Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal

The Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal[1] is a United States military award of the Second World War, which was awarded to any member of the United States Armed Forces who served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1945. The medal was created on November 6, 1942, by Executive Order 9265[2] issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The medal was designed by Thomas Hudson Jones; the reverse side was designed by Adolph Alexander Weinman which is the same design as used on the reverse of the American Campaign Medal and European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Obverse
TypeService medal
Presented byDepartment of War and Department of the Navy
EligibilityServed in the U.S. armed forces for at least 30 days in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946.
StatusInactive
First awardedDecember 7, 1941
Last awardedMarch 2, 1946

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ribbon and streamer

Streamer for Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Service ribbon and campaign streamer.
Precedence
EquivalentAmerican Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
Photograph of an Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal with three campaign stars representing eight campaigns.

There were 21 Army and 48 Navy-Marine Corps official campaigns of the Pacific Theater, denoted on the suspension and service ribbon of the medal by service stars which also were called "battle stars"; some Navy construction battalion units issued the medal with Arabic numerals. The Arrowhead device is authorized for those campaigns which involved participation in amphibious assault landings. The Fleet Marine Force Combat Operation Insignia is also authorized for wear on the medal for Navy service members who participated in combat while assigned to a Marine Corps unit. The flag colors of the United States and Japan are visible in the ribbon.

The Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal was first issued as a service ribbon in 1942. A full medal was authorized in 1947, the first of which was presented to General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. The European Theater equivalent of the medal was known as the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

Boundaries of Asiatic-Pacific Theater. (1) The eastern boundary is coincident with the western boundary of the American Theater. (2) The western boundary is from the North Pole south along the 60th meridian east longitude to its intersection with the east boundary of Iran, then south along the Iran boundary to the Gulf of Oman and the intersection of the 60th meridian east longitude, then south along the 60th meridian east longitude to the South Pole.[3]

US Army campaigns

The 16 officially recognized US Army campaigns in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations are:[4]

US Navy - Marine Corps campaigns

The 43 officially recognized US Navy campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations are:[5]

Other campaigns

For members of the U.S. military who did not receive campaign credit, but still served on active duty in the Pacific Theater, the following “blanket” campaigns are authorized for which the Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal is awarded without service stars.

  • Antisubmarine December 7, 1941 – September 2, 1945
  • Ground Combat: December 7, 1941 – September 2, 1945
  • Air Combat: December 7, 1941 – September 2, 1945

See also

References
  1. "Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal". edocket.access.gpo.gov. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  3. Army Regulation 600–8–22
  4. "Listing of the Campaigns of the U.S. Army". US Army Center of Military History. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  5. "World War II-Asiatic-Pacific Theater 1941-1946". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
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