Various Medals  Received by Iowa Soldiers
 

PURPLE HEART/BADGE OF MERIT

Badge of Merit

 

Purple Heart

 Designed by Bailey, Banks, and Biddle
Originally established by Commander-in-Chief George Washington on 07 AUG 1782, at Newburgh on the Hudson, New York, as an award for outstanding military merit, or the 'Badge of Merit'.

     The award was in the form of an embroidered, heart-shaped badge of purple cloth and bestowed on only three non-commissioned officers.  Though never officially abolished it was not again awarded for almost one hundred and fifty years. 
Upon its revival in 1932, as the Purple Heart medal, the new decoration was to be awarded in two categories:
 
"For being wounded in action in any war or campaign under conditions which entitle the wearing of a wound chevron."
"For those persons who perform any singularly meritorious act of extraordinary fidelity or essential service."
 

     In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an Executive Order which provided that the Purple Heart would be made available to members of all the US Armed Services who were wounded in action. Since then the Purple Heart has become one of the most highly respected decorations of the US Armed Forces. The decoration holds a very unique position in that it can be earned in only one way, by being wounded. An attendant requirement is that the wound must have been received as a direct result of enemy actions.
    Second and subsequent awards are denoted by bronze Oak Leaf Clusters;
a silver Oak Leaf Cluster is worn in lieu of five bronze.
 
Designed by Elizabeth Will; Sculpted by John Sinnock

 

Prisoner of War

    Authorized for all US Military Personnel who were Taken Prisoner of War after 05 APR 1917,  during an Armed Conflict, and who Served Honorably during the Period of Captivity.

    Second and subsequent awards are denoted by bronze Oak Leaf Clusters;
a silver Oak Leaf Cluster is worn in lieu of five bronze.

 

Prisoner of War

 

German Occupation Medal

Designed by James E. Fraser
    Awarded to members of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps with shore duties,  for service with the Occupation Forces in Germany and Austria from 12 Nov 1918 to 11 Jul 1923.
 
Designed by Trygue A. Rovelstad
    The original ribbon had a wavy border between the outer red and blue stripes. Due to the cost of production, the border was straightened.
 

 

VICTORY MEDAL
 

   

      Established by Congress in 1919 and awarded to members of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps for service between:
           06 Apr 1917 and 11 Nov 1918 (Armistice Day),
           12 Nov 1918 and 05 Aug 1919 with American Expeditionary Forces in European Russia,
           12 Nov 1918 and 01 Apr 1920 with American Expeditionary Forces in Siberia.
      Before the World War, it was customary for nations to award medals to troops of allied nations. Since the numbers involved in WW1 made this nearly impossible, the Allies settled upon a unique compromise. The same ribbon would be used to suspend a pendant portraying 'winged Victory', each country to select its own artist.
     A bronze clasp may be worn for service or battle participation on the medal's suspension ribbon, a bronze service star for each on the service ribbon slide:

 

     Battle Clasps

Cambrai 20 Nov 1917 - 04 Dec 1917
Somme Defensive 21 Mar 1918 - 06 Apr 1918
Lys 09 Apr 1918 - 27 Apr 1918
Aisne 27 May 1918 - 05 Jun 1918
Montdidier-Noyon 09 Jun 1918 - 13 Jun 1918
Champagne-Marne 18 Jul 1918 - 06 Aug 1918

Aisne-Marne

15 Jul 1918 - 18 Jul 1918

Somme Offensive

08 Aug 1918 - 11 Nov 1918

Oise-Aisne

18 Aug 1918 - 11 Nov 1918

Ypres-Lys

19 Aug 1918 - 11 Nov 1918

St. Mihiel

12 Sept 1918 - 16 Sept 1918

Meuse-Argonne

 26 Sep 1918 - 11 Nov 1918

Vittoria Veneto

24 Oct 1918 - 04 Nov 1918

 

    Defensive Sector Service Clasps

England  
France  
Italy  
Russia  
Siberia  

Victory Medal

Victory Medal with Clasps

 

Defensive Sector Service Clasp

 Meuse-Argonne

26 Sep-11 Nov 1918