Spanish War Service Medal
Encyclopedia
The Spanish War Service Medal was a military decoration
of the United States Army
which was established by an act of the U.S. Congress
on July 9, 1918. The decoration recognizes those members of the Army who performed active duty during the Spanish-American War
, but did not qualify for the Spanish Campaign Medal
.
To be awarded the Spanish War Service Medal, a service member must have served on active duty in the United States Army between the dates of April 20, 1898 and April 11, 1899. Those who were awarded the Spanish Campaign Medal were ineligible to receive the Spanish War Service Medal.
The primary purpose for the creation of the Spanish War Service Medal was to recognize units of the Army which had performed homeland defense in the United States during the years of the Spanish-American War. The award was also presented extensively to members of the United States National Guard
who had been federalized for active military duty but had not been deployed to actual combat in the Spanish-American War.
The Spanish War Service Medal was a one time decoration and there were no devices authorized to the medal. The award was also strictly for Army personnel, since United States Navy
and Marine Corps
personnel, who had served in the Spanish-American War, qualified for the Spanish Campaign Medal
regardless if overseas duty was performed.
The first recipient of the Spanish War Service Medal was Major General
Charles Clement who had served as the commander of U.S. forces in the United States during the Spanish-American War. The medal, itself, was similar in design to the Mexican Border Service Medal
which had been established the same year as the Spanish War Service 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 Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
which was established by an act of the U.S. Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
on July 9, 1918. The decoration recognizes those members of the Army who performed active duty during the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, but did not qualify for the Spanish Campaign Medal
Spanish Campaign Medal
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...
.
To be awarded the Spanish War Service Medal, a service member must have served on active duty in the United States Army between the dates of April 20, 1898 and April 11, 1899. Those who were awarded the Spanish Campaign Medal were ineligible to receive the Spanish War Service Medal.
The primary purpose for the creation of the Spanish War Service Medal was to recognize units of the Army which had performed homeland defense in the United States during the years of the Spanish-American War. The award was also presented extensively to members of the United States National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
who had been federalized for active military duty but had not been deployed to actual combat in the Spanish-American War.
The Spanish War Service Medal was a one time decoration and there were no devices authorized to the medal. The award was also strictly for Army personnel, since 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...
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...
personnel, who had served in the Spanish-American War, qualified for the Spanish Campaign Medal
Spanish Campaign Medal
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...
regardless if overseas duty was performed.
The first recipient of the Spanish War Service Medal was Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Charles Clement who had served as the commander of U.S. forces in the United States during the Spanish-American War. The medal, itself, was similar in design to the Mexican Border Service Medal
Mexican Border Service Medal
The Mexican Border Service Medal was a decoration of the United States military which was established by an act of the United States Congress on July 9, 1918...
which had been established the same year as the Spanish War Service Medal.