World War Medals

ORIGINAL WORLD WAR I UNITED STATES NAVY VICTORY MEDAL W/ MINE LAYING CLASP, & FULL WRAP BROOCH. RIBBON DRAPE TESTED U. The World War I Victory Medal is a service medal of the United States military which was first created in 1919, designed by James Earle Fraser. The medal was originally intended to be created due to an act of the United States Congress, however the bill authorizing the medal 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. Navy followed in June of that same year. Known until 1947 simply as the “Victory Medal”, the World War I Victory Medal was awarded to any member of the U. Military who had served in the armed forces between the following dates in the following locations. 6 April 1917 to 11 November 1918 for any military service. 12 November 1918, to 5 August 1919 for service in European Russia. 23 November 1918, to 1 April 1920 for service with the American Expeditionary Force Siberia. 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 War For Civilization” in all capital letters curved along the top of the medal. Curved along the bottom of the back of the medal are 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 World War I Allied country per line: France, Italy, Serbia, Japan, Montenegro, Russia, and Greece. On the right side of the staff the Allied country names read: Great Britain, Belgium, Brazil, Portugal, Rumania (spelled with a U instead of an O as it is spelled now), and China. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you!