West Indies Naval Campaign Medal, 1898 (Sampson Medal)

BACK DEVICE(s) none

Description:

1. Authorized by Act of Congress, 3 March 1901.
2. The act of 3 March 1901, provides: "that the Secretary of the Navy be, and he is hereby, authorized tocause to be struck bronze medals commemorative of the naval and other engagements in thewaters of the West Indies and on the shores of Cuba during the War with Spain, and to distribute thesame to the offi cers and men of the Navy and Marine Corps who participate in any of saidengagements deemed by him of suffi cient importance to deserve commemoration."
3. The resolution also stipulated that those who might be eligible for recognition for participation in more than one engagement would not receive a second medal, but would receive a "bronze bar appropriately inscribed, to be attached to the ribbon by which the medal is suspended."
4. The commemorative medal was issued to members of the Navy and Marine Corps who took part in West Indies naval operations from April 27 to August 14, 1898. 
5. At the top of the ribbon is a brooch pin withthe name of the recipient's ship.
6. Additional matching engagement bars were authorized and mounted on the ribbon. The medal was issued for 47 engagements or skirmishes and some were awarded with six or seven engagement bars.
   Qualified Engagements & Navy Ships for the Sampson Medal (opens in new window)
7. The Sampson Medal was also known as the West Indies Naval Campaign Medal, not to be confused with the West Indies Campaign Medal which was a separate award.

Background:

1. The Medal
   1. OBVERSE
      1. The bust of Admiral Sampson
   2. REVERSE
      1. It depicts a Navy officer, Sailor, and Marine standing upon a block identifying the action for which the medal was awarded. 
   3. RIBBON
   4. DEVICE(s)
      Suspending the ribbon of the medal is a brooch pin with the name of the recipient's ship. The recipient's name is engraved on the lower rim of the medal, this being one of only two medals officially issued named to a recipient.
      Campaign clasps or engagement bars were authorized for wear on the ribbon, showing various battles and the ship name which had participated
      When worn as a ribbon on a military uniform, there were no devices authorized.
2. Information from

Bust of Admiral Sampson in uniform, facing naval campaign • west indies 1898. In field to left, in three lines, William T sampson. to right, in three lines, commander in chief. Reverse , Officer, gunner and marine on deck of battleship, in action, below, tablet bearing the name of engagement for which the medal is given, and below that, the month and day