Army of Occupation of Puerto Rico Medal Ribbon / Medal Details

Details for the Army of Occupation of Puerto Rico Medal

Date Authorized: February 4th, 1919

Ribbon Identification Colors: red; blue; yellow

Visual Description (Ribbon):

Thin red to thicker blue band, then thin yellow to a centralized thick red band; this pattern is repeated in the reverse for the rest of the ribbon.

Visual Description (Medal):

Rounded bronze shape; at center is a castle gateway with two towers at its corners; surrounding the outskirts of the upper half of the scene is the text "Army of Occupation of Puerto Rico" running from left to right; a tobacco branch is set to the lower left of the scene while a stalk of sugar cane is set to the lower right; between the two branches is the date "1898"; REVERSE: American Bald Eagle with wings spread; the eagle sits atop a collection of cannon, rifles (numbering six), an indian shield, three spears, a quiver of arrows, a machete (of Cuban origin), four standards and a Sulu kris; the test "For Service" is engraved on two lines below the Eagle scene; the top half of the medal edges feature the text "United States Army" while the lower half is dotted by a series of thirteen stars.

Award Criteria:

Presented to both officers and enlisted persons of the United States Army, having served on Puerto Rico between the span of August 14th, 1898 and December 10th, 1898.

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