(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.
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
Army Good Conduct Medal
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
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)
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
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
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
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
[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
[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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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).
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.
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.
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 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.
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:
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.
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.
| Introduction | Main | Timeline | Maps | Gallery | Decorations & Medals |
| Appendix 1 | Appendix 2 |
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