World War II participation medals.
BillJones
Posts: 35,805 ✭✭✭✭✭
There is another thread which cover the World War I victory medal. Here are the participation medals for World War II. I mounted an exhibit of these medals at a FUN show, and I have included my original text with the pieces.
The Greatest Generation ...
News anchor and author, Tom Brokaw, called them “The Greatest Generation.” They are our fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, grandmothers, grandfathers and now our great grandmothers and grandfathers. They grew up during the Great Depression and defeated the Axis and Japan during World War II. After the war, they helped build the greatest economy the world had ever seen. This year, 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. This exhibit of commemorative coins and war service medals is dedicated to them
American Defense Medal
The American Defense Medal was awarded to those who defended the nation during the “limited emergency declared by the president” from September 8, 1939 to December 7, 1941, before the entry of The United States into World War II. Those who defended their country prior to the United States’ entry in the war has received little recognition but was very important. The medal was designed by Joseph Kiselewski and sculpted by Lee Lawrie.
American Campaign Medal
The American Campaign Medal was awarded to those who served in the American theater from December 7, 1941 to March 2, 1946. The date was extended beyond the end of the war because President Harry Truman did not declare an end to hostilities until the end of 1946. The American Campaign area included The United States, most of the Atlantic Ocean, part of Alaska and a small part of the Pacific Ocean bordering California and Baja, California. The obverse of this and all of the medals that follow were designed by Thomas Hudson Jones. The standing eagle reverse which appears on these medals was the work of Adolph Weinman, who also designed the Mercury Dime and Walking Liberty Half Dollar.
Asia-Pacific Campaign Medal
The Asian-Pacific Campaign Medal was awarded those who served in the Asian - Pacific Theater from December 7,1941 to March 2, 1946. That included 21 Army and 48 Navy/Marine official campaigns. It is the equivalent of the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.
European, Afican, Middle East Campaign Medal
The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded to those who served in North Africa, Europe and Middle Eastern areas from December 7, 1942 until November 8, 1945.
Victory Medal
The World War II Victory Medal was awarded to all members of the United States military, including the Government of the Philippine Islands, which was a U.S. territory at the time. It was authorized by an Act of Congress in July 1945, despite the fact that Japan had not yet been defeated. The government awarded it to those who served from December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946.
The obverse design features Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. She is holding two parts of a broken sword, and her right foot is resting on the helmet of Mars, the god of war. There is a rising son in the background, which is symbolic of hope. The design was by Thomas Hudson Jones
This "young collectors set" inspired me to put this collection together.
Comments
Great info @BillJones ! These medals really have a lot of history.
Here's my WWII Victory Medal which I picked up from @Maywood.