| Description:
The bronze medal is 1-1/4 inches in
width. On the obverse is a tropical landing scene with a battleship, aircraft
carrier, submarine and an aircraft in the background with landing troops
and palm trees in the foreground with the words "ASIATIC PACIFIC CAMPAIGN"
above the scene. On the reverse, an American bald eagle close between the
dates "1941 - 1945" and the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA".
Ribbon:
The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and
consists of the following stripes: 3/16 inch yellow 67108; 1/16 inch white
67101; 1/16 inch scarlet 67111; 1/16 inch white; ¼ inch yellow; center
1/8 triparted old glory blue 67178, white and scarlet; ¼ inch yellow;
1/16 inch white; 1/16 inch scarlet; 1/16 inch white; and 3/16 inch yellow.
Criteria:
a. The Asiatic-Pacific
Campaign Medal was awarded to personnel for service within the Asiatic-Pacific
Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946 under any of the following
conditions:
(1) On permanent assignment.
(2) In a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or
60 days not consecutive.
(3) In active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration
or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit,
or independent force that he actually participated in combat.
b. The eastern
boundary of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater is from the North Pole, south along
the 141st meridian west longitude to the east boundary of Alaska,
then south and southeast along the Alaska boundary to the Pacific Ocean,
then south along the 130th meridian to its intersection with the
30th parallel north latitude, then southeast to the intersection
of the Equator and the 100th meridian west longitude, then to
the South Pole. The western boundary of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater 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. The Asiatic-Pacific Theater included Alaska,
Hawaii, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and all of Asia.
4. Components: The following
are authorized components:
a. Medal (regular
size): MIL-DTL-3943/247. Medal set with full size medal and ribbon bar. NSN
8455-00-269-5764.
b. Medal (miniature):
MIL-DTL-3943/247. Available commercially.
c. Ribbon:
MIL-DTL-11589/17. NSN 8455-00-257-0525. Available
commercially.
d. Streamer: The
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign ribbon is used as a streamer for 21 streamers on
the Army flag. Units that received campaign credit display the streamers
with the inscription as listed on their lineage and honors.
5. Background: a. The
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was established per Executive Order 9265,
dated 6 November 1942, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and announced in
War Department Bulletin 56, 1942. The criteria was initially announced in
Department of the Army (DA) Circular 1, dated 1 January 1943, so that the
ribbon could be authorized prior to design of the medal. The criteria for
the medal was announced in DA Circular 84, dated 25 March 1948, and subsequently
published in Army Regulation 600-65, dated 22 September 1948.
b. The ribbon design
was approved by the Secretary of War on 24 November 1942. The yellow ribbon
has white and red on each side to represent the Japanese colors. The center
blue, white, and red stripes are taken from the American Defense Service
Medal ribbon and refers to the continuance of American Defense after Pearl
Harbor.
c. The medal was
designed by Mr. Thomas Hudson Jones. The reverse side was designed by Mr.
A. A. Weinman and is the same design as used on the reverse of the
European-African-Middle Eastern and American Campaign Medals. The medal design
was submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts on 22 May 1947 and the first
medal was presented to General of the Army Douglas MacArthur on 17 December
1947.
d. A bronze star
is worn on the ribbon to indicate participation in designated campaigns.
The designated campaigns for the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and inscriptions
used on the Army Flag streamer set are:
-
-
Philippine Island 7 Dec 41 - 10 May
42
-
Burma, 1942 7 Dec 41 - 26 May 42
-
Central Pacific 7 Dec 41 - 6 Dec 43
-
East Indies 1 Jan 42 - 22 Jul 42
-
India-Burma 2 Apr 42 - 28 Jan 45
-
Air Offensive, Japan 17 Apr 42 - 2
Sep 45
-
Aleutian Islands 3 Jun 42 - 24 Aug
43
-
China Defensive 4 Jul 42 - 4 May 45
-
Papua 23 Jul 42 - 23 Jan 43
-
Guadalcanal 7 Aug 42 - 21 Feb 43
-
New Guinea 24 Jan 43 - 31 Dec 44
-
Northern Solomons 22 Feb 43 - 21 Nov
44
-
Eastern Mandates 7 Dec 43 - 14 Jun
44
-
Bismarck Archipelago 15 Dec 43 - 27
Nov 44
-
Western Pacific 17 Apr 44 - 2 Sep
45
-
Lyete 17 Oct 44 - 1 Jul 45
-
Luzon 15 Dec 44 - 4 Jul 45
-
Central Burma 29 Jan 45 - 15 Jul 45
-
Southern Philippines 27 Feb 45 - 4
Jul 45
-
Ryukyus 26 Mar 45 - 2 Jul 45
-
China Offensive 5 May 45 - 2 Sep 45
-
* Antisubmarine 7 Dec 41 - 2 Sep 45
-
* Ground Combat: 7 Dec 41 - 2 Sep
45
-
* Air Combat: 7 Dec 41 - 2 Sep 45
* These campaigns are not displayed
as streamers on the Army flag.
e. A bronze arrowhead
is worn on the ribbon to indicate participation in a combat parachute jump,
combat glider landing, or amphibious assault landing within the Asiatic-Pacific
Theater.
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