World War I Victory Medal
Criteria
The World War I Victory Medal was awarded to any member of the U.S. military who had served in the armed forces between the following dates, in the following locations:[1]
- April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918 for any military service
- November 12, 1918, to August 5, 1919 for service in European Russia
- November 23, 1918, to April 1, 1920 for service with the American Expeditionary Force Siberia
Battle clasps were awarded for each of the major operations for individuals actually present under competent orders. The clasps, with a star on each side of the name of the campaign or one of the defensive sectors, were worn on the suspension ribbon for the following campaigns:[2]
- Cambrai: 20 May - 4 Dec 1917
- Somme Defensive: 21 Mar - 6 Apr 1918
- Lys: 9 Apr - 27 Apr 1918
- Aisne: 27 May - 5 Jun 1918
- Montdidier-Noyon: 9 Jun - 13 Jun 1918
- Champagne-Marne: 18 Jul - 6 Aug 1918
- Aisne-Marne: 18 Jul - 6 Aug 1918
- Somme Offensive: 8 Aug - 11 Nov 1918
- Oise-Aisne: 18 Aug - 11 Nov 1918
- Ypres-Lys: 19 Aug - 11 Nov 1918
- St. Mihiel: 12-16 Sep 1918
- Meuse-Argonne: 26 Sep - 11 Nov 1918
- Vittorio-Veneto: 24 Oct - 4 Nov 1918
Clasps were awarded to personnel who served overseas in one of the following areas and were not entitled to a battle clasp:
- England: 6 Apr 1917 - 11 Nov 1918
- France: 6 Apr 1917 - 11 Nov 1918
- Italy: 6 Apr 1917 - 11 Nov 1918
- Siberia: Any service in Siberia
- Russia: Any service in European Russia
Design
The front of the bronze medal features a winged Victory holding a shield and sword on the front. The back of the bronze medal features "The Great War For Civilization" in all caps curved along the top of the medal. Curved along the bottom of the back of the medal is six stars. Three on either side of the center column of seven staffs wrapped in a cord. The top of the staff has a round ball on top and is winged on the side. the staff is on top of a shield that says "U" on the left side of the staff and "S" on the right side of the staff. On left side of the staff it lists one country per line: France, Italy, Serbia, Japan, Montenegro, Russia and Greece. On the right side of the staff the country names read: Great Britain, Belgium, Brazil, Portugal, Rumania (spelled with a U instead of an O as it is spelled in modern times) and China.
