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Establishing Authority

The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was established by Executive Order 9265 signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on November 6, 1942, and implemented by War Department Bulletin 56 (1942) and Navy Department General Orders Number 253 (1942).

Effective Dates

The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was awarded for qualifying service between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946.

Criteria

The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, under any of the following conditions:

-- On permanent assignment within the Asiatic-Pacific Theater; or,

-- For service in a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days; or,

-- For service in active combat in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations against the enemy and awarded a combat decoration or furnished a recognition by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that the individual actually participated in combat.

Order of Precedence

The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was worn after the American Campaign Medal and before the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

Devices

A. Bronze service stars

Bronze service stars were awarded by all services for participation in designated campaigns.

B. Bronze arrowhead

A bronze arrowhead device was awarded for participation in designated Army amphibious and airborne combat assaults (Note: only one bronze arrowhead could be worn on the ribbon).

Designer

The obverse of the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was designed by Thomas Hudson Jones (1892-1969). The reverse was designed by Adolph A. Weinman (1870-1952).

First Recipient

The first recipient of the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was General Douglas MacArthur, who was presented his medal on December 17, 1947.

Description and Symbolism

Obverse

In the center of a bronze medallion one and a quarter inches in diameter, the medal depicts a tropical landing scene with a battleship, aircraft carrier, submarine and aircraft in the background with landing troops and palm trees in the foreground. Above this scene, and following the contour of the medal, are the words ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN.

The invasion scene represents the numerous island operations of the war in the Pacific. The figures represent the Army (soldiers) and Marine Corps (Marines) while the ships in the background represent the Navy and the aircraft represent the Army Air Corps.

Reverse

In the center of a bronze medallion one and a quarter inches in diameter, an American bald eagle is shown perched on a rock. To the eagle's left, the dates 1941-1945 (in two lines); to the eagle's right, the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (in three lines).

The bald eagle is the national symbol and thereby represents the American people. It is perched on a solid rock which represents the firmness of resolve and strength of America in prosecuting the war, as indicated by the dates.

Ribbon

The ribbon to the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal consists of a yellow background bisected by blue, white and red pinstripes. Inside the outer edges of the ribbon there is another set of somewhat wider pinstripes, these being white, red, and white. The Secretary of War directed that ribbons for the area campaign medals were to employ Separate colors to denote the theaters they represented. The theater color was to predominate in each ribbon and the common relationship among all of them was to be achieved by using colored stripes put in the same place on each of the ribbons.

The predominant yellow in the background represents the sands of the islands in the Pacific, where many of the major engagements were fought; the blue, white and red pinstripes in the center are taken from the American Defense Service Medal and represent the national colors. The white-red-white stripes inside each edge of the ribbon are the colors of the empire of Japan and represent the enemy in the Pacific during the Second World War.

The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was authorized Nov. 6, 1942, by Executive Order No. 9265 signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The medal was issued to commemorate the service performed by personnel of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard who served during the periods and in the areas designated below.

Effective March 15, 1946, members serving in the geographical area between Dec. 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946 (dates inclusive) are authorized award of the medal.

The geographical definitions of the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Area is: East boundary -- From the North Pole, south along the 141st meridian west longitude to the east boundary of Alaska, thence south and southeast along the Alaskan boundary to the Pacific Ocean. thence south along the 130th meridian to its intersection with the 30th parallel north latitude, thence southeast to the intersection of the equator and the 100th meridian west longitude, thence south along the 100th meridian west longitude to the South Pole.West boundary -- From the North Pole, south along the 60th meridian east longitude to its intersection with the eastern border of Iran, thence south along that border to the Gulf of Oman and the intersection of the 60th meridian east longitude, thence south along the 60th meridian east longitude to the South Pole.

A Bronze Service Star denotes subsequent awards for periods of service or campaigns in the Korean theater of operations. A Silver Service Star is worn in lieu of 5 Bronze Service Stars.

(Army/Air Force) Bronze Arrowhead device denotes participation in parachute, glider or amphibious landing or assault.

(Navy) Marine Corps Device denotes combat service with Marine Corps units.

The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was designed by the Army's Institute of Heraldry. The medal is a circular bronze disc showing troop landing in a tropical setting with a palm tree. battleship, aircraft carrier and submarine in the background. At the top of the medal, around the edge, are the words ASIATIC PACIFIC CAMPAIGN. The reverse of the medal shows an American eagle standing on a rock. On the left of the eagle are the raised inscribed dates 1941-1945 and on the right UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The ribbon is yellow-orange with narrow center stripes of red, white and blue (United States). Near the edges are narrow white, red and white stripes (Japan). Participation is specific combat operations is denoted by three-sixteenth inch bronze stars. A three-sixteenth inch silver star is worn in lieu of five bronze stars.

The forty-two Marine Corps campaign designations for the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal are:

Aleutians Operations, 1943
Asiatic-Pacific Raids, 1944
Bismarck Archipelago, 1943-1944
Bomeo Operation, 1945
Buin-Faisi-Tonolai, 1942
Cape Experience (Second Savo), 1942
Capture and Defense of Gaudalcanal, 1942-1943
Capture and Occupation of Tinian, 1944
Consolidation of Southern Philippines, 1945
Coral Sea, 1942
Eastern New Guinea, 1942-1944
Eastern Solomons (Stewart Isl.), 1942
Gaudalcanal,-Tulagi Landings, 1942
Gilbert Island Operation, 1943
Guadalcanal (Third Savo), 1942
Hollandia Operation, 1944
Iwo Jima Operation, 1945
Kurile Islands Operation, 1944-1945
Leyte Operation, 1944
Luzon Operation, 1944-1945
Makin Raid, 1942
Manila Bay-Bicol Operation, 1945
Marianas Operation
Marshall Islands Operation, 1943-1944
Midway, 1942
Naval Group China, 1943-1945
Netherlands East Indies, 1941-1942
New Georgia Group Operation, 1943
Okinawa Gunto Operation, 1945
Pacific Raids, 1942
Pacific Raids, 1943
Pearl Harbor-Midway, 1941
Philippine Islands Operation, 1941-1942
Rennel Island Operation, 1943
Santa Cruz Islands, 1942
Solomon Islands Consolidation, 1943-1945
Tassafaronga (Fourth Savo), 1942
Third Fleet Operations against Japan, 1945
Treasury-Bougainvillea Operation, 1943
Wake Island, 1941
Western Caroline Islands, 1944
Western New Guinea, 1944-1945

1. Description: The bronze medal is 1-1/4 inches in width. On the obverse is a tropical landing scene with a battleship, aircraft carrier, submarine and an aircraft in the background with landing troops and palm trees in the foreground with the words "ASIATIC PACIFIC CAMPAIGN" above the scene. On the reverse, an American bald eagle close between the dates "1941 - 1945" and the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA".

2. Ribbon: The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 3/16 inch yellow 67108; 1/16 inch white 67101; 1/16 inch scarlet 67111; 1/16 inch white; < inch yellow; center 1/8 triparted old glory blue 67178, white and scarlet; < inch yellow; 1/16 inch white; 1/16 inch scarlet; 1/16 inch white; and 3/16 inch yellow.

3. Criteria: a. The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was awarded to personnel for service within the Asiatic-Pacific Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946 under any of the following conditions:

(1) On permanent assignment.

(2) In a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 days not consecutive.

(3) In active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration or furnished a recognition by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that he actually participated in combat.

b. The eastern boundary of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater is from the North Pole, south along the 141st meridian west longitude to the east boundary of Alaska, then south and southeast along the Alaska boundary to the Pacific Ocean, then south along the 130th meridian to its intersection with the 30th parallel north latitude, then southeast to the intersection of the Equator and the 100th meridian west longitude, then to the South Pole. The western boundary of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater is from the North Pole south along the 60th meridian east longitude to its intersection with the east boundary of Iran, then south along the Iran boundary to the Gulf of Oman and the intersection of the 60th meridian east longitude, then south along the 60th meridian east longitude to the South Pole. The Asiatic-Pacific Theater included Alaska, Hawaii, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and all of Asia.

4. Components: The following are authorized components:

a. Medal (regular size): MIL-DTL-3943/247. Medal set with full size medal and ribbon bar. NSN 8455-00-269-5764.

b. Medal (miniature): MIL-DTL-3943/247. Available commercially.

c. Ribbon: MIL-DTL-11589/17. NSN 8455-00-257-0525. Available commercially.

d. Streamer: The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign ribbon is used as a streamer for 21 streamers on the Army flag. Units that received campaign credit display the streamers with the inscription as listed on their lineage and honors.

5. Background: a. The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was established per Executive Order 9265, dated 6 November 1942, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and announced in War Department Bulletin 56, 1942. The criteria was initially announced in Department of the Army (DA) Circular 1, dated 1 January 1943, so that the ribbon could be authorized prior to design of the medal. The criteria for the medal was announced in DA Circular 84, dated 25 March 1948, and subsequently published in Army Regulation 600-65, dated 22 September 1948.

b. The ribbon design was approved by the Secretary of War on 24 November 1942. The yellow ribbon has white and red on each side to represent the Japanese colors. The center blue, white, and red stripes are taken from the American Defense Service Medal ribbon and refers to the continuance of American Defense after Pearl Harbor.

c. The medal was designed by Mr. Thomas Hudson Jones. The reverse side was designed by Mr. A. A. Weinman and is the same design as used on the reverse of the European-African-Middle Eastern and American Campaign Medals. The medal design was submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts on 22 May 1947 and the first medal was presented to General of the Army Douglas MacArthur on 17 December 1947.

d. A bronze star is worn on the ribbon to indicate participation in designated campaigns. The designated campaigns for the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and inscriptions used on the Army Flag streamer set are:

Philippine Island 7 Dec 41 - 10 May 42
Burma, 1942 7 Dec 41 - 26 May 42
Central Pacific 7 Dec 41 - 6 Dec 43
East Indies 1 Jan 42 - 22 Jul 42
India-Burma 2 Apr 42 - 28 Jan 45
Air Offensive, Japan 17 Apr 42 - 2 Sep 45
Aleutian Islands 3 Jun 42 - 24 Aug 43
China Defensive 4 Jul 42 - 4 May 45
Papua 23 Jul 42 - 23 Jan 43
Guadalcanal 7 Aug 42 - 21 Feb 43
New Guinea 24 Jan 43 - 31 Dec 44
Northern Solomons 22 Feb 43 - 21 Nov 44
Eastern Mandates 7 Dec 43 - 14 Jun 44
Bismarck Archipelago 15 Dec 43 - 27 Nov 44
Western Pacific 17 Apr 44 - 2 Sep 45
Lyete 17 Oct 44 - 1 Jul 45
Luzon 15 Dec 44 - 4 Jul 45
Central Burma 29 Jan 45 - 15 Jul 45
Southern Philippines 27 Feb 45 - 4 Jul 45
Ryukyus 26 Mar 45 - 2 Jul 45
China Offensive 5 May 45 - 2 Sep 45
* Antisubmarine 7 Dec 41 - 2 Sep 45
* Ground Combat: 7 Dec 41 - 2 Sep 45
* Air Combat: 7 Dec 41 - 2 Sep 45

* These campaigns are not displayed as streamers on the Army flag.

e. A bronze arrowhead is worn on the ribbon to indicate participation in a combat parachute jump, combat glider landing, or amphibious assault landing within the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

Executive Order 9265--American, European-African-Middle Eastern and Asiatic-Pacific campaign medals