American Defense Service Medal Ribbon / Medal Details

Details for the American Defense Service Medal

Date Authorized: June 28th, 1941

Ribbon Identification Colors: yellow; blue; red; white

Visual Description (Ribbon):

Thin yellow band to dark blue-white-red thinner bands then thick yellow center band followed by repeating red-white-dark blue thinner bands ultimately ending with thin yellow band.

Visual Description (Medal):

Round bronze medal suspended by loop ring; Greek female figure armed with sword and shield atop a an oak branch; the oak branch has further branches with leaves numbering four in total; above the scene are the worlds "American Defense"; REVERSE: Wording presented as "For Service During the Limited Emergency Proclaimed by the President on September 8, 1939 or During the Unlimited Emergency Period Proclaimed by the President on May 27, 1941"; below the text is a laurel leaf spray.

Award Criteria:

Awarded to service personnel on active duty during the span of September 8th, 1939 to December 7th, 1941 if the duration of that service was twelve months or longer.

For official awarding criteria per the US military, please visit: http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/order_of_precedence.aspx