Army of Puerto Rican Occupation

BACK DEVICE(s) none

Description:

1. Authorized by Compilation of Orders, Change No. 15, dated February 4, 1919.
2. The medal was awarded to officers and enlisted personnel of the United States Army for service in Puerto Rico from August 14, 1898 to December 10, 1898. 
3. This was a retrospective award created decades after the action commemorated.
4. Service in Puerto Rico during the Spanish American War was recognized initially by the Spanish Campaign Medal. 
5. This medal was to recognize service between 24 July 1898 and 13 August 1898, as well as those who were embarked on ships headed there during the specified period of time.
6. On 4 February 1919 the order establishing the Army of Cuban Occupation Medal was modified to add regulations and criteria for awarding a service badge for time served in Puerto Rico between 14 August - 10 December 1898.
7. The regulations allowed the awarding of the medals, at government expense, only to those officers and enlisted men who were still actively serving on or after 28 June 1915. Those who had left the service were able to apply for a certificate verifying service from the War Department and then purchase a medal, at cost, after providing the proof of service certificate. It wasn't until an Act of Congress in 1928 that the War Department was authorized to issue to all those entitled, and their next of kin, any medals to which they might be entitled to include the Army of Puerto Rican Occupation Medal.
8. The United States Navy and Marine Corps had no equivalent to the Army of Puerto Rican Occupation Medal.

Background:

1. The Medal
   1. OBVERSE
      1. The Bronze medallion is 1 1/4 inches in diameter. It is oxidized, relieved and has a matte finish.
      2. Centered is a castle with two small round towers at its corners.
      3. At top around the outside of the medal is the inscription “ARMY OF OCCUPATION OF PUERTO RICO”.
      4. The date “1898” appears at the bottom.
      5. To the left of the date is a branch of tobacco plant, and
      6. To the right is 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 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
      The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches in width. It is composed of the following vertical stripes: 1/16 inch Old Glory Red 67156; 3/8 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118; 1/16 inch Golden Yellow 67104; 3/8 inch Old Glory Red; 1/16 inch Golden Yellow; 3/8 inch Ultramarine Blue; and 1/16 inch Old Glory Red.
   4. DEVICE(s)
      None were authorized.
   5. Symbolism
      The castle with two small round towers at its 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, Army of Puerto Rican Occupation MIL-DTL-3943/188 30 June 1997
   Medal, Army of Puerto Rican Occupation MIL-DTL-3943/188D 27 April 2021
   Ribbon, Army of Puerto Rican Occupation MIL-DTL-11589/16E I5 September 1995
   Ribbon, Army of Puerto Rican Occupation MIL-DTL-11589/16H 14 May 2021