Spanish War Medal

BACK DEVICE(s) none

Description:

1. Authorized by an Act of Congress on 9 July 1918 (40 Stat. 873).
2. The medal recognizes those members of the Army and of the U.S. Volunteers who performed active duty during the Spanish-American War, but did not qualify for the Spanish Campaign Medal.
3. The primary purpose for the creation of the Spanish War Service Medal was to recognize units of the Army which had performed homeland defense in the United States during the years of the Spanish-American War. The award was also presented extensively to members of the United States National Guard who had been federalized for active military duty but had not been deployed to actual combat in the Spanish-American War.
4. To be awarded the Spanish War Service Medal, a service member must have served on active duty in the United States Army between the dates of 20 April 1898 and 11 April 1899. Those who were awarded the Spanish Campaign Medal were ineligible to receive the Spanish War Service Medal.
5. The Spanish War Service Medal was a one time decoration and there were no devices authorized to the medal. The award was also strictly for Army personnel, since United States Navy and Marine Corps personnel, who had served in the Spanish-American War, qualified for the Spanish Campaign Medal regardless if overseas duty was performed.

Background:

1. The Medal
   1. OBVERSE
      1. The Bronze medallion is 1 3/8 inches in width.
      2. On the obverse is a Roman sword hanging on a tablet and is inscribed "FOR SERVICE IN THE SPANISH WAR".
      3. It is surrounded by a wreath, and the sword is sheathed to indicate National Guard Service in the Continental United States, not in combat. 
   2. REVERSE
      1. The reverse has the coat of arms of the United States over a scroll inscribed "FOR SERVICE" surrounded by a wreath.
      2. The insignia of the Infantry is at left.
      3. The insignia of the Artillery at the bottom and
      4. The insignia of the Cavalry at right.
   3. RIBBON
      The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches in width. It is composed of the following vertical stripes: 3/32 inch Emerald 67128; ¼ inch Golden Yellow 67104; 5/8 inch Emerald; 1/4 inch Golden Yellow; and 3/32 inch Emerald.
   4. DEVICE(s)
      None were authorized as this was a one time decoration.
   5. Symbolism
      The form of the tablet resembles the one employed for the discharge certificates of Roman legionaries. These bronze or lead certificates were nailed up in the house of the recipients.
      
2. Approximately 31,000 medals were awarded, however only the first 16,650 can be traced through the Army's issue records.
3. 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 War Service MIL-DTL-3943 198C 28 April 2021
   Ribbon, Spanish War Service Medal MIL-DTL-11589 139H 22 September 2021