AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL
Description: Around the top is the lettering "AMERICAN
DEFENSE". On the reverse is the wording
"FOR SERVICE DURING THE LIMITED EMERGENCY
PROCLAIMED BY THE PRESIDENT ON SEPTEMBER
8,1939 OR DURING THE UNLIMITED EMERGENCY
PROCLAIMED BY THE PRESIDENT ON MAY 27,1941"
above a seven-leafed spray of laurel. The
foreign service clasp is a Bronze bar 1/8
inch in width and 1-1/2 inches in length
with the words "FOREIGN SERVICE",
with a star at each end of the inscription.
The foreign service clasp is placed on the
suspension ribbon of the medal.
Criteria: The American Defense Service Medal was awarded
to personnel for active duty service from
8 September 1939 to 7 December 1941 for a
period of twelve months or longer.
| (Credit: U. S. Army Institute of Heraldry) |