Reverse side of Sampson Medal[2]
The Sampson Medal is a commemorative medal of the United States Navy for service in the Spanish–American War. The medal was authorized by an Act of Congress in 1901. The medal was awarded to those personnel who served on ships in the fleet of Rear Admiral William T. Sampson during combat operations in the waters of the West Indies and Cuba. The Sampson Medal was also known as the Medal Commemorating Naval Engagements in the West Indies or West Indies Naval Campaign Medal,[3] not to be confused with the West Indies Campaign Medal which was a separate award. A similar commemorative decoration was the Dewey Medal, considered senior to the Sampson Medal.[1]
Creation
The Sampson Medal was first authorized by a Joint resolution of the United States Congress on March 3, 1901. The resolution authorized the Secretary of the Navy to have produced bronze medals to commemorate naval engagements in the West Indies and on the shores of Cuba during the Spanish–American War. The medal was to be presented to the officers and men of the United States Navy and Marine Corps who participated in engagements and battles that were deemed to be of sufficient importance to merit their commemoration.[4][5]
The resolution also stipulated that those who might be eligible for recognition for participation in more than one engagement would not receive a second medal, but would receive a "bronze bar appropriately inscribed, to be attached to the ribbon by which the medal is suspended."[4]
Appearance
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United States Campaign, Expeditionary and Service Medals
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^ a b c The Code of Federal Regulations of the United States of America. Washington: Government Printing Office. 1972. p. 640.
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^ "USN Ships-USS Yale (1898), later Harrisburg (ID # 1663)". History.navy.mil. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
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^ "Decorations, Medals and Ribbons" (PDF). All Hands. July 1947. p. 30. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
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^ a b United States Congress (1901). [scan]
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^ Bureau of Naval Personnel (1953). Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual (NavPers 15,790, Rev 1953) (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Department of the Navy. p. 37.
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^ a b "Sampson Medal". History.navy.mil. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
References
Campaign clasps or engagement bars were authorized for wear on the ribbon, showing various battles and the ship name which had participated. The medal was issued for 47 engagements or skirmishes and some were awarded with several engagement bars.[6] When worn as a ribbon on a military uniform, there were no devices authorized.
[6]
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