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Fact Sheets

  • Philippine Defense Medal

    BACKGROUNDThe Philippine Defense Medal is awarded for combat service in the defense of the Philippines from Dec. 8, 1941 to June 15, 1942. CRITERIAIf the person was a member of the Bataan or Manila Bay forces or of a unit, ship, or airplane under enemy attack; or assigned or stationed in Philippine

  • Philippine Independence Ribbon

    BACKGROUNDThe Philippine Liberation Medal is awarded for participation in the Philippines' liberation from Oct. 17, 1944 to Sept. 3, 1945. CRITERIAIt is awarded to personnel who are recipients of both the Philippine Defense and Philippine Liberation ribbons. RIBBON DESCRIPTIONThis ribbon is

  • Philippine Liberation Ribbon

    BACKGROUNDThe Philippine Liberation Ribbon is awarded for participation in the Philippines' liberation from Oct. 17, 1944 to Sept. 3, 1945. CRITERIAMembers are eligible for this medal if they participated in the initial landing operations on Leyte or adjoining islands from Oct. 17, 1944 to Oct. 20,

  • Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

    BACKGROUNDThis emblem was awarded to members of the armed forces of the United States for services culminating in the liberation of the Philippine Islands during World War II. The conditions were the same as would be required for award of the Presidential Unit Citation of the United States. The

  • Presidential Unit Citation

    BACKGROUNDExecutive Order 9075 on Feb. 26, 1942, created this award and was superseded by Executive Order 9396 on Dec. 2, 1943, which authorized the Distinguished Unit Citation, and this executive order was superseded by Executive Order 10694, on Jan. 10, 1957 which re-designated the Distinguished

  • Prisoner of War Medal

    BACKGROUNDThis medal was authorized by Congress and signed into law by President Reagan in 1986. The medal may be awarded to any person who was a prisoner of war after April 5, 1917, (the date of the United States entry into World War I). CRITERIAIt is awarded to any person who was taken prisoner or

  • Purple Heart

    BACKGROUNDThis award, the modern form of the original Purple Heart established by Gen. George Washington in 1782, is conferred on any person wounded in action while serving with the armed forces of the United States. It is also awarded posthumously to the next of kin of personnel killed or having

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