Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Encyclopedia
The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal is a service decoration
of the Second World War which was awarded to any member of the United States military who served in the Pacific Theater
from 1941 to 1945 and was created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
. The medal was designed by Thomas Hudson Jones
. The reverse side was designed by Adolph Alexander Weinman
and is the same design as used on the reverse of the European-African-Middle Eastern and American Campaign Medal
s.
There were 21 Army and 48 Navy/Marine official campaigns of the Pacific Theater, denoted on the service ribbon by campaign stars; some construction battalion
units issued the medal with award numerals. The arrowhead device
is authorized for those campaigns which involved amphibious assaults. The Fleet Marine Force combat operation insignia is also authorized for certain sailors. The flag colors of Japan and the United States are visible in the ribbon.
The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was first issued as a ribbon in 1941. 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 decoration was known as the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
.
United States service medals of the World Wars
United States service medals of the World Wars are U.S. military decorations which were created solely for service in the First World War and World War II...
of the Second World War which was awarded to any member of the United States military who served in the Pacific Theater
Pacific Ocean theater of World War II
The Pacific Ocean theatre was one of four major naval theatres of war of World War II, which pitted the forces of Japan against those of the United States, the British Commonwealth, the Netherlands and France....
from 1941 to 1945 and was created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
. The medal was designed by Thomas Hudson Jones
Thomas Hudson Jones
Thomas Hudson Jones was a U.S. sculptor for the Army's Institute of Heraldry.His father was an engraver and encouraged him from childhood to be a sculptor. He attended the Albright Art School in Buffalo, NY. At 19 he won the Prix de Rome Fellowship for 3 years of study at the American Academy of...
. The reverse side was designed by Adolph Alexander Weinman
Adolph Alexander Weinman
Adolph Alexander Weinman was an American sculptor, born in Karlsruhe, Germany.- Biography :Weinman arrived in the United States at the age of 10. At the age of 15, he attended evening classes at Cooper Union and later studied at the Art Students League of New York with sculptors Augustus St....
and is the same design as used on the reverse of the European-African-Middle Eastern and American Campaign Medal
American Campaign Medal
The American Campaign Medal was a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was first created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt...
s.
There were 21 Army and 48 Navy/Marine official campaigns of the Pacific Theater, denoted on the service ribbon by campaign stars; some construction battalion
Seabee
Seabees are members of the United States Navy construction battalions. The word Seabee is a proper noun that comes from the initials of Construction Battalion, of the United States Navy...
units issued the medal with award numerals. The arrowhead device
Arrowhead device
The Arrowhead device is a decoration of the United States Army which is issued as an attachment to certain service medals. The Arrowhead device is awarded to any service member who participates in an amphibious assault, a combat parachute drop, a helicopter assault landing, or a combat glider...
is authorized for those campaigns which involved amphibious assaults. The Fleet Marine Force combat operation insignia is also authorized for certain sailors. The flag colors of Japan and the United States are visible in the ribbon.
The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was first issued as a ribbon in 1941. A full medal was authorized in 1947, the first of which was presented to General of the Army
General of the Army (United States)
General of the Army is a five-star general officer and is the second highest possible rank in the United States Army. A special rank of General of the Armies, which ranks above General of the Army, does exist but has only been conferred twice in the history of the Army...
Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
. The European Theater equivalent of the decoration was known as the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was first created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt...
.
Army campaigns
Authorized Army campaigns for the Pacific Theater are as follows:- Philippine Island 7 Dec 41 - 10 May 42
- Burma, 1942 7 Dec 41 - 26 May 42
- Central PacificPacific Ocean theater of World War IIThe Pacific Ocean theatre was one of four major naval theatres of war of World War II, which pitted the forces of Japan against those of the United States, the British Commonwealth, the Netherlands and France....
7 Dec 41 - 6 Dec 43 - East IndiesDutch East Indies campaignThe Dutch East Indies campaign of 1941–1942 was the conquest of the Dutch East Indies by forces from the Empire of Japan in the early days of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Forces from the Allies attempted unsuccessfully to defend the islands. Indonesia was targeted by the Japanese for its...
1 Jan 42 - 22 Jul 42 - India-BurmaChina Burma India Theater of World War IIChina Burma India Theater was the name used by the United States Army for its forces operating in conjunction with British and Chinese Allied air and land forces in China, Burma, and India during World War II...
2 Apr 42 - 28 Jan 45 - Air OffensiveAir raids on JapanDuring World War II the Allied forces conducted many air raids on Japan which caused extensive destruction to the country's cities and killed over 300,000 people. These attacks began with the Doolittle Raid in mid-April 1942, but did not resume until June 1944 when United States Army Air Forces ...
, 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
- Leyte 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
Navy campaigns
Authorized Navy campaigns for the Pacific Theater are as follows:- Pearl HarborAttack on Pearl HarborThe attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
--MidwayBattle of MidwayThe Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...
December 7, 1941 - Wake IslandBattle of Wake IslandThe Battle of Wake Island began simultaneously with the Attack on Pearl Harbor and ended on 23 December 1941, with the surrender of the American forces to the Empire of Japan...
(Johnston Island December 15–22, 1941) December 8–23, 1941 - Philippine Islands Operation December 8, 1941 – May 6, 1942
- Netherlands East Indies engagementsDutch East Indies campaignThe Dutch East Indies campaign of 1941–1942 was the conquest of the Dutch East Indies by forces from the Empire of Japan in the early days of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Forces from the Allies attempted unsuccessfully to defend the islands. Indonesia was targeted by the Japanese for its...
January 23 – February 27, 1942 - Pacific Specified Raids—1942 February 1, 1942Marshalls-Gilberts raidsThe Marshalls–Gilberts raids were tactical airstrikes and naval artillery attacks by United States Navy aircraft carrier and other warship forces against Imperial Japanese Navy garrisons in the Marshall and Gilbert Islands on 1 February 1942. The Japanese garrisons were under the overall command...
– March 10, 1942 - Coral SeaBattle of the Coral SeaThe Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from 4–8 May 1942, was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval and air forces from the United States and Australia. The battle was the first fleet action in which aircraft carriers engaged...
May 4–8 1942 - Midway June 3–6, 1942
- Guadalcanal-Tulagi landings (including First SavoBattle of Savo IslandThe Battle of Savo Island, also known as the First Battle of Savo Island and, in Japanese sources, as the , was a naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II, between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval forces...
) August 7–9, 1942 - Capture and defense of GuadalcanalGuadalcanal campaignThe Guadalcanal Campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by Allied forces, was a military campaign fought between August 7, 1942 and February 9, 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific theatre of World War II...
August 10, 1942 – February 8, 1943 - Makin RaidMakin Island raidThe Makin Island Raid was an attack by the United States Marine Corps on Japanese military forces on Makin Island in the Pacific Ocean...
August 17–18, 1942 - Eastern SolomonsBattle of the Eastern SolomonsThe naval Battle of the Eastern Solomons The naval Battle of the Eastern Solomons The naval Battle of the Eastern Solomons (also known as the Battle of the Stewart Islands and, in Japanese sources, as the , took place on 24–25 August 1942, and was the third carrier battle of the Pacific campaign...
(Stewart Island) August 23–25, 1942 - Buin-Faisi-Tonolai raid October 5, 1942
- Cape EsperanceBattle of Cape EsperanceThe Battle of Cape Esperance, also known as the Second Battle of Savo Island and, in Japanese sources, as the , took place on 11–12 October 1942, and was a naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and United States Navy...
(Second Savo) October 11–12, 1942 - Santa Cruz IslandsBattle of the Santa Cruz IslandsThe Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, 26 October 1942, sometimes referred to as the Battle of Santa Cruz or in Japanese sources as the , was the fourth carrier battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II and the fourth major naval engagement fought between the United States Navy and the Imperial...
October 26, 1942 - GuadalcanalNaval Battle of GuadalcanalThe Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, sometimes referred to as the Third and Fourth Battles of Savo Island, the Battle of the Solomons, The Battle of Friday the 13th, or, in Japanese sources, as the , took place from 12–15 November 1942, and was the decisive engagement in a series of naval battles...
(Third Savo) November 12–15, 1942 - TassafarongaBattle of TassafarongaThe Battle of Tassafaronga, sometimes referred to as the Fourth Battle of Savo Island or, in Japanese sources, as the , was a nighttime naval battle that took place November 30, 1942 between United States Navy and Imperial Japanese Navy warships during the Guadalcanal campaign...
(Fourth Savo) November 30 – December 1, 1942 - Eastern New Guinea operation December 17, 1942 – July 24, 1944
- Rennel Island January 29–30, 1943
- Consolidation of Solomon Islands February 8, 1943 – March 15, 1945
- Aleutians operation March 26 – June 2, 1943
- New Georgia Group operation June 20 – October 16, 1943
- Bismarck Archipelago operation June 25, 1943 – May 1, 1944
- Pacific Specified Raids—1943 August 31, 1943 – October 6, 1943
- Treasury-Bougainville operation October 27 – December 15, 1943
- Gilbert Islands operation November 13 – December 8, 1943
- Marshall Islands operation November 26, 1943 – March 2, 1944
- Asiatic-Pacific Specified Raids—1944 February 16, 1944 – October 9, 1944
- Western New Guinea operations April 21, 1944 – January 9, 1945
- Marianas operation June 10 – August 27, 1944
- Western Caroline Islands operation August 31 – October 14, 1944
- Leyte operation October 10 – November 29, 1944
- Luzon operation December 12, 1944 – April 1, 1945
- Iwo Jima operation February 15 – March 16, 1945
- Okinawa Gunto operation March 17 – June 30, 1945
- 3d Fleet operations against Japan July 10 – August 15, 1945
- Kurile Islands operation February 1, 1944 – August 11, 1945
- Borneo operations April 27 – July 20, 1945
- Tinian capture and occupation July 24 – August 1, 1944
- Consolidation and capture of Southern Philippines February 28 – July 20, 1945
- Hollandia operation (Aitape Humbolt Bay-Tanahmerah Bay) April 21 – June 1, 1944
- Manila Bay-Bicol operations January 29 – April 16, 1945
- U.S.S. Navajo--Salvage operations August 8, 1942 – February 3, 1943
- Action off Vanikoro July 17–21, 1943
- Naval Group China (6 months duty required) February 19, 1943 – May 4, 1945
- Task Group 30.4 May 22 – June 15, 1944
- Task Group 12.2 July 5 – August 9, 1944
- Specified Minesweeping Operations Pacific June 23, 1945 – March 2, 1946
- Submarine War PatrolsAllied submarines in the Pacific WarAllied submarines were used extensively during the Pacific War and were a key contributor to the defeat of the Empire of Japan. During the war, submarines of the United States Navy were responsible for 55% of Japan's merchant marine losses; other Allied navies added to the toll. The war against...
(Pacific – 1 star for participation in each war patrol) December 7, 1941 – September 2, 1945
Other campaigns
For members of the 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 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