World War II Victory Medal

World War II Victory Medal
Name	World War II Victory Medal
Type	Service medal
Established	1945
First awarded	1945

World War II Victory Medal

The World War II Victory Medal commemorates service by personnel during the global conflict involving Allied powers, Axis powers, United States Armed Forces, and numerous Commonwealth and colonial formations. Instituted in the latter months of World War II and promulgated alongside awards such as the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the decoration recognized participation in the broad theaters that encompassed campaigns from North Africa Campaign through the Pacific War and the Italian Campaign.

Background and Authorization

Authorization for the medal arose amid legislative and executive action linked to leaders and institutions including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, United States Congress, and the Department of Defense. Debates paralleled discussions around decorations like the Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart as policymakers in Washington, D.C. and advisors from Joint Chiefs of Staff considered equitable recognition for service across theaters such as the Battle of the Atlantic, Normandy landings, and the Battle of Guadalcanal. Influential figures from services—commanders from United States Army, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard—and representatives from dominions including United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand contributed to policy on medals and campaign streamers that paralleled decorations like the Campaign Medal series.

Design and Description

Design motifs echoed iconography used in medals like the Victory Medal (1919), influenced by artists and sculptors who had worked on pieces for institutions such as the United States Mint and the Congressional Gold Medal program. Typical imagery included an allegorical figure evoking themes also seen in works associated with Liberty Leading the People-style symbolism and monuments in Arlington National Cemetery and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Ribbons and devices paralleled systems used for the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and incorporated colors representing theaters similar to the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. Material choices and manufacturing involved contractors linked to firms that produced insignia for the Smithsonian Institution and the National Archives, and design consultation referenced precedents set during the era of the Medal of Honor revival and the consolidation of U.S. award regulations.

Eligibility and Awarding Criteria

Eligibility criteria corresponded with service periods overlapping major events such as Pearl Harbor attack, D-Day, and the Iwo Jima operation, and paralleled qualification rules for decorations like the Army Good Conduct Medal and the Navy Good Conduct Medal. Regulations specified active duty dates, service aboard vessels including those engaged in the Battle of Leyte Gulf and participation in theaters represented by campaigns such as North African Campaign and Burma Campaign. Administrative adjudication involved personnel offices in commands like United States Fleet headquarters, War Department, and later structures within the Department of Defense, using documentation from archives like National Personnel Records Center and muster rolls connected to units that fought at Okinawa and in the Battle of the Bulge.

Service Branches and National Variants

While a U.S. decoration, analogous medals and emblems were issued by Allied nations including United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Soviet Union, China (ROC), and France (Third Republic), each with distinct inscriptions and ribbon patterns paralleling awards like the 1939–1945 Star and Africa Star. Branch-specific regulations affected wear across formations such as United States Army Air Forces, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, and United States Coast Guard, and mirrored integration practices seen with badges like the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Navy Cross. Commonwealth governments debated postwar honors through cabinets in cities like London, Ottawa, Canberra, and Wellington.

Subsequent Use and Wear Regulations

Wear and precedence were governed by orders from authorities such as the Department of the Navy, War Department, and later the Department of Defense, and integrated with precedence lists that included awards like the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, and Legion of Merit. Regulations addressed combinations with campaign medals like the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and service stripes used by veterans in organizations such as the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Later guidance considered how the medal was displayed alongside decorations awarded for later conflicts including the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Notable Recipients and Units

Recipients encompassed a wide array of personnel who also received awards such as the Medal of Honor and unit citations like the Presidential Unit Citation. Notable figures and units associated with service recognized by the medal include veterans who fought at Normandy landings and Iwo Jima and leaders active in theaters like General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, General Douglas MacArthur, units such as the 101st Airborne Division, 1st Marine Division, and ships like USS Enterprise (CV-6), USS Missouri (BB-63). Allied formations from the Red Army, British Eighth Army, Free French Forces, and Chinese Expeditionary Force likewise produced numerous eligible veterans.

Legacy and Commemoration

The medal’s legacy links to remembrance activities undertaken at sites including Arlington National Cemetery, Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Pearl Harbor National Memorial, and institutions such as the Imperial War Museums and the National World War II Museum. Commemorative practices involve organizations like the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Royal British Legion, and municipal memorial commissions in cities such as New York City, London, Paris, and Moscow. The decoration figures in studies by historians from universities such as Harvard University, Yale University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and archival collections at the National Archives and Records Administration.

Category:Military awards and decorations