ARMY OF CUBAN OCCUPATION MEDAL
                        

ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY

The Army of Cuba Occupation Medal was established by War Department General Orders Number 40 on June 28, 1915.

EFFECTIVE DATES

The Army of Cuba Occupation Medal was awarded for qualifying service between July 18, 1898 and May 20, 1902.

CRITERIA

The Army of Cuba Occupation Medal was awarded for military service in Cuba between July 18, 1898, and May 20, 1902.

ORDER OF PRECEDENCE

The Army of Cuba Occupation Medal was worn after the Spanish Campaign Medal and before the Puerto Rican Occupation Medal.

DEVICES

No devices were authorized for the Army of Cuba Occupation Medal.

DESIGNER

The design for the Army of Cuba Occupation Medal was specified by the Quartermaster General.

FIRST RECIPIENT

Army of Cuba Occupation Medal No. 1 was issued to Major General Leonard Wood on October 25, 1915.

DESCRIPTION AND SYMBOLISM

Obverse

In the center of a bronze medallion one and a quarter inches in diameter, the Cuban coat of arms with the dates 1898 and 1902; the coat of arms and dates are surrounded by the words ARMY OF OCCUPATION MILITARY GOVERNMENT OF CUBA in raised letters. The coat of arms rests on a fasces and is flanked by sprays of oak and laurel.

The Cuban coat of arms identifies the area under occupation and the wording denotes the nature of military service performed. The fasces represents justice; the sprays of oak allude to strength and the laurel represents achievement.

Reverse

The reverse shows an eagle with wings displayed, alight upon a trophy consisting of a cannon; six rifles and four standards; an Indian shield; a quiver of arrows and three spears; a Cuban machete, and a Sulu kris. The whole is enclosed by a circle composed of the words, UNITED STATES ARMY in the upper half, and thirteen stars in the lower half.

The standards represent the five great wars of the United States as of 1905: the Revolution; the War of 1812; the Mexican War; the Spanish-American War; and the Philippine Insurrection. The weapons suggest the armed resistance offered by the defeated opponents in those wars. The eagle is the American bald eagle and represents the United States, and the thirteen stars allude the original colonies and symbolize unity. The six rifles, four standards, and three spears total thirteen, which is consistent with the thirteen stars at the bottom of the medal

Ribbon



The ribbon consists of a center stripe of blue edged in gold. Between the gold and the ribbon's blue edge-stripes is a band of red. The red, blue and gold are taken from the Cuban coat of arms.

Numbering

This medal was originally made by the Philadelphia Mint and serially numbered on the rim at the six o'clock position. It was first numbered with the No. prefix. Subsequent strikes were made under contract by private companies and were numbered without a prefix.

                        


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