MEDALS OF HONOR TO SOLDIERS, SAILORS, MARINES AND COAST GUARDSMEN: A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF OFFICIAL ENGRAVING STYLES FRED L. BORCH Army Introduction Type I (1862 – 1896). This first Army type incorporated the five-pointed star used by the Navy Medal of Honor, While the days of collecting Medals of Honor are past,1 as well as the same ribbon. The Army Type I Medal of this does not make these awards any less interesting, Honor, however, was suspended from its ribbon by a especially given that there are at least 17 different Medal trophy device consisting of an eagle seated on crossed of Honor varieties (six Army, ten Navy) and an even cannons. These cannons in turn are resting on eight greater variety of official engraving styles on the reverse cannon balls and a sabre.4 of these Medals of Honor.2 Army Type II (1896 – 1904). The only difference The purpose of this preliminary study is to show the between Army Type I and Type II is that the latter has a greatest possible number of Medals of Honor types and different ribbon design: the Type II ribbon consists of the great possible variety of official naming styles. While vertical (left to right) red-blue-white-blue-red stripes. the author examined about 30 different Medals of Honor (not all of which are illustrated here), the Medals of Army Type III (1904 – 1913). This type retained the Honor depicted here are a representative sampling and five-pointed star used in both Types I and II but, whereas do permit some conclusions about official naming on the Minerva is shown warding off Discord on these first two Medals of Honor. types, a bust of the goddess Minerva alone is in the center of the Type III star. The decoration is suspended from a This study finds that, regardless of type, an officially bar containing the word VALOR upon which sits an eagle awarded Medal of Honor with its wings spread. A light blue ribbon with 13 white stars is attached to the eagle by a ring. 1. is always hand engraved, machine engraved or machine impressed; Army Type IV (1913 – 1944). While Types I – III were 2. always contains the recipient’s name and rank; all suspended from a short ribbon and brooch, the Army 3. usually includes additional details about of the Type IV Medal of Honor had a small ring attached to the act of heroism, including date and location. back of the brooch. This permitted it to be suspended from a neck ribbon or cravat.5 Army and Navy Medal of Honor Varieties or “Types” Army Type V (1944 – 1964). This type differs from the Type IV in that the short length of ribbon between Since the Civil War, when the Army and Navy first the decoration and the brooch was eliminated and the began awarding their respective Medals of Honor, the Medal of Honor was suspended from small cravat pad decoration has appeared in a variety of designs or types. (the corners of which were not folded), to which a neck While “experts” do not necessarily agree on the exact ribbon was attached. number of Medal of Honor types, this article adopts the typing scheme set out in John E. Strandberg and Roger Army Type VI (1964 – present). This last type J. Bender’s The Call of Duty. But, as the descriptions of (currently in use) has a larger cravat pad (the corners each type in The Call of Duty are quite cursory, OMSA of which are folded) and also has a larger three-prong members should consult Charles P. McDowell’s Military suspension device, which is sewn to the cravat pad. and Naval Decorations of the United States3 for more details on the many types of Medals of Honor. However, Navy Type I (1862 - 1882). The only difference between a brief description of each type follows so that when this the Navy and Army Type I Medal of Honor is that the article discusses engraving styles on Army and Navy Navy medal is attached to its red, white and blue ribbon Medals of Honor, the reader will be able to link each style by an anchor while the Army medal is attached by an with a particular Army or Navy type category. eagle. The planchet, a five pointed star depicting Minerva warding off Discord, is attached to a distinctive ribbon: the top half is dark blue while the bottom half consists of seven red and six white vertical stripes (Figure 1). Vol. 61, No. 2 (March - April 2010) 3 Figure 1: Obverse of the Navy Type I Medal of Honor. Navy Type II (1882 – 1904). The only difference Figure 2: Obverse of the Navy Type II Medal of Honor. between the Navy Type I and Type II is that the Type I UNITED STATES NAVY and anchors on each of the four had a “fouled anchor” (a miniature “chain” was wrapped arms of the cross. The cross is attached to a ring and around the anchor suspending the planchet from the suspended from a blue ribbon with thirteen white stars. ribbon to give it a “fouled” look) while the Type II had A brooch with the word VALOUR is used to attach the an “unfouled anchor”6 (Figure 2). medal to the uniform. Note the curious English spelling of the word as “valour” rather than the American “valor” Navy Type III (1896 – 1904). This type differed from the (Figure 5). Type II only in that it had a new ribbon, which consisted of vertical red-blue-white-blue-red stripes; this is the same Navy Type VII (1927 – 1942). The sole difference ribbon on the Army Type II Medal of Honor. between the Navy Type VI and Type VII is that the suspension ring is soldered to the top arm of the cross; Navy Type IV (1904 – 1913). This is the same medal as on the Type VI, the suspension ring is soldered to a small the Navy Type II and III but uses yet another ribbon: the finger cast on the cross.7 light blue ribbon with 13 white stars used on the Army Type III. This type is shown in Figure 3. Navy Type VIII (1942 – 1943). Having abandoned the Tiffany Cross, the Navy now returned exclusively to Navy Type V (1913 – 1942). This type differs from its the Navy Type V, but the neck ribbon for this type now predecessors in that the planchet is now attached by a featured a narrow cravat pad that was folded and stitched large ring to a light blue neck ribbon with 13 white stars. to the cravat ribbon. The Navy Type VIII Medal of Honor The type is shown in Figure 4. is shown in Figure 6. This type was used only for one year and is distinguished from the Navy Type IX in that the Navy Type VI (1919 – 1921). This is the Navy “Tiffany corners of the cravat pad on the Type VIII are not folded. Cross” Medal of Honor or “Gold Cross” Medal of Honor. It consists of a completely redesigned planchet Navy Type IX (1944 – 1964). This type had a smaller in the shape of a cross pâté. Minerva and Discord have cravat pad, the corners of which were folded. disappeared and have been replaced by an eagle, the words 4 JOMSA Figure 3: Obverse of the Navy Type Figure 4: Obverse of the Navy Type V Medal of Honor. Figure 5: Obverse of the Navy IV Medal of Honor. Type VI Medal of Honor. Figure 6: Obverse of the Navy Type VIII Medal Figure 7: Obverse of the Navy Type X Medal of Honor. of Honor. Vol. 61, No. 2 (March - April 2010) 5 Navy Type X (1964 – present). This Medal of Honor For gallantry at Vigan, Luzon, P.I. variety, received by all sailors and Marines for heroism when Lieut. Col. 45th Inf’ty U.S. Vols. in Vietnam and later, is distinguished from the Navy Type Dec. 4, IX by its large, slightly oblong cravat pad with folded 1899 corners; this is the same cravat pad used on the Army Type VI Medal of Honor (current). The Navy Type X When Parker was issued his Type III Medal of Medal of Honor awarded to Wesley Fox is at Figure 7. Honor in 1909, however, it was script engraved: Observed Medals of Honor Major James Parker Soldiers Asst Adjt Gen., U.S.A. Vigan, Luzon, P.I. Philippine Insurrection: Parker, James S. Non- Dec. 4, posthumous. 1899 Figure 8: Naming on Major Parker’s Type II Medal of Honor. James Parker was issued an Army Type II Medal of Honor Figure 9: Naming on Major Parker’s Type III Medal of (Figure 8) in 1900 and, as he was still on active duty when Honor. the Army began using its Type III Medal of Honor, was issued a second medal (Figure 9). Note that Parker was Part of the reason for less information on the Type III not required to return his Type II Medal of Honor, which Medal of Honor may be that the engraver felt he had less explains why he has two decorations. space for engraving than the Army Type II but, as will be seen with the other Medals of Honor to soldiers in this The Type II is hand engraved in script, using both capitals study, the Army has been less concerned with engraving and lower case letters: details on its Medals of Honor than has the Navy. The Congress Figure 10 depicts Parker in 1889, shortly after he had to returned from a tour with the 4th Cavalry in New Mexico.