Spanish Campaign Medal (Army)

TYPE I	TYPE II
BACK(s)
DEVICE(s)
none

Description:

1. Authorized by Act of Congress and War Department General Orders 5.
2. It was awarded by Congress to officers and enlisted personnel of the United States Army who
   1. served ashore on the island of Cuba between 11 May and 17 July 1898
   2. in the island of Puerto Rico from 24 Jul to 13 August 1898
   3. in the Phillipine Islands between 30 June and 16 August 1898.
   4. or en route thereto on the high seas, during 1898.

Background:

1. The Medal
   1. OBVERSE
      1. The Bronze medallion is 1 ¼ inches in diameter. It is oxidized, relieved and has a matte finish.
      2. On the center is a castle with two small round towers at the corners.
      3. At the top around the outside edge of the medal is the inscription "WAR WITH SPAIN".
      4. At the bottom is the date "1898"
      5. To the left of the date is a branch of tobacco plant, and
      6. To the right, a stalk of sugar cane.
   2. REVERSE
      1. A spread eagle on a trophy consisting of a cannon, six rifles and four standards, an Indian shield, quiver of arrows and three spears, a Cuban machete and a Sulu kris.
      2. Below the trophy are the words "FOR SERVICE".
      3. The whole is surrounded by a circle composed of the words "UNITED STATES ARMY" in the upper half and thirteen stars in the lower half.
   3. RIBBON
      1. Type I - had a wide stripe of yellow in the center; on each side, a stripe of red bordered by a narrow stripe of blue. This was discarded in 1913.
      2. Type II - The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches in width. It is composed of the following vertical stripes: 1/8 inch Star Yellow 67145; 3/8 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118; 3/8 inch Star Yellow; 3/8 inch Ultramarine Blue; and 1/8 inch Star yellow.
   4. DEVICE(s)
      None were authorized.
   5. Symbolism
      The castle with two small round towers at the corners, is said to be a modification of the castle that appears on the Royal Arms of Spain, the round towers possibly referring to the two Morro Castles, at Havana and Santiago de Cuba.
2. Information from
   The Army Institute of Heraldry
   The Call of Duty : Military Awards and Decorations of the United States of America by John E. Strandberg
   Medal, Spanish Campaign MIL-DTL-3943/197 30 June 1997
   Medal, Spanish Campaign MIL-DTL-3943/197C 14 May 2021
   Ribbon, Spanish Campaign Medal MIL-DTL-l1589/138E 15 September 1995
   Ribbon, Spanish Campaign Medal MIL-DTL-11589/138H 20 October 2021