World War II Campaign Medals
World War II campaign medals recognize U.S. military personnel who served in specific theaters of operations during World War II. Awarded for participation in designated campaigns and military operations, these medals commemorate service across Europe, Africa, the Pacific, Asia, and the Americas between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946.
These medals remain among the most collected and historically significant U.S. military awards.
Purpose of World War II Campaign Medals
Campaign medals were established to recognize service within specific combat theaters rather than acts of valor or achievement. Eligible service members could receive multiple campaign medals if they served in more than one theater.
Many campaign medals also authorized bronze and silver service stars to indicate participation in designated campaigns.
Major World War II Campaign Medals
American Campaign Medal
Awarded for service within the American Theater, including coastal defense, anti-submarine patrols, and service in the continental United States and surrounding waters.
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
Recognizes service in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East during World War II.
Campaigns include:
- Normandy
- Ardennes
- Central Europe
- Rhineland
- Sicily
- Naples-Foggia
- Northern France
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Awarded for service throughout the Pacific Theater.
Major campaigns include:
- Guadalcanal
- Philippines
- Okinawa
- Iwo Jima
- New Guinea
- Leyte
- Ryukyus
Campaign Stars
Recipients could wear:
- Bronze Service Star for each campaign participated in.
- Silver Service Star in place of five bronze service stars.
These devices appear on both the suspension ribbon and service ribbon.
Victory Medal
Many World War II veterans also received the World War II Victory Medal, recognizing honorable service during the war regardless of theater.
Collecting World War II Campaign Medals
Collectors often seek:
- Original government-issued medals
- Named examples
- Campaign star devices
- Complete ribbon bars
- Original presentation cases
- Documented veteran groupings
Condition and provenance greatly affect collector value.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many World War II campaign medals were there?
The primary U.S. campaign medals include the American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.
What do service stars mean?
They indicate participation in designated military campaigns within a theater.
Are World War II campaign medals still awarded?
No. They were only authorized for qualifying World War II service.