Medal Identification

by TheBiggestSloth

I have family members wondering about the origins of these medals from the early 1900s (United States) just wondering if anyone could get me some info on them. Not really sure whose medals they are. pic

mchurchw1

Hi! It looks like they belonged to a U.S. Navy sailor who served prior to and during World War I.

The one with the rainbow ribbon is a World War I Victory medal, and specifies military service between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918. The one that says Mexico 1911-1917 is known as a Mexican Service Medal. This is the US Navy version of the medal, and indicates that the sailor participated in a variety of engagements between the US and Mexico. The one with the red ribbon is a Good Conduct medal -- basically, the sailor served his period of enlistment without getting in trouble. The two clasps on the ribbon identify a ship on which the sailor served -- USS Vestal (which was a repair ship)-- as well as a shore station which I can't quite read from the photo.

The next one is the Cuban Pacification Medal, and this one adds a bit to knowledge of the sailor's service, because it's earlier than all the others. This one was for service in 1906-1909, so a couple years earlier than the rest.

Hope this helps! Let me know if I can clarify anything!

Source: I am a US Navy museum curator

Georgy_K_Zhukov

Hello there! As your question is related to looking for identification/information regarding military personnel, our Guide on Military Identification may be of use to you. It provides a number of different resources, including how to request service records from a number of national agencies around the world, as well as graphical aids to assist in deciphering rank, unit, and other forms of badges or insignia. While the users here may still be able to lend you more assistance, hopefully this will provide a good place to start!