World War I Victory Medal

BACK DEVICE(s)

Description:

1. Authorized by War Department General Order Number 48 of 1919.
2. The medal was established by an Act of Congress, 1919, and promulgated by War Department General Order 48, 1919,
   which was rescinded by War Department General Order 83, 30 June 1919.
3. The 14 Allied Nations decided on a single ribbon, but pendant design was left up to each Nation. Mr. James E. Fraser was the designer of the U.S. Victory Medal.

Background:

1. The Medal is Bronze and 1 3/8 inches in diameter. On the obverse is a winged Victory, standing full length and full face.
2. On the reverse is the inscription “THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILIZATION” and the United States shield with the letters “U.S.”
   surmounted by a fasces, and on either side the names of the allied and associated nations.
3. The lapel button is a five-pointed star 5/8-inch in diameter on a wreath with the letters “U.S.” in the center.
4. The medal is suspended by a ring from a silk ribbon 1 3/8 inches in width, representing two rainbows placed in juxtaposition and having the red in the middle.
5. Battle clasps were awarded for each of the major operations for individuals actually present under competent orders. The
   clasps, with a star on each side of the name of the campaign or one of the defensive sectors, were worn on the suspension
   ribbon.
6. Navy Service Devices
   1. A bronze star on the service ribbon, in lieu of a clasp, was authorized when any person was commended
      through the Board of Awards by the Secretary of the Navy for performance of duty not justifying a Medal
      of Honor, Distinguished Service Medal, or Navy Cross, he shall wear a silver star for each such citation
      instead of a bronze star.
   2. A bronze Maltese Cross was authorized to be worn on the service ribbon for those officers and enlisted
      men of the Marine Corps and Navy Medical Corps who were attached to the American Expeditionary
      Forces between 6 April 1917 - 11 November 1918, and who were not entitled to any Army battle clasp.
   3. Note: Marine Corps and Naval personnel were also entitled to wear the corresponding Army battle and
      service clasps for duty attached to the American Expeditionary Forces.
7. Army Service Devices
   1. Army regulations did allow for citation stars to be worn on the ribbon of the victory medal for any Army
      personnel who had been cited for gallantry in action.
   2. One through four citations could be shown with bronze stars; one silver star was representative of five bronze stars.
8. Information from
   Medal, World War I Victory MIL-DTL-3943/236C 01 June 2021
   Lapel, World War I Victory MIL-DTL-11484/47F 9 July 2020
   Ribbon, World War I Victory MIL-DTL-11589/148J 11 February 2021
   
   

Army Battle Clasps Battle clasps were awarded to eligible to officers and enlisted men who participated, under orders, in the following engagements
Engagement	Dates	Where
Cambrai	20 May - 4 December 1917
Somme Defensive	21 March - 6 April 1918
Lys Defensive	9 - 27 April 1918
Aisne Defensive	27 May - 5 June 1918	On the Chemin des Dames and northeast of Rheims
Montdidier-Noyon Defensive	9 - 13 June 1918
Champagne-Marne Defensive	15 - 18 July 1918
Aisne-Marne Offensive	18 July - 6 August 1918
Somme Offensive	8 August - 11 November 1918
Oise-Aisne Offensive	18 August - 11 November 1918
Ypres-Lys Offensive	19 August - 11 November 1918
St. Mihiel Offensive	12 - 16 September 1918
Meuse-Argonne Offensive	September - 11 November 1918
Battle of Vittorio-Veneto	24 October - 4 November 1918
Defensive Sector		For defensive services not included in any of the above battles.

Army Service Clasps Service clasps were awarded to eligible to officers and enlisted men who served overseas in non-combat roles in the following countries, but who were not entitled to battle clasps.
France	6 April 1917 - 11 November 1918
Italy	6 April 1917 - 11 November 1918
Siberia	Any service in Siberia	Including 23 November 1918 - 1 April 1920
Russia	Any service in Russia	Including 12 November 1918 - 5 August 1919
England	6 April 1917 - 11 November 1918

Navy Service Clasps Navy personnel were entitled to wear one of the following Navy service clasps Specific Ship and eligibility
Armed Guard		Regularly attached to an armed guard vessel for one voyage across the North Atlantic, 6 April 1917 - 11 November 1918
Asiatic		For service on any vessel which made a Siberian port during service, 6 April 1917 - 11 November 1918 Or any combatant ship in a Russian port on the White Sea not less than ten days, 12 November 1918 - 31 July 1919
Atlantic Fleet		For service on such duty in the Atlantic Ocean, 25 May - 11 November 1918
Aviation		For service on the high seas on such duty east of the 37th meridian and north of the Equator, 6 April 1917 - 11 November 1918 For service on the high seas of the Atlantic Ocean north of the Equator, 25 May - 11 November 1918
Destroyer		For service on the high seas on such duty east of the 37th meridian and north of the Equator, 6 April 1917 - 11 November 1918 For service on the high seas of the Atlantic Ocean north of the Equator, 25 May - 11 November 1918
Escort		Regularly attached to an escort vessel for one voyage across the North Atlantic, 6 April 1917 - 11 November 1918
Grand Fleet		Regularly attached to ay vessel forming part of the Grand Fleet, 9 December 1917 - 11 November 1918
Mine Laying		For service on such duty from 26 May - 11 November 1918
Mine Sweeping		For service on such duty from 6 April 1917 until mine sweeping was completed
Mobile Base		For service on the high seas on such tenders or repair vessels on such duty east of the 37th meridian and north of the Equator, 6 April 1917 - 11 November 1918
Naval Battery		For service on such duty, 10 July - 11 November 1918
Overseas		For service on shore in allied or enemy countries of Europe, 6 April 1917 - 11 November 1918
Patrol		For service on the high seas on such duty east of the 37th meridian and north of the Equator, 6 April 1917 - 11 November 1918 For service on the high seas of the Atlantic Ocean north of the Equator, 25 May - 11 November 1918
Salvage		For service on such duty from 6 April 1917 - 11 November 1918
Sub Chaser		For service on the high seas on such duty east of the 37th meridian and north of the Equator, 6 April 1917 - 11 November 1918 For service on the high seas of the Atlantic Ocean north of the Equator, 25 May - 11 November 1918
Submarine		For service on the high seas on such duty east of the 37th meridian and north of the Equator, 6 April 1917 - 11 November 1918 For service on the high seas of the Atlantic Ocean north of the Equator, 25 May - 11 November 1918
Transport		Regularly attached to a transport or cargo vessel for one voyage across the North Atlantic, 6 April 1917 - 11 November 1918
West Indies		For service in Haiti, Santo Domingo, Cuba, or the Virgin Islands, 6 April 1917 - 11 November 1918
White Sea		For service on any vessel which made a Russian port during service, 6 April 1917 - 11 November 1918 Or any combatant ship in a Russian port on the White Sea not less than ten days, 12 November 1918 - 31 July 1919