ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY
The Dominican Campaign Medal was established by Navy Department General Orders Number 76 on December 29, 1921.
EFFECTIVE DATES
The Dominican Campaign Medal was awarded for qualifying service between the inclusive dates of May 5 and December 4, 1916.
CRITERIA
The Dominican Campaign Medal was awarded to Navy and Marine Corps personnel who served ashore in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) or aboard certain ships in support thereof between May 5 and December 4, 1916.
ORDER OF PRECEDENCE
The Dominican Campaign medal was worn after the First Haitian Campaign Medal and before the World War I Victory Medal.
DEVICES
No devices were authorized for the Dominican Campaign Medal.
FIRST RECIPIENT
The identity of the first recipient of the Dominican Campaign Medal is unknown.
DESIGNER
The Dominican Campaign Medal was designed by Master Sergeant Joseph A. Burnett, USMC, and sculpted by Adolph A. Weinman (1870-1952).
DESCRIPTION AND SYMBOLISM
Obverse
In the center of a bronze medallion one and a quarter inches in diameter, a fortress is shown above a sea wall. Below the sea wall are waves, and beneath the waves (in the exergue) is the date 1916. Above the fortress, and following the contour of the medal, are the words DOMINICAN CAMPAIGN.
The fort is Ft. Ozama at the entrance of Santo Domingo Harbor, which contains the "Tower of Homage" where Christopher Columbus was reportedly imprisoned. The waves allude to naval service, and the wording and date designate the purpose of the medal and the date of the campaign.
Reverse
In the center of a bronze medallion, an eagle is shown alight upon an anchor; the eagle is facing to the left, and the flukes of the anchor are to the right side of the medallion. The eagle is grasping sprigs of laurel, which extend beyond the anchor in both directions. Above the eagle are the words UNITED STATES NAVY (or UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS). Above the laurel on the left is the word FOR, and over the laurel on the right, SERVICE.
The eagle is the American bald eagle and represents the United States; the anchor alludes to naval service. The laurel is symbolic of victory and achievement.
Ribbon
The colors of the ribbon to the Dominican Campaign Medal are the same as those of the Haitian Campaign Medal, but reversed. The blue refers to the Navy and the red to the Marine Corps.
Numbering
This medal was originally was serially numbered without prefix on the rim at the 6:00 o'clock position.