I have omitted some of their information about these awards; see the book for the complete text. It is a generously illustrated work, with copious notes. It boasts good descriptions of both the wear and display of medals, and how veterans and their families can obtain medals. I wish I'd had it when I started this project.


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