Army of Occupation Medal

Background

This medal was established in 1946 and the order has been amended several times to cover areas not originally authorized.

Criteria

It is awarded for 30 consecutive days at a normal post of duty on assignment to the armies of occupation. Refer to Department of Defense 1348.33-M for areas which qualify for this award. Military service in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater between May 9, 1945 and Nov. 8, 1945, and in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater between Sept. 3, 1945 and March 2, 1946, shall only be considered if the service member received the applicable theater campaign medal for military service in the theater before the inclusive periods previously mentioned.

Medal description

The medal was designed by the Army Heraldic Section. The obverse shows the Remagen bridge abutments, symbolic of Europe. At the top is the inscription Army of Occupation in two lines. The reverse shows Mount Fujiyama, with a cloud near the top, in the background, symbolic of Asia. In front of the mountain are two Japanese junks. Below these is a symbolic wave, and the date 1945 appears at the bottom.

Ribbon description

The ribbon has a broad stripe of black to the left and a broad stripe of red to the right with narrow stripes of white at each end, signifying the enemies of World War II, Germany and Japan.

Authorized devices

Berlin Airlift Device (BAD) and Clasps were authorized for wear on the ribbon; they have the inscriptions, "Germany" or "Japan" and signify that the recipient served in either area of occupation. There were also some unofficial bars, such as Korea.