Miniature circular gilt bronze medal with laterally-pierced loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a sailor beaching a boat carrying an officer and marines, that at the front left carrying a rifle, the United States flag at the rear, circumscribed above ‘EXPEDITIONS’; the reverse with an American eagle perched on a naval anchor, flukes to the right, laurel leaves beyond, inscribed ‘FOR’ ‘SERVICE’ to left and right respectively, circumscribed above ‘UNITED STATES NAVY’; some loss of gilding from raised parts; on possibly replaced correct ribbon. The medal was instituted by Navy Department General Orders 84 of 15 August 1936 to be awarded ‘to Navy personnel who have landed on foreign territory and engaged in operations against armed opposition or who have operated under circumstances deemed to merit special recognition and for which no campaign medal has been awarded’. An example of some age.
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