SERVICE MEDALS and DECORA TIONS. The most important decora tions and service medals issued to those who served in the army of the United States, are the following: Civil War Cam paign Medal, Indian Campaign Medal, Spanish Campaign Medal, Philippines Campaign Medal, China Campaign Medal, Cuban Occupation Medal, Cuban Pacifica tion Medal, Mexican Service Medal, Phi lippines Congressional Medal, Spanish War Service Medal.
For service in the World War there was designed the Victory Medal, which was issued free to officers, surgeons, field clerks, army nurses, and enlisted men who served on active duty in the army of the United States at any time between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, and whose service was honorable; also to all persons who entered the service subse quent to Nov. 11, 1918, and served as a member of the American Expeditionary Force in Siberia or European Russia, and whose service was honorable. A Victory Button was also issued to those who served in the World War. This is for wear on civilian clothing only. It is of silver for those who were wounded in action, and of bronze for all others.
The Congressional Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, and the Dis tinguished Service Medal are awarded for special service. The Medal of Honor is awarded to those who, while officers or enlisted men of the army, conspicuously distinguished themselves in action involv ing actual conflict with an enemy, by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty. The Distinguished Service Cross is awarded to persons who have distin guished themselves by extraordinary hero ism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy. The Distin guished Service Medal is awarded to those who distinguished themselves by excep tionally meritorious service with the Government in a duty of great responsi bility.
Not more than one Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, or Distin guished Service Medal may be issued to any one person, but for each succeeding act sufficient to justify the award of any of these, a bar or other device is worn, and for each citation of an officer or en listed man for gallantry in action, he is entitled to wear a silver star with the medal, service cross, or service medal.
The total number of Congressional Medals of Honor awarded during the World War was 78. Awards were made of 1,292 Distinguished Service Medals, and of Distinguished Service Crosses, 5,709. Of the latter, 5,200 were awarded by the Commanding General of the Ex peditionary Forces, 487 by the War De partment, and 22 by the Commanding General of the American Forces in Si beria. These totals include the awards up to December 20, 1920.
The medals awarded for distinguished service in the navy include three, the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Ser vice Medal, and the Navy Cross. The medal known as the Victory Medal, to gether with an appropriate clasp, is issued to any person who performed honorable duty in the navy or naval reserves, be tween April 6, 1917, and Nov. 11, 1918. This is equivalent to the Victory Medal noted above. The Medal of Honor is awarded to those who distinguished them selves by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty. The Distinguished Service Medal is bestowed for exceptionally meritorious service to the Government, in a duty of great responsibility. The Navy Cross is awarded for extraordinary heroism or distinguished service in the line of pro fessional duty, when such service is not sufficient to justify the award of the Medal of Honor or the Distinguished Ser vice Medal.