1. Description: The bronze medal is 1-1/4 inches in width.
On the obverse is a tropical landing scene with a battleship, aircraft carrier, submarine
and an aircraft in the background with landing troops and palm trees in the foreground
with the words "ASIATIC PACIFIC CAMPAIGN" above the scene. On the reverse, an
American bald eagle close between the dates "1941 - 1945" and the words
"UNITED STATES OF AMERICA".
2. Ribbon: The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of
the following stripes: 3/16 inch yellow 67108; 1/16 inch white 67101; 1/16 inch scarlet
67111; 1/16 inch white; ¼ inch yellow; center 1/8 triparted old glory blue 67178, white
and scarlet; ¼ inch yellow; 1/16 inch white; 1/16 inch scarlet; 1/16 inch white; and 3/16
inch yellow.
3. Criteria: a. The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was
awarded to personnel for service within the Asiatic-Pacific Theater between 7 December
1941 and 2 March 1946 under any of the following conditions:
(1) On permanent assignment.
(2) In a passenger status or
on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 days not consecutive.
(3) In active combat against
the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding
general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that he actually participated in
combat.
b. The eastern boundary of the Asiatic-Pacific
Theater is from the North Pole, south along the 141st meridian west longitude
to the east boundary of Alaska, then south and southeast along the Alaska boundary to the
Pacific Ocean, then south along the 130th meridian to its intersection with the
30th parallel north latitude, then southeast to the intersection of the Equator
and the 100th meridian west longitude, then to the South Pole. The western
boundary of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater is from the North Pole south along the 60th
meridian east longitude to its intersection with the east boundary of Iran, then south
along the Iran boundary to the Gulf of Oman and the intersection of the 60th
meridian east longitude, then south along the 60th meridian east longitude to
the South Pole. The Asiatic-Pacific Theater included Alaska, Hawaii, Philippines,
Australia, New Zealand, and all of Asia.
4. Components: The following are authorized components:
a. Medal (regular size): MIL-DTL-3943/247. Medal set
with full size medal and ribbon bar. NSN 8455-00-269-5764.
b. Medal (miniature): MIL-DTL-3943/247. Available
commercially.
c. Ribbon: MIL-DTL-11589/17. NSN 8455-00-257-0525.
Available commercially.
d. Streamer: The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign ribbon is
used as a streamer for 21 streamers on the Army flag. Units that received campaign credit
display the streamers with the inscription as listed on their lineage and honors.
5. Background: a. The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was
established per Executive Order 9265, dated 6 November 1942, by President Franklin D.
Roosevelt and announced in War Department Bulletin 56, 1942. The criteria was initially
announced in Department of the Army (DA) Circular 1, dated 1 January 1943, so that the
ribbon could be authorized prior to design of the medal. The criteria for the medal was
announced in DA Circular 84, dated 25 March 1948, and subsequently published in Army
Regulation 600-65, dated 22 September 1948.
b. The ribbon design was approved by the Secretary
of War on 24 November 1942. The yellow ribbon has white and red on each side to represent
the Japanese colors. The center blue, white, and red stripes are taken from the American
Defense Service Medal ribbon and refers to the continuance of American Defense after Pearl
Harbor.
c. The medal was designed by Mr. Thomas Hudson
Jones. The reverse side was designed by Mr. A. A. Weinman and is the same design as used
on the reverse of the European-African-Middle Eastern and American Campaign Medals. The
medal design was submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts on 22 May 1947 and the first
medal was presented to General of the Army Douglas MacArthur on 17 December 1947.
d. A bronze star is worn on the ribbon to indicate
participation in designated campaigns. The designated campaigns for the Asiatic-Pacific
Theater and inscriptions used on the Army Flag streamer set are:
- Philippine Island 7 Dec 41 - 10 May 42
- Burma, 1942 7 Dec 41 - 26 May 42
- Central Pacific 7 Dec 41 - 6 Dec 43
- East Indies 1 Jan 42 - 22 Jul 42
- India-Burma 2 Apr 42 - 28 Jan 45
- Air Offensive, Japan 17 Apr 42 - 2 Sep 45
- Aleutian Islands 3 Jun 42 - 24 Aug 43
- China Defensive 4 Jul 42 - 4 May 45
- Papua 23 Jul 42 - 23 Jan 43
- Guadalcanal 7 Aug 42 - 21 Feb 43
- New Guinea 24 Jan 43 - 31 Dec 44
- Northern Solomons 22 Feb 43 - 21 Nov 44
- Eastern Mandates 7 Dec 43 - 14 Jun 44
- Bismarck Archipelago 15 Dec 43 - 27 Nov 44
- Western Pacific 17 Apr 44 - 2 Sep 45
- Lyete 17 Oct 44 - 1 Jul 45
- Luzon 15 Dec 44 - 4 Jul 45
- Central Burma 29 Jan 45 - 15 Jul 45
- Southern Philippines 27 Feb 45 - 4 Jul 45
- Ryukyus 26 Mar 45 - 2 Jul 45
- China Offensive 5 May 45 - 2 Sep 45
- * Antisubmarine 7 Dec 41 - 2 Sep 45
- * Ground Combat: 7 Dec 41 - 2 Sep 45
- * Air Combat: 7 Dec 41 - 2 Sep 45
* These campaigns are not displayed as streamers on the Army flag.
e. A bronze arrowhead is worn on the ribbon to
indicate participation in a combat parachute jump, combat glider landing, or amphibious
assault landing within the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.