The obverse or front of the medal features a gold Tabak, with steel blade pointing upward, resting over the center of a shield. Both handle and tang are at center base. The tip of the blade is at honor points.

The shield is superimposed centrally over a pair of wings. The Chief (top of shield), in white, has three golden stars, occupying the dexter, center and sinister chief, respectively. The right side, from the wearer's viewpoint is the dexter side. Below the Chief is an arc with golden border with "LIBERTY" engraved in bold, single stroke Gothic letters. Below the arc and above the golden horizontal partition line passing through the numbril point, the Tabak serves as a divider, with the right (dexter) flank in blue and the left (sinister) flank in red. A vertical corrugated white stripe with golden borders divides the blue and red portions. The base is white; the edges bordered in gold. Both wings are in gold and symetrically occupy the left and right sides of the medal. Each wing is composed of eight short feathers, three medium feathers and three long feathers

a. Requirements. Awarded for service in the liberation of the Philippines from 17 October 1944 to 3 September 1945, under any of the following conditions:

(1) Participated in the initial landing operations on Leyte or adjoining islands from 17 October 1944 to 20 October 1944. An individual will be considered as having participated in such operations if he landed on Leyte or adjoining islands, was on a ship in Philippine waters, or was a crewmember of an airplane which flew over Philippine territory during the period.

(2) Participated in any engagement against the enemy during the campaign on Leyte and adjoining islands. An individual will be considered as having participated in combat if he meets any of the conditions set forth in paragraph 9-14a(2) through (4).

(3) Participated in any engagement against the enemy on islands other than those included in (2) above. An individual will be considered as having participated in combat if he or she meets any of the conditions set forth in paragraph 9-14 a(2) through (4).

(4) Served in the Philippine Islands or on ships in Philippine waters for not less than 30 days during the period.

Philippine Liberation Medal

Establishing Authority

The Philippine Liberation Medal was established by General Order Number 8, Army Headquarters, Commonwealth of the Philippines, on December 29, 1944.

Effective Dates

The effective dates of the Philippine Liberation Medal are October 17, 1944, to September 2, 1945.

CRITERIA

The Philippine Liberation Medal was awarded for service in the liberation of the Philippines from October 17, 1944, to September 2, 1945. In order to qualify, one of the following provisions must be met: -- Participation in the initial landing operation of Leyte and adjoining islands from October 7-20, 1944; or,

-- Participation in any engagement against the enemy during the Philippine Liberation Campaign; or,

-- Service in the Philippine Islands or in ships in Philippine wates for not less than 30 days during the period of October 17, 1944 to September 2, 1945.

DESIGNER

The Philippine Defense Medal was designed by Juan Nakpil

Attachments Individuals eligible under any two of the above provisions listed above are authorized to wear one bronze star on the ribbon. Personnel eligible under all three provisions may wear two bronze stars on the ribbon.

[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 32, Volume 3, Parts 400 to 629] [Revised as of July 1, 1999] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 32CFR578.49a]

DEVICES

Bronze Service Stars ( 1/8th inch and bronze in color) affixed to the fabrics of the PL medal and the PL ribbon denote the number of participated battle campaigns. A silver-colored star is used to denote five battle campaigns.

TITLE 32--NATIONAL DEFENSE

CHAPTER V--DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

PART 578--DECORATIONS, MEDALS, RIBBONS, AND SIMILAR DEVICES--Table of Contents

Sec. 578.49a Philippine service ribbons.

(a) Philippine Defense Ribbon. Established by General Orders 8, Army Headquarters, Commonwealth of the Philippines, 1944. (1) Description. A silk moire ribbon \3/8\ inch in length and 1\3/8\ inches in width composed of a red stripe (\7/32\ inch), a white stripe (\3/16\ inch), red band (\9/16\ inch), a white stripe (\3/16\ inch), and a red stripe (\7/32\ inch); in the center of the red band, three white stars \1/8\-inch circumscribed diameter, centers placed on extremities of an imaginary equilateral triangle \1/4\-inch on each side with one point of each star outward and centered in radiated center lines. (2) Requirements. Service in the defense of the Philippines from December 8, 1941, to June 15, 1942, under either of the following conditions: (i) Participated in any engagement against the enemy in Philippine territory, in Philippine waters, or in the air over the Philippines or over Philippine waters. An individual will be considered as having participated in an engagement if he: (a) Was a member of the defense garrison of the Bataan Peninsula or of the fortified islands at the entrance to Manila Bay; or

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(b) Was a member of and present with a unit actually under enemy fire or air attack; or (c) Served on a ship which was under enemy fire or air attack: or (d) Was a crew member or passenger in an airplane which was under enemy aerial or ground fire. (ii) Assigned or stationed in Philippine territory or in Philippine waters for not less than 30 days during the period. (3) Bronze service star--(i) Description. See Sec. 578.40(d)(2). (ii) Requirements. Individuals who meet both of the conditions set forth in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, are authorized to wear a bronze service star on the ribbon. (b) Philippine Liberation Ribbon. Established by General Orders 8, Army Headquarters, Commonwealth of the Philippines, 1944. (1) Description. A silk moire ribbon \3/8\ inch in length and 1\3/8\ inches in width composed of a red band (\7/32\ inch), blue stripe (\1/8\ inch), white stripe (\1/8\ inch), and a red band (\9/16\ inch). (2) Requirements. Service in the liberation of the Philippines from October 17, 1944, to September 3, 1945, under any of the following conditions: (i) Participated in the initial landing operations on Leyte or adjoining islands from October 17, 1944, to October 20, 1944. An individual will be considered as having participated in such operations if he landed on Leyte or adjoining islands, was on a ship in Philippine waters, or was a crew member of an airplane which flew over Philippine territory during the period. (ii) Participated in any engagement against the enemy during the campaign on Leyte and adjoining islands. An individual will be considered as having participated in combat if he meets any of the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a)(2)(i) (b), (c), and (d) of this section. (iii) Participated in any engagement against the enemy on islands other than those included in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) of this section. An individual will be considered as having participated in combat if he meets any of the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a)(2)(i) (b), (c), and (d) of this section. (iv) Served in the Philippine Islands or on ships in Philippine waters for not less than 30 days during the period. (3) Bronze service star--(i) Description. See Sec. 578.40(d)(2). (ii) Requirements. Individuals who meet more than one of the conditions set forth above are authorized to wear a bronze service star on the ribbon for each additional condition under which they qualify other than that under which they are eligible for the initial award of the ribbon. (c) Philippine Independence Ribbon. Established by General Orders 383, Army Headquarters, Commonwealth of the Philippines, 1946. (1) Description. A silk moire ribbon \3/8\ inch in length and 1\3/8\ inches in width composed of a yellow stripe (\1/8\ inch), blue stripe (\3/8\ inch), red stripe (\3/32\ inch), white stripe (\3/16\ inch), red stripe (\3/32\ inch), blue stripe (\3/8\ inch), and yellow stripe (\1/8\ inch). (2) Requirements. Army personnel who are recipients of the Philippine Defense and/or Philippine Liberation Ribbons are eligible for the award of the Philippine Independence Ribbon.

[14 FR 6265, Oct. 14, 1949, as amended at 17 FR 914, Jan. 31, 1952; 18 FR 4218, July 18, 1953]

Philippine Liberation Ribbon

The Philippine Liberation Ribbon is authorized by DA Cir 59, 8 March 1948.

a. Requirements. Awarded for service in the liberation of the Philippines from 17 October 1944 to 3 September 1945, under any of the following conditions:

(1) Participated in the initial landing operations on Leyte or adjoining islands from 17 October 1944 to 20 October 1944. An individual will be considered as having participated in such operations if he landed on Leyte or adjoining islands, was on a ship in Philippine waters, or was a crewmember of an airplane which flew over Philippine territory during the period.

(2) Participated in any engagement against the enemy during the campaign on Leyte and adjoining islands. An individual will be considered as having participated in combat if he meets any of the conditions set forth in paragraph 9-14a(2) through (4).

(3) Participated in any engagement against the enemy on islands other than those included in (2) above. An individual will be considered as having participated in combat if he or she meets any of the conditions set forth in paragraph 9-14 a(2) through (4).

(4) Served in the Philippine Islands or on ships in Philippine waters for not less than 30 days during the period.

AR 600-8-22 25 February 1995 9-15.