The state of Montana honored the sole regiment from that state to take part in the Spanish American War with this medal. The unit was mustered in at Helena, Montana on May 5-10, 1898, leaving the U. For service in the Philippines on July 18, 1898, and arriving in Manila, Philippine Islands on August 24, 1898. While the unit was enroute, both the city of Manila surrendered to the Americans and an armistice was agreed to between the U. And Spain effectively ending the fighting. Both events occurred on August 13, 1898. The First Montana remained in the Philippines until August 23, 1899, fighting in the Philippine-American War, which began on February 4, 1899. The unit arrived back in the United States on September 22, 1899, and was mustered out at San Francisco, California on October 17, 1899. During its term of service, the unit lost one officer and 20 men killed in action (in the Philippine American War), one officer and 14 men to disease, one man to a drowning, and 10 men to desertion. An additional 9 officers and 111 men were wounded. This medal was awarded on October 23, 1899 at Butte, Montana.
