Haitian Campaign Medal
Encyclopedia
The Haitian Campaign Medal was a military decoration
of the United States Navy
which was issued in the year 1917 and again in the year 1921. The decoration was intended for service members of both the Navy and Marine Corps
who had participated in Haiti
an peacekeeping actions between the years of 1915 and 1920.
The first period of service, for which the Haitian Campaign Medal was authorized, was from July 9 to December 6, 1915. The Haitian Campaign Medal was awarded to any member of the Navy or Marine Corps, who had served on active duty during the aforementioned dates, and was attached to the United States fleet of Rear Admiral
William B. Caperton
. The Haitian Campaign Medal was authorized again in December 1921 and was presented to any member of the Navy or Marine Corps who had performed military operations in Haiti between the dates of April 1, 1919 and June 15, 1920.
Due to the break in time service, between the two authorizations of the Haitian Campaign Medal, the decoration is commonly referenced as two separate decorations those being the First Haitian Campaign Medal and the Second Haitian Campaign Medal. The medal, itself, is different in appearance depending on which time period the award was authorized although the award ribbon is the same for both periods of award eligibility.
For those who served in both time periods of the Haitian Campaign Medal, a campaign clasp is worn on the 1915 version of the medal with a service star
worn on the award ribbon. Both the first and second versions of the Haitian Campaign Medal may not be worn simultaneously.
The Haitian Campaign Medal is no longer an active award of the United States Navy and is considered obsolete. Modern day military operations in Haiti, such as the 1994 peacekeeping operations, are typically recognized by international decorations such as the NATO Medal
.
Awards and decorations of the United States military
Awards and decorations of the United States Military are military decorations which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces...
of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
which was issued in the year 1917 and again in the year 1921. The decoration was intended for service members of both the Navy and Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
who had participated in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
an peacekeeping actions between the years of 1915 and 1920.
The first period of service, for which the Haitian Campaign Medal was authorized, was from July 9 to December 6, 1915. The Haitian Campaign Medal was awarded to any member of the Navy or Marine Corps, who had served on active duty during the aforementioned dates, and was attached to the United States fleet of Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
William B. Caperton
William B. Caperton
William Banks Caperton was an admiral of the United States Navy.-Biography:He was born on June 30, 1855 in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Caperton graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1875...
. The Haitian Campaign Medal was authorized again in December 1921 and was presented to any member of the Navy or Marine Corps who had performed military operations in Haiti between the dates of April 1, 1919 and June 15, 1920.
Due to the break in time service, between the two authorizations of the Haitian Campaign Medal, the decoration is commonly referenced as two separate decorations those being the First Haitian Campaign Medal and the Second Haitian Campaign Medal. The medal, itself, is different in appearance depending on which time period the award was authorized although the award ribbon is the same for both periods of award eligibility.
For those who served in both time periods of the Haitian Campaign Medal, a campaign clasp is worn on the 1915 version of the medal with a service star
Service star
A service star, also referred to as a battle star, campaign star, or engagement star, is an attachment to a United States military decoration which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medals, service...
worn on the award ribbon. Both the first and second versions of the Haitian Campaign Medal may not be worn simultaneously.
The Haitian Campaign Medal is no longer an active award of the United States Navy and is considered obsolete. Modern day military operations in Haiti, such as the 1994 peacekeeping operations, are typically recognized by international decorations such as the NATO Medal
NATO Medal
The NATO Medal is an international military decoration which is awarded to various militaries of the world under the authority of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization . It is manufactured by Eekelers - Centini, International, of Hemiksem, Belgium...
.