US Military Campaign Medals

1905 – 1908, US Military Campaign Medals

As a man who’s talents knew no bounds, In addition to writing, painting, illustrating, and administering organizations and events, Millet was commissioned by the US government to  design three U.S. military medals for veterans of the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and the Philippine Insurrection/ Campaign.

Millet designed both the 1907 Civil War Medal   at the request of the U.S. Army and United States War Department. In 1908 he designed the Spanish Campaign Medal and later he was commissioned to create the Philippine Insurrection/ Campaign Medal. Some historians refer to the Philippine medal as an extension of the Spanish Campaign war.

                Civil War Campaign Medal       

The Civil War Campaign Medal was awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who had served in the American Civil War between 1861 and 1865. The medal was originally established as a badge, because Congress would not approve a medal due to the costs involved. The medal was later authorized in 1905 for the fortieth anniversary of the Civil War’s conclusion. The blue and gray ribbon denotes the respective uniform colors of the U.S. and Confederate troops. The Army Civil War Campaign Medal was established by the United States War Department on January 21, 1907, by General Orders Number 12. To qualify, a soldier had to serve between April 15, 1861, and April 9, 1865. The closing date was extended to August 20, 1866, date of President Johnson’s Proclamation ending the war. The corresponding Navy Civil War Medal was established on June 27, 1908, by the Navy Department.

The front of the Army Civil War Campaign Medal displayed an engraved image of Abraham Lincoln.  In the center of the bronze medallion one and a quarter inches in diameter, the head of Lincoln is surrounded by the raised inscription, WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE WITH CHARITY FOR ALL.  The reverse has the words “The Civil War 1861-1865” encircled by a wreath composed of a branch of oak on the left and a branch of laurel on the right, joined at the base by a bow. The oak represents the strength of the United States and the laurel represents victory.

The Civil War Campaign Medal

         US Navy, Spanish Campaign Medal 

The Navy Spanish Campaign Medal was authorized for those who served in the Philippine’s in 1898.  The medal was in bronze gilt, measuring 32.5 mm _(1.28 in) in diameter,

The Spanish Campaign Medal was a military award of the United States Armed Forces which recognized those members of the U.S. military who had served in the Spanish-American War. Although a single decoration, there were two versions of the Spanish Campaign Medal, one for members of the United States Army and another for the forces of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The Army medal was designed by Francis Davis Millet while the Navy and Marines medals were designed by Rudolf Freund (1878-1960) of Bailey, Banks & Biddle. The Navy version, by Millet, of the Spanish Campaign Medal was created in June 1908 and issued to any member of either the Navy or Marine Corps who had served in the Philippine Islands between May 1 and August 16, 1898.

https://www.emedals.com/united-states-a-navy-spanish-campaign-medal-1898

Philippine Insurrection or Campaign medal

The Philippine Campaign Medal is a medal of the United States Armed Forces which was created to denote service of U.S. military men in the Philippine–American War between the years of 1899 and 1913. Although a single service medal, the Philippine Campaign Medal was issued under separate criteria for both the United States Army and the U.S. Navy.

The Army and Navy versions of the Philippine Campaign Medal varied slightly in the design with the Army’s version of the award displaying a bronze medallion with the words “Philippine Insurrection” centered above the year numeral 1898 and below a palm tree and Roman lamp. The ribbon for the Army’s medal consisted of a wide blue ribbon with two red stripes.

The Navy Philippine Campaign Medal was originally considered a completely separate award from the Army medal and appeared as suspended from a red and yellow ribbon.

On August 12, 1913, the Navy changed the ribbon color to match the Army’s version of the award and from that point on the Army and Navy Philippine Campaign Medals were considered the same award but with different medal styles. The Navy’s Philippine Campaign Medal displayed a bronze medallion with the words “Philippine Campaign”, centered above the dates “1898–1903”, and below a depiction of a stone gate leading into Manila.

The Army’s version of the Philippine Campaign Medal was established on January 12, 1905 by order of the United States War Department. The medal was authorized to any Army servicemen who had served in campaigns ashore, on the Philippine Islands, from February 4, 1899 to a date which was then yet to be determined. In January 1914, the Philippine Campaign Medal was declared closed with the approved military operations for issuance.

The Navy version of the Philippine Campaign Medal was established on June 27, 1908 by special order of the United States Navy Department. The obverse (front) of this medal was the same for both services, while the reverse included the service name.

To be awarded the Philippine Campaign Medal, a Navy or Marine Corps service member was required to perform service in the Philippine Islands between the dates of February 4, 1899 and December 31, 1904. Such service was required to be either ashore in support of Army units or on board certain vessels assigned to the area of the Philippine Sea. The Navy version of the Philippine Campaign Medal was as a one-time award with no devices authorized.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Campaign_Medal

Though not officially a Spanish American War medal, those who served in the “Philippine Insurrection,” more properly known as the “Philippine-American War,” are often considered Spanish American War Veterans. The Philippine Campaign Service medal was issued by the United States government to all members of the U.S. Navy who served during the period of the Philippine-American War.

The front side (left, above) has the statement “PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN” around the top. At the bottom are the dates “1899-1903.” Depicted in the center is a city gate with the Philippine countryside beyond.

The reverse side (right, above) has the statement “UNITED STATES NAVY” around the top, and “FOR SERVICE” below the eagle. The center bears the image of an eagle alighting on a foul anchor. Below the words “FOR SERVICE” are two types of leaves. The leaves curving to the left are oak leaves, a symbol of strength. The leaves curving to the right are olive leaves, the symbol of peace. This reverse side of the medal is identical to the reverse side of the Spanish American War Navy Service medal.

https://www.spanamwar.com/medalsnavyphil