ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY
The Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal was established by Navy Department General Orders Number 197 on November 8, 1929.
EFFECTIVE DATES
The Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal was awarded for qualifying service between the inclusive dates of August 27, 1926, and January 2, 1933.
CRITERIA
The Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal was awarded to Navy and Marine Corps personnel who participated in operations in Nicaragua between August 27, 1926, and January 2, 1933.
ORDER OF PRECEDENCE
The Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal was worn after the Second Haitian Campaign Medal and before the Yangtze Service Medal.
DEVICES
No devices were established for the Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal.
FIRST RECIPIENT
Navy Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal M.No. 1 was awarded to Admiral W.H.H. Southerland
Designer
The Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal was designed by Albert Stewart.
DESCRIPTION AND SYMBOLISM
Obverse
In the center of a bronze medallion one and a quarter inches in diameter, a female figure with a sword in her right hand is shown standing in an attitude of defense in front of two other figures (a male and a female), protecting them with her cloak. To the right and left of this figure appear scroll waves. In the upper half of the medal (following its contour), is the inscription in raised letters, SECOND NICARAGUAN CAMPAIGN. In the exergue, the dates 1926.1930.
The female figure is Columbia, who represents the United States. The drawn sword, cape and attitude of defense represent the protection of Americans and their interests by the Navy and Marine Corps during the Second Nicaraguan campaign. The scroll waves allude to naval service, and the dates in the exergue are those of the Navy and USMC operations during this 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 COPRS). 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 ribbon to the Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal consists of a field of red with three sets of narrow double pearl gray stripes superimposed; a single pearl gray stripe appears just inside both edges of the ribbon.
The red is taken from the First Nicaraguan Campaign Medal (1912), and the pearl gray stripes distinguish this ribbon from all others.
Numbering
The Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal was serially numbered at the six o'clock position on the rim (using the M.No. prefix).