Mexican Service Medal (Army)

BACK DEVICE(s)

Description:

1. Authorized by War Department General Orders Number 155, December 12, 1917.  
2. Awarded for military service in any of the following expeditions or engagements:
   1. Vera Cruz Expedition (Mexico) -- between April 24 and November 26, 1914.
   2. Punitive Expedition (Mexico) -- between March 14, 1916 and February 7, 1917.
   3. Buena Vista, Mexico -- December 1, 1917. 
   4. San Bernardino Canon, Mexico -- December 26, 1917.
   5. LeGrulla, Texas -- January 8 through 9, 1918.
   6. Pilares, Mexico -- March 28, 1918.
   7. Nogales, Arizona -- between November 1 through 5, 1915, or on August 27, 1918.
   8. El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico -- June 15 through 16, 1919.
   9. Any action against hostile Mexican forces in which U.S. troops were killed or wounded between April 12, 1911 and February 7, 1917.

Background:

1. The Medal
   1. OBVERSE
      1. The medal is bronze with oxidized, relieved finish.
      2. The center shows a Yucca plant in full bloom with mountains in the background.
      3. Above the plant appear the words "MEXICAN SERVICE" around the border.
      4. Below the plant are the dates 1911-1917.
   2. REVERSE
      1. On the reverse is 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. Around the border at the top are the words "UNITED STATES ARMY" with thirteen stars around the bottom.
   3. RIBBON
      The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches in width and consists of the following vertical stripes: 1/8 inch Emerald Green, 3/8 inch
      Golden Yellow, 3/8 inch Ultramarine Blue, 3/8 inch Golden Yellow, and 1/8 inch Emerald Green.
   4. DEVICE(s)
      This was a one-time decoration and there were no service stars authorized for those who had participated in multiple engagements. For those soldiers who had been cited for gallantry in combat, the Citation Star was authorized as a device to the Mexican Service Medal. 
   5. Symbology
      1. The Yucca plant symbolizes the geographical area of the campaign, and its thorny, spear-like leaves allude to the nature of the raids carried out by Mexican bandits.
         
      2. The mountains in the background represent the type of terrain on which engagements were fought. The wording and dates denote the campaign and the period during which it was conducted.
         
      3. The colors green and yellow are associated with the Aztecs of ancient Mexico.
         
      4. The Aztec standard carried at the battle of Otumba in 1520 consisted of a gold sun surrounded by the green plumes of the quetzal.
         
      5. The blue alludes to the United States Army and also refers to the Rio Grande River that separates in part Mexico from the United States.
2. Information from
   DoD 1348.33-M, September 1996
   The Army Institute of Heraldry
   The Call of Duty : Military Awards and Decorations of the United States of America by John E. Strandberg
   Medal, Mexican Service, Army MIL-M-3946/28C 10 December 1993
   Ribbon, Mexican Service Medal, U.S. Army MIL-DTL-11589/94E 15 September 1995
   Ribbon, Mexican Service Medal, U.S. Army MIL-DTL-11589/94J 19 February 2020