This is a No. 811 US Army Cuban Pacification Campaign medal. It has the original full wrapped, open C catch brooch and original ribbon. The brooch has been mounted upside down. Also the ribbon does show some wear at the middle folds, but this is due to a defective ribbon dye used by the mint. The planchet is in very good condition, with no edge knocks. The letters and numbers are well struck, clear and very easy to read. This specific medal was awarded and issued to Colonel (then Captain) Walter Trotter Bates. Bates was born in Dayton, Ohio, on August 1, 1872. He first enlisted in Company G, of the 17th US Infantry, at St. Paul, Minnesota, on August 29, 1895. He was honorably discharged, on July 6, 1898, as a Sergeant, to accept a commission to 2nd Lieutenant at Fort Leavenworth, KS. He was awarded this medal while he was a Captain with the 27th Infantry. His Army registers show that after he accepted the 2nd Lt. Commission on June 22, 1898, he was promoted to 1st Lt. On March 2, 1999; Capt. On June 2, 1903; Major on May 15, 1917; Lt. On August 5, 1917, and Colonel on July 1, 1920. He retired on disability on August 31, 1936. During WW1 he was assigned to the 27th Infantry Division and was awarded the Silver Star Citation. He died on April 17, 1956, and is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, VA. I will include a copy of his issue record for this medal; a copy of his Spanish American War application in Minnesota; a 3 page copy of his Army Registers for 1916, 1948 and 1961; and a copy of a picture of his headstone. I should also mention that besides the Silver Star medal, he was also eligible for the WW1 Victory medal with Somme Offensive, Ypres-Lys, and Defensive Sector battle clasps, and was issued a Spanish War Service medal #2662, and the Philippine Campaign medal No. 961, but the whereabouts of these other medals is unknown. My Friend Scott Smith has emailed me to advise that Colonel Bates was not awarded the Silver Star Citation in WW1 but actually was awarded the SS for action in the Philippines, in 1899. Scott Smith has been a researcher for many years, and has published many USMC research books. The item “Numbered Army Cuban Pacification Medal to a Colonel/WW1 Silver Star Recipient” is in sale since Sunday, April 7, 2019. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\Spanish-Amer War (1898-1902)\Original Period Items”. The seller is “xvpd311″ and is located in Vallejo, California. This item can be shipped to United States.
- Modified Item: No
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
