United States of America


The United States of America (US, USA) is located in North America, bordered by Canada to the North and Mexico to the South. It is a federal republic composed of fifty states with a population of 325 million, spanning 3,800,000 square miles and nine time zones. The capital city is Washington, D.C, however, the most densely populated area is New York. The US is a highly developed nation, reaping the world’s largest economy by nominal GDP. The country has been active in roughly all notable world conflicts of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. The President holds the title of Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, and the Department of Defense administers the armed force (Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force). The country operates 865 bases and facilities around the world.

The United States gained independence from thirteen British Colonies in 1776. In appreciation for helping drive the British out of Boston, General George Washington was awarded the nation’s first medal. However, the first wearable award, known as the Badge for Military Merit was introduced by General Washington on August 7, 1782. This award was revived in 1932 and is now known as the Purple Heart, awarded to all soldiers wounded or killed in action against an enemy and to those who suffered as prisoners of war. The most prestigious decoration is the Medal of Honor, awarded in three separate categories - Army, Navy and Air Force.

In MedalBook, the United States is organized by National Awards, Badges and Insignia. You can explore the awards, or search for keywords to bring up your desired product.

Sources


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Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge.” Published on January 10, 1994. http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/virtual_disk_library/index.cgi/4240529/FID2676/PDFDOCS/JEL/CJCS/1310_01.PDF
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Floyd Medals. http://www.floydmedals.com/default.aspx?pgID=MQ==
Forces War Records. “Victory Medal.” Accessed on October 20, 2017. https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/medals/victory-medal
German Daggers. “U.S. Aviator Wing Chart.” Accessed on December 15, 2017. http://www.germandaggers.com/Gallery/USW.php
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Hall of Valor. Accessed November 15, 2017. http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=55014
Home of Heroes. “Full Text Citations for Award of the Marine Corps Brevet Medal.” Accessed October 15, 2017. http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/01_usmcBVT/USMCbrevet.html
History. “American-Indian Wars.” Accessed on November 15, 2017. http://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/american-indian-wars
Home of Heroes. “Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross. Revised on July 6, 2008. http://www.homeofheroes.com/distinguishedservicecross/index.html
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. “President Kennedy’s Executive Order 11085: Presidential Medal of Freedom.” Accessed on October 15, 2017. https://www.jfklibrary.org/Research/Research-Aids/Ready-Reference/JFK-Fast-Facts/Presidential-Medal-of-Freedom.aspx
Made in USA: The Salute Uniforms. “Coast Guard Reserve Good Conduct.” Accessed December 15, 2017. http://www.uniforms-4u.com/p-coast-guard-reserve-good-conduct-medal-ribbon-3838.aspx
McDowell, Charles. “Marine Corps Brevet Medal.” Foxfall Medals. Accessed November 15, 2017. http://www.foxfall.com/fmd-navy-bvt.htm
McDowell, Charles. “Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.” Foxfall Medals. Accessed on November 20, 2017. http://www.foxfall.com/fmd-navy-com.htm
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Naval History and Heritage Command. “West Indies Naval Campaign Medal, 1898 (Sampson Medal).” Published on April 28, 2017. https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/awards/service-campaign/sampson-medal.html
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Pritzker Military Museum and Library. “Mexican Service Medal: United States Marine Corps.” Accessed on October 20, 2017. https://www.pritzkermilitary.org/explore/museum/digital-collection/view/oclc/861758262
Pritzker Military Museum and Library. “West Indies Campaign Medal: United States Navy.” Accessed on October 20, 2017. http://www.pritzkermilitary.org/explore/museum/digital-collection/view/oclc/861758292
Roll of Honor. “Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.” Accessed November 15, 2017. http://www.rollofhonor.org/public/htmldetails.aspx?Cat=award&EntID=4104
Romero, Frances. “The Presidential Medal of Freedom.” TIME. Published on August 12, 2009. http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1915813,00.html
Rusty Medals. Updated February 21, 2011. http://rustysmedals.rustyknight98.com/
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. “Badge, Air Crew Member, United States Army Air Forces.” Accessed on December 15, 2017. https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/badge-air-crew-member-united-states-army-air-forces-2
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. “Medal, Air Medal, Gen. Claire Chennault.” Accessed on November 15, 2017. https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/medal-air-medal-gen-claire-chennault
The Balance. “US Armed Forces Award: The Legion of Merit.” Updated on November 13, 2016. https://www.thebalance.com/legion-of-merit-3344961
The Distinguished Flying Cross Society. “The Medal.” Accessed on October 15, 2017. http://www.dfcsociety.net/the-medal/
The Dogface Soldier. “US World War II.” Updated in 2017. https://thedogfacesoldier.com/product/wwii-u-s-nuremberg-war-crimes-class-aeoeaae%C2%9D-distinctive-insignia-marked-l-chr-lauer-ae-pin-back-excellent/
The Flying Tiger Antiques: Historical Collectibles and Americana. https://www.flyingtigerantiques.com/
The Marine Corps Legacy Museum. “The Marine Corps Brevet Medal.” Accessed November 15, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20060506065755/http://www.mclm.com/gallery/brevet.html
The Medal Collector. “Awards and Decorations of the Central Intelligence Agency.” Accessed on December 15, 2017. http://themedalcollector.com/uploads/AWARDS~1.pdf
The Medal Collector. “The Congressional Texas Cavalry Brigades Medal.” Published in November, 1972. http://www.omsa.org/files/jomsa_arch/Full/1972/JOMSA_Vol23_11.pdf
The National Museum of American History. “Badge: Shipbuilding War Service.” Updated on April 18, 2017. http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1355085
Torreon, Barbara. “A Guide to Major Congressional and Presidential Awards.” CRS Report for Congress. Updated on March, 31, 2004. http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/crs/rs20884.pdf
Uniform Ribbons. “Navy Cross.” Published on June 21, 2014. http://www.uniformribbons.com/navy-cross/
United States Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol. “Civil Air Patrol Uniform Manual.” National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol CAP Manual 39-1. Published June 24, 2014. https://www.capmembers.com/media/cms/M391_E6F33EAAEC28A.pdf
United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) Enlisted Heritage. “Defense Distinguished Service Medal.” Accessed November 20, 2017. http://usafeenlistedheritage.org/distinguished/decorated/criteria/?id=11
United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) Enlisted Heritage. “Defense Meritorious Service Medal.” Accessed November 20, 2017. http://usafeenlistedheritage.org/distinguished/decorated/criteria/?id=15
United States Antarctic Program. “Antarctica Service Medal.” Accessed on November 15, 2017. https://www.usap.gov/travelAndDeployment/contentHandler.cfm?id=510
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “The 10th Armored Division.” Accessed on January 2, 2018. https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10006147
United States of America Central Intelligence Agency. “Medals of the CIA.” Last updated on December 30, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20121013001622/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/additional-publications/the-work-of-a-nation/items-of-interest/medals-of-the-cia.html
United States of America Department of the Air Force. “The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program.” Published on December 18, 2013. http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afi36-2803/afi36-2803.pdf
United States of America Office of the Director of National Intelligence. “National Intelligence Awards Program.” Published on May 23, 2007.https://fas.org/irp/dni/icd/icd-655.pdf
U.S. Army Insignia. “Aviation Badges, Army Air Force.” Accessed on December 28, 2017. http://www.emersoninsignia.net/files/Download/AAFWings.pdf
U.S. Army Medical Department: Army Medical Department Regiment. “Certificate of Merit.” Published on January 14, 2014. http://ameddregiment.amedd.army.mil/certmerit.html
U.S. Department of Justice Washington, D.C. 20530. “The Attorney General’s 56th Annual Awards Ceremony: AG Award Program 2008 Copy.” Published on October 10, 2008. http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/files/ag_awardprogram_2008.pdf
U.S. Militaria Forum. “Certificate of Merit Medal No. 169.” Posted on June 18, 2017. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/291987-certificate-of-merit-medal-no-169/
U.S. Militaria Forum. “USMC Brevet Medal.” Posted on September 26, 2007. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/10508-usmc-brevet-medal/
US Military Ribbons and Medals. “Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.” Accessed November 25, 2017. https://www.mymilitarymedals.com/shop/product/590MM
Woodbury, Mark. “DCMA Civilian, Military Medals Process.” Defense Contact Management Agency. Published in 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20130303145016/http://www.dcma.mil/communicator/spring07/4_business_processes/DCMA_Comm_v07n01_pp58-pp61.pdf

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