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World War I Victory Medal (United States) Information

The World War I Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was first created in 1919, designed by James Earle Fraser. The medal was originally intended to be created by an act of the United States Congress, however the bill authorizing the decoration never passed, leaving the service departments to create the award through general orders. The United States Army published orders authorizing the World War I Victory Medal in April 1919 and the U.S. Navy followed in June of that same year.[1]

Contents

Criteria

Originally known simply as the “Victory Medal”, the World War I Victory Medal was awarded to any member of the U.S. military who had served in the armed forces between the following dates, in the following locations:[2]

In 1945, the World War II Victory Medal was created as the “Victory Ribbon”. Between 1945 and 1947, the two awards were known as the “Victory Medal” and the “Victory Ribbon”. In 1947, when the Victory Ribbon became a full-sized medal as the World War II Victory Medal, the World War I Victory Medal adopted its current name. However, some military records as late as the 1950s continued to annotate the decoration by its previous name, and the medal was often referred to as “Victory Medal (WWI)”.

The WWI Victory Medals for the US Army veterans were mailed out by the Depot Officer at the General Supply Depot U.S. Army, Philadelphia, PA. The boxes with the medals to the US Army servicemen were mailed out April 1921. The postage area of the boxes were marked "OFFICIAL BUSINESS, Penalty for private use $300." Inside the outer light brown box with an address label glued to it was a white box with the medal. The inner white box that held the medal was ink stamped with the bars the serviceman was supposed to receive on their medal. Inside the white box the medal was wrapped in tissue paper. Because the medals were awarded post WWI they were mailed to the servicemen instead of awarded in person.

The front of the bronze medal features a winged Victory holding a shield and sword on the front. The back of the bronze medal features "The Great Warrior Civilization" in all caps curved along the top of the medal. Curved along the bottom of the back of the medal is six stars. Three on either side of the center column of seven staffs wrapped in a cord. The top of the staff has a round ball on top and is winged on the side. the staff is on top of a shield that says "U" on the left side of the staff and "S" on the right side of the staff. On left side of the staff it lists one country per line: France, Italy, Serbia, Japan, Montenegro, Russia and Greece. On the right side of the staff the country names read: Great Britain, Belgium, Brazil, Portugal, Romania and China.

Devices

To denote battle participation and campaign credit, the World War I Victory was authorized with a large variety of devices to denote specific accomplishments. In order of seniority, the devices authorized to the World War I Victory Medal were as follows:

Silver Citation Star

The Silver Citation Star to the World War I Victory Medal was authorized by the United States Congress on February 4, 1919. A silver star was authorized to be worn on the ribbon of the Victory Medal for any member of the U.S. Army who had been cited for gallantry in action between 1917 and 1920. In 1932, the Silver Citation Star was redesigned and renamed the Silver Star and, upon application to the United States War Department, any holder of the Silver Citation Star could have it converted to a Silver Star Medal.

Navy Commendation Star

The Navy Commendation Star was authorized to any person who had been commended by the Secretary of the Navy for performance of duty during the First World War. The Navy Commendation Star was worn as a silver star on the World War I Victory Medal, identical in appearance to the Army’s Silver Citation Star. Unlike the Army’s version, however, the Navy Commendation Star could not be upgraded to the Silver Star medal. (Reference - Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual, NAVPERS 15,790 Rev. 1953.)

Army Battle Clasps

The following battle clasps, inscribed with a battle's name, were worn on the medal to denote participation in major ground conflicts.

For general defense service, not involving a specific battle, the "Defensive Sector" Battle Clasp was authorized. The clasp was also awarded for any battle which was not already recognized by its own battle clasp.

The WWI Victory Medal bears the clasps of the battles the US Army Serviceman participated in across the ribbon. Not all battles are shown on the bar clasps. Only the battles designated as battles that would have bars issued were shown on the medal. The famous battle of Chateau Thierry to hold the Chateau and the bridge as a joint effort between the US Army and the US Marines against the German machine gunners did not get awarded clasps.

Navy Battle Clasps

Navy battle clasps were issued for naval service in support of army operations and had identical names to the army battle clasps. There was a slight variation of the criteria dates for the Navy battle clasps, as listed below.

The Defensive Sector clasp was also authorized for Navy personnel who had participated in naval combat but were not authorized a particular battle clasp.

Navy Operational Clasps

For sea related war duty, the Navy issued the following operational clasps, which were worn on the World War I Victory Medal and inscribed with the name of the duty type which had been performed:

Army Service Clasps

For non-combat service with the Army during the First World War, the following service clasps were authorized to be worn with the World War I Victory Medal. Each service claps was inscribed with a country or region name where support service was performed. The U.S. Army issued the following service clasps:

Navy Service Clasps

The U.S. Navy issued similar service clasps to the Army for service in the following regions during the following periods:

Campaign Stars

Since battle and service clasps could only be worn on the full-sized World War I Victory Medal, bronze service stars were authorized for wear on the award ribbon. This was the common method of campaign and battle display when wearing the World War I Victory Medal as a ribbon on a military uniform.

An International Award

Not only did the United States issue a Victory Medal, but so did a significant number of Allied and associated countries involved in the conflict against the Austro-German alliance. The proposition of such a common award was first made by French Maréchal Ferdinand Foch who was supreme commander of the Allied Forces during the First World War. Each medal in bronze has the same diameter (36 mm) and ribbon (double rainbow), but with a national design representing a winged victory.[3]

Country Designer Manufacturer Number issued
Belgium Paul Du Bois (1859-1938) ----- 300,000 - 350,000
Brazil Jorge Soubre (1890-1934) approximately 2,500
Cuba Charles Charles
  • Etablissements Chobillon
 6,000 - 7,000
Czechoslovakia Otakar Španiel (1881-1955)
  • Kremnice Mint
 approximately 89,500
France Pierre-Alexandre Morlon (1878 - 1951)
  • Monnaie de Paris
 approximately 2,000,000
France[4] Charles Charles
  • Etablissements Chobillon
 -----
France[5]
  • M. Pautot
  • Louis Octave Mattei
 ----- -----
Great Britain[6] William McMillan (1887–1977)
  • Woolwich Arsenal
  • Wright & Son
 6,334,522 plus
Greece Henry-Eugène Nocq (1868-1944)
  • V. Canale
 approximately 200,000
Italy Gaetano Orsolini (1884-1954)
  • Sacchini-Milano
  • S.Johnson-Milano
  • F.M.Lorioli & Castelli-Milano
 approximately 2,000,000
Japan[7] Masakishi Hata
  • Osaka Mint
 approximately 700,000
Poland[8] .... Vlaitov
  • Mint Kremnica
 -----
Portugal João Da Silva (1880-1960)
  • Da Costa
 approximately 100,000
Rumania .... Kristesko ----- approximately 300,000
Siam (Thailand) Itthithepsan Kritakara (1890-1935) ----- approximately 1,500
South Africa[9] William McMillan (1887–1977)
  • Woolwich Arsenal
 approximately 75,000
United States James Earle Fraser (1876-1953)
  • Arts Metal Works Inc.
  • S.G.Adams Stamp & Stationary Co.
  • Jos. Mayer Inc.
 approximately 2,500,000

(Main source : ‘’The interallied victory medals of world war I’’ by Alexander J. Laslo, Dorado Publishing, Albuquerque. 1986 Edition )

References

  1. ^ Navy History World War I Victory Medal
  2. ^ 578.54 World War I Victory Medal
  3. ^ Except Japan and Siam where the concept of a winged victory was not culturally relevant.
  4. ^ Unofficial type.
  5. ^ Unofficial type.
  6. ^ Awarded not only to British combatants but as well to those from the dominions of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and those from the Empire of India.
  7. ^ On the obverse the winged figure of Victory was replaced by a warrior holding a spear.
  8. ^ For reasons still not known, Poland did not proceed with the manufacture of the medal at their mint. The medal shows a clearly visible “MK” ( Mint Kremnica). The medal may possibly be an unofficial strike by a veteran’s group.
  9. ^ The text on the reverse is in English and Dutch.

See also

Categories: United States campaign medals | Awards established in 1919 | Interallied Victory Medals of World War I

 

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