History

The World War I Victory Medal was established by Army and Navy General Orders in 1919, as a war service medal. The Bronze Medal was awarded to all branches of the Armed Forces in recognition of active duty during the First World War between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918. Personnel who served in European Russia between November 12, 1918, and August 5, 1919, or in the American Expedition Force Siberia between November 23, 1918, and April 1, 1920, were also eligible for the award.

Multiple bronze clasps are authorized for wear on the Medal ribbon to denote service in specific campaigns, countries, or other operational areas. The clasps awarded for Army service are rounded and are as follows:
1. “ASINE”
2. “ASINE-MARNE”
3. “CAMBRAI”
4. “CHAMPAIGNE-MARNE”
5. “DEFENSIVE SECTOR”
6. “ENGLAND”
7. “FRANCE”
8. “ITALY”
9. “LYS”
10. “MEUSE-ARGONNE”
11. “MONTDIDIER-NOYON”
12. “OISE-AISNE”
13. “RUSSIA”
14. “SIBERIA”
15. “SOMME DEFENSIVE”
16. “SOMME OFFENSIVE”
17. “ST. MIHIEL”
18. “VITTORIO-VENETO”
19. “YPRES-LYS”

Clasps awarded for service in the Navy are rectangular and bordered by a rope design. The following Navy service clasps are authorized for wear with the Medal:
20. “ARMED GUARD”
21. “ASIATIC”
22. “ATLANTIC FLEET”
23. “AVIATION”
24. “DESTROYER”
25. “ESCORT”
26. “GRAND FLEET”
27. “MINE LAYING”
28. “MINE SWEEPING”
29. “MOBILE BASE”
30. “NAVAL BATTERY”
31. “OVERSEAS”
32. “PATROL”
33. “SALVAGE”
34. “SUBCHASER”
35. “SUBMARINE”
36. “TRANSPORT”
37. “WEST INDIES”
38. “WHITE SEA”

The award of a Naval service clasp was limited to one per recipient. However, Navy and Marine Corps personnel may also be eligible for the Army style clasp. When the ribbon was worn alone, a bronze star emblem may be worn on the ribbon to denote the award of an Army or Navy service clasp.

Additionally, a silver citation star may also be worn on the ribbon for Army personnel to denote gallantry in action, while the Navy Commendation Star was available for Navy and Marine Corps personnel. Military personnel who served in the American Expeditionary Forces in France between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, who did not receive another battle clasp, were eligible to wear a bronze Maltese cross emblem on the service ribbon.

There may be additional clasps authorized for wear with the Medal not featured here. Unofficial, privately produced clasps may also be encountered.

The Medal is issued with a ribbon that is the same design for the Victory Medals of 14 Allied Nations.

Some Medals may be stamped on the rim with the serial number and privately altered versions of the Medal may be encountered.