Army of Occupation of Germany Medal

BACK DEVICE(s) none

Description:

1. Authorized by Public Law 322, 77th United States Congress on November 21, 1941.  Announced in War Department Bulletin 34, dated December 10, 1941, and War Department Circular 176 dated June 6, 1942
2. This medal was awarded for service in Germany or Austria-Hungary between November 12, 1918, and July 11, 1923.
3. Navy and Marine Corps personnel attached to shore during those dates were also elgible for the award.

Background:

1. The Medal
   1. OBVERSE
      1. The medal is Bronze and 1 ¼ inches in diameter.
      2. Contains a profile of General John J. Pershing, encircled by four stars indicating his insignia of grade as Commanding General of the Field Forces.
      3. In the lower left is the inscription "GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING".
      4. On the right is a laurel wreath superimposed by an unsheathed sword, point up,  with the dates "1918" and "1923" enclosed by the wreath.
   2. REVERSE
      1. Shows the American eagle perched with outspread wings standing on the Castle Ehrenbreitstein, which overlooks the Rhine in Coblenz, Germany.
      2. Encircled are the words "U.S. ARMY OF OCCUPATION OF GERMANY".
      3. There are three five pointed stars at the bottom of the medal symbolizing the Third Army.
   3. RIBBON
      The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches in width consisting of the following stripes: 1/16 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118; 1/16 inch
      Scarlet 67111; 3/16 inch White 67101; ¾ inch Black 67138 (center); 3/16 inch White; 1/16 inch Scarlet; 1/16 inch
      Ultramarine Blue.
   4. DEVICE(s)
      None were authorized.
2. This medal appears in DoD 1348.33-M, September 1996 entitled "Army of Occupation of Germany" .  It appears at The Army Institute of Heraldry entitled "Army Occupation of Germany - World War I".
3. 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