American Defense Service Medal, American Defense Service Medal Options

[collectsmedals]

Here is a collection of American Defense Service Medals that I have put together and mounted for display.

The American Defense Service Medal was established on June 28, 1941 and was awarded to members of the Armed Forces who were serving during a state of limited emergency between September 8, 1939 and December 7, 1941.

The Army awarded the medal for 12 months of honorable service during the limited emergency.

The Navy was much less restrictive and awarded the medal for 10 days of qualifying service.

The Navy had two clasps for the medal.

"Fleet" for service on the high seas while regularly attached to any vessel or aircraft squadron in the Atlantic, Pacific or Asiatic Fleets.

"Base" for service at shore bases or naval stations outside of the Continental United States, including Alaska and Hawaii.

The Army had one clasp for the medal.

"Foreign Service", which was issued to personnel service outside the Continental United States.

The Coast Guard had one clasp for the medal.

"Sea" for service on Coast Guard vessels making regular patrols at sea and who would not qualify for the Navy's Fleet clasp.

The Navy also authorized a bronze "A" device for persons who served on vessels with actual or potential contact with axis forces in the Atlantic.

This first photograph is the group of medals mounted together for display.

The top row has left to right the Fleet, Base and Sea clasps.

The bottom row has left to right the Foreign Service Clasp, a medal mounted to show the obverse and an early issue example of the American Defense Service Medal with a ring suspension instead of the more common knob suspension.

[collectsmedals]

Close-up of the "FLEET" clasp.

[collectsmedals]

Close-up of the "BASE" clasp.

[collectsmedals]

Close-up of the "SEA" clasp.

[collectsmedals]

Close-up of the "Foreign Service" Clasp.

[collectsmedals]

Close-up of the obverse of the medal.

[jdc]

great pictures!
great summation!

thanks!

jdc

:dance:

[John R. Angolia]

Very nice study on this medal, and nicely presented as well. Jack

[Brig]

what does a star represent? not campaigns, that can't be right (?)

[Dave]

what does a star represent? not campaigns, that can't be right (?)

A star represented service "overseas" - esentially service during the "period of emergency" out of the 48-states would qualify someone for the star.

--Dave

[ed tainton]

Well presented, but tell me something. Are US bars faked as much as British Commonwealth? A dealer like World Wide Militaria Exchange sells everything. Are these US medals and bars fake ? Or can you buy from the manufacturer ?

[collectsmedals]

Thanks Dave for taking the question on the star.

As far as faking the bars, I have never seen fakes of the ones for the American Defense Medal, they are just not worth enough to make it worth while to do.

Most U.S. Medals can still be purchased from "official" government sources which are intended for Veterans, but there are differences between the original strikes and the new ones in terms of finish and mounting. These are not strictly speaking fakes, but do not have the collectable value of the originals.

There are a lot of fakes of the bars to the World War I Victory Medal, especially the rarer ones like Siberia, Lyes, Vittoria-Veneto and Cambrai for the Army, and Naval Battery, Salvage, Asiatic, Aviation and White Sea for the Navy. But even the more common bars have been faked for this medal.

The most fakes and rarest U.S. bar would be the "Wake Island" clasp for the Navy or Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal. Out side of museums I have never seen an original. I would have to see a very well documented providence on the medal before I would buy one of these.