CUBAN PACIFICATION MEDAL
(Navy and Marine Corps)
                        

ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY

The Cuban Pacification Medal was established by Navy Department General Orders 35 on August 13, 1909, as amended by Navy Department General Orders No. 111 of April 19, 1911 .

EFFECTIVE DATES

The Cuban Pacification Medal was a warded for qualifying service between the inclusive dates of September 12, 1906, and April 1, 1909.

CRITERIA

The Cuban Pacification Medal was issued to all officers and enlisted men of the Navy or Marine Corps who served ashore in Cuba between September 12, 1906, and April 1, 1909, or aboard certain specified vessels that operated in support of the Cuban Pacification.

ORDER OF PRECEDENCE

The Cuban Pacification Medal was worn after the China Relief Expedition Medal and before the First Nicaraguan Campaign Medal.

DEVICES

No devices were established for the Cuban Pacification Medal.

FIRST RECIPIENT

The identity of the first recipient of the Cuban Pacification Medal is not known.

DESIGNER

The Cuban Pacification Medal was designed by Rudolf Freund (1878-1960) of Bailey, Banks & Biddle.

DESCRIPTION AND SYMBOLISM

Obverse

In the center of a bronze medallion one and a quarter inches in diameter is a female figure holding a standard (bearing the colors of the United States) in her left hand. In her right hand she is holding an olive branch which she is offering to a seated peasant. She wears a sheathed sword behind an emblazoned shield. Behind these two figures is a body of water in which an ironclad is seen under the right arm of the female figure. Behind the body of water is a jungle scene consisting of a grove of two palms and some shrubbery. In the upper portion of the medal is a dove and the words, CUBAN PACIFICATION 1908.

The female figure is Columbia who personifies America (further alluded to by the emblazoned shield, which is taken from the Great Seal of the United States). The flag represents the "manifest destiny" of the United States, and the sheathed sword represents the setting aside of force in favor of peaceful pacification, further alluded to by the offering of the olive branch and the dove of peace. The peasant represents Cuba, as does the jungle scene. The water and ironclad allude to naval service.

Reverse

In the center of a bronze medallion, an eagle with its wings displayed is shown alight upon an anchor with draped chain, over the words FOR SERVICE in raised letters. At the base of the medal, and following the contour of its rim, there is an elongated wreath composed of oak on the left and laurel on the right. Following the contour of the upper portion of the medal, the words UNITED STATES NAVY (or UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS) are shown in raised letters.

The eagle is the American bald eagle and represents the United States. The anchor and draped chain allude to naval service. oak represents strength and laurel represents victory.

Ribbon



The ribbon to the Cuban Pacification Medal consists of a central band of khaki flanked on the edges by narrow stripes of red, white and blue (with red forming the edge stripes of the ribbon). The central band of khaki alludes to the color of the field uniform of the day, while the red, white and blue edge stripes are the national colors.

Numbering

This medal was originally manufactured by Bailey, Banks and Biddle of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was serially numbered without prefix on the rim at the 6:00 o'clock position.
                        

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