Decorated Army
Veteran
A Tribute to
Jason Andrew Paugh
World War II
World War II, or the Second World
War,[1] (often abbreviated WWII or
WW2) was a global military conflict
which involved a majority of the world's
nations, including all of the great
powers,[2] organized into two
opposing military alliances: the Allies
and the Axis. The war involved the
mobilization of over 100 million military
personnel, making it the most
widespread war in history. In a state of
"total war", the major participants
placed their complete economic,
industrial, and scientific capabilities at
the service of the war effort, erasing
the distinction between civilian and
military resources. Over 70 million
people, the majority of them civilians,
were killed, making it the deadliest
conflict in human history.[3]
World War II
Date September 1, 1939 – September 2, 1945
Location Europe, Pacific, South-East Asia, China,
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa
Result Allied victory. Creation of the United Nations.
Emergence of the United States and the Soviet
Union as superpowers. Creation of NATO and
Warsaw Pact spheres of influence in Europe
leading to the Cold War. (more...)
Belligerents
Allies Axis powers
Commanders
Allied leaders Axis leaders
Casualties and losses
Military dead:
Over 14,000,000
Civilian dead:
Over 36,000,000
Total dead:
Over 50,000,000
...further details. Military dead:
Over 8,000,000
Civilian dead:
Over 4,000,000
Total dead
Over 12,000,000
World War II Victory Medal
Criteria: The WW II Victory Medal was awarded to all military
personnel for service between 7 December 1941
and 31 December 1946.
Description: The Bronze medal is 1 3/8
inches in width. On the obverse is a figure of
Liberation standing full length with head
turned to dexter looking to the dawn of a
new day, right foot resting on a war god’s
helmet with the hilt of a broken sword in the
right hand and the broken blade in the left
hand, the inscription "WORLD WAR II"
placed immediately below the center. On the
reverse are the inscriptions "FREEDOM
FROM FEAR AND WANT" and "FREEDOM
OF SPEECH AND RELIGION" separated by
a palm branch, all within a circle composed
of the words "UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA 1941- 1945.”
Army Commendation Medal
Jason Andrew Paugh
Description: On a 1 3/8 inches wide bronze hexagon, one point up, an American bald eagle with wings displayed
horizontally, grasping three crossed arrows and bearing on its breast a shield of thirteen pieces and a chief. On the
reverse, a name panel between the words "FOR MILITARY" and "MERIT", all above a sprig of laurel.
Criteria: The Army
Commendation Medal is
awarded to any member of the
Armed Forces of the United
States other than General
Officers who, while serving in
any capacity with the Army after
6 December 1941, distinguished
himself by heroism, meritorious
achievement or meritorious
service. Award may be made to
a member of the Armed Forces
of a friendly foreign nation who,
after 1 June 1962, distinguishes
himself by an act of heroism,
extraordinary achievement, or
meritorious service which has
been of mutual benefit to a
friendly nation and the United
States.
Good Conduct Medal
."
Criteria: The Army Good Conduct
Medal (AGCM) was established by
Executive Order 8809, 28 June 1941
and was amended by Executive Order
9323, 1943 and by Executive Order
10444, 10 April 1953. It is awarded for
exemplary behavior, efficiency, and
fidelity in active Federal military
service. It is awarded on a selective
basis to each soldier who distinguishes
himself or herself from among his or
her fellow soldiers by their exemplary
conduct, efficiency, and fidelity
throughout a specified period of
continuous enlisted active Federal
military service.
Good Conduct Medal
The medal was designed by Mr.
Joseph Kiselewski and approved
by the Secretary of War on 194210-30. Description:
The eagle, with wings
spread, denotes vigilance
and superiority.
The horizontal sword
denotes loyalty.
The book represents
knowledge acquired and
ability gained.
On the reverse, the lone
star denotes merit.
The wreath of laurel and
oak leaves denotes
reward and strength.
Asiatic – Pacific Campaign Medal
Criteria: The Asiatic-Pacific
Campaign Medal is a service
decoration of the Second
World War which was awarded
to any member of the United
States military who served in
the Pacific Theater from 1941
to 1945 and was created on
November 6, 1942 by
Executive Order 9265 issued
by President Franklin D.
Roosevelt.
Asiatic – Pacific Campaign Medal
Description: The Asiatic-Pacific
Campaign Medal is a Bronze
medallion 1 1/4 inches in
diameter. A tropical landing
scene with a battleship, aircraft
carrier, submarine and aircraft
in the background with landing
troops and palm trees in the
foreground is shown on the
front of the medal. Above the
scene are the words "ASIATIC
PACIFIC CAMPAIGN". An
American Bald Eagle is shown
on the reverse side between
the dates "1941 - 1945" and
the words "UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA".
Korean War
The Korean War refers to a period of
military conflict between North Korea
(officially the Democratic People's Republic
of Korea) and South Korea (officially the
Republic of Korea) regimes, with major
hostilities lasting from June 25, 1950 until
the armistice signed on July 27, 1953. The
conflict arose from the attempts of the two
Korean powers to re-unify Korea under their
respective governments. The period
immediately before the war was marked by
escalating border conflicts at the 38th
Parallel and attempts to negotiate elections
for the entirety of Korea.[22] These
negotiations ended when the North Korean
Army invaded the South on June 25, 1950.
Under the aegis of the United Nations,
nations allied with the United States
intervened on behalf of South Korea. After
rapid advances in a South Korean
counterattack, communist-allied Chinese
forces intervened on behalf of North Korea,
shifting the balance of the war and ultimately
leading to an armistice that approximately
restored the original boundaries between
North and South Korea.
Korean War
Date June 25, 1950–the armistice on July 27, 1953
Location Korean Peninsula
Result Cease-fire; North Korean invasion repelled;
establishment of Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ); a few
territorial changes along the 38th parallel, but essentially uti
possidetis.
Belligerents United Nations (UN Resolution 84):
Republic of Korea
Australia
Belgium
Canada
Colombia
Ethiopia
France
Greece
Luxembourg
Netherlands
New Zealand
Philippines
South Africa
Thailand
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
Naval Support and Military Servicing/Repairs:
Japan
Medical staff:
Denmark
Italy
Norway
India
Sweden
North Korea and Allies:
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
People's Republic of China
Soviet Union
National Defense Service Medal
and Bronze Star attachment (single)
Criteria: The National Defense
Service Medal is a military decoration
of the United States military originally
commissioned by President Dwight D.
Eisenhower. Created in 1953, the
National Defense Service Medal was
intended to be a “blanket campaign
medal” awarded to any member of the
United States military who served
honorably during a designated time
period of which a “national emergency”
had been declared.
In the years since the creation of the
National Defense Service Medal, it is
authorized only for the following time
periods.
June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1954 for
service during the Korean War
January 1, 1961 to August 14, 1974 for
service during the Vietnam War
National Defense Service Medal
Description: On a Bronze
medal, 1 ¼ inches in diameter,
an eagle displayed with
inverted wings standing on a
sword and palm branch, all
beneath the inscription
"NATIONAL DEFENSE". On
the reverse is a shield taken
from the Coat of Arms of the
United States with an open
wreath below it, the right side
of oak leaves and the left side
of laurel leaves.
Vietnam
The Vietnam War was a war fought between
1964 and 1975 on the ground in South
Vietnam and bordering areas of Cambodia
and Laos, and in bombing runs over North
Vietnam.
Fighting on one side was a coalition of
forces including the United States, the
Republic of Vietnam, Australia, New
Zealand, and South Korea.
Fighting on the other side was a coalition of
forces including the Democratic Republic of
Vietnam (North Vietnam) and the National
Liberation Front, a communist-led South
Vietnamese guerrilla movement.
The USSR provided military aid to the North
Vietnamese and to the NLF, but was not one
of the military combatants.
The war was part of a larger regional conflict
involving the neighboring countries of
Cambodia and Laos, known as the Second
Indochina War. In Vietnam, this conflict is
known as the American War (Vietnamese
Chiến Tranh Chống Mỹ Cứu Nước, which
translates into English as "War Against the
Americans and to Save the Nation").
Vietnam
In many ways the Vietnam War was a direct
successor to the French Indochina War, which is
sometimes referred to as the First Indochina War,
when the French fought to maintain control of their
colony in Indochina against an independence
movement led by Communist Party leader Ho Chi
Minh.
Citing progress in peace negotiations, On January
15, 1973 President Nixon ordered a suspension of
offensive action in North Vietnam which was later
followed by the unilateral withdrawal of US troops
from Vietnam. The Paris Peace Accords were later
signed on January 27, 1973 which officially ended
US involvement in the Vietnam conflict.
The peace agreements signed at the Paris Peace
Accords did not last for very long. In early 1975 the
North invaded the South and quickly consolidated
the country under its control. Saigon fell on April 30,
1975. North Vietnam united North and South
Vietnam on July 2, 1976 to form the "Socialist
Republic of Vietnam". Hundreds of supporters of the
South Vietnamese government were executed,
thousands more were imprisoned. Saigon was
immediately re-named to "Ho Chi Minh City", in
honor of the former president of North Vietnam.
Communist rule continues in the Socialist Republic
of Vietnam to the present day.
Vietnam
Wall of Honor: Their names
are engraved on the black
granite of the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial in
Washington, D.C. as well as
on the hearts of those who
love them. They are the 58,226
Americans who paid the
supreme sacrifice in the
service of their country in
Southeast Asia. Explore the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Wall" to see the names of
those who gave their lives in
defense of the United States of
America - We're Proud of You.
Vietnam Service Medal and Bronze
Star attachment (Double)
Jason Andrew Paugh
Vietnam Service Medal
CRITERIA
The Vietnam Service Medal
was awarded to members of
the Armed Forces of the United
States who served at any time
between July 4, 1965, and
March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or
its contiguous waters or
airspace; or, for any period of
service during the same time
period in Thailand, Laos, or
Cambodia or the air spaces
there over and in direct support
of operations in Vietnam.
Bronze stars:: Bronze stars
are authorized for participation
in the 29 campaigns specified
for the Vietnam War.
Vietnam Service Medal
Description Obverse: On a bronze
medal, 1-1/4 inches in diameter, an
oriental dragon behind a grove of
bamboo trees above the inscription
"REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM SERVICE".
Reverse: On the reverse, a crossbow
surmounted a by a torch above the
arched inscription "UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA".
Honorable Service Lapel Button
WWII
Background: According to Circular
No. 454 dated 29 Nov 1944, the War
Department adopted an honorable
discharge emblem for wear on the
uniform of all military personnel
who are discharged or separated
from the service under honorable
conditions. The emblem will be
worn as a badge of honor indicative
of honest and faithful service while
a member of the Armed Forces
during World War II and will be
issued in addition to the button. At
the time of honorable discharge or
separation from the service, the
emblem will be permanently affixed
on the right breast of all the outer
clothing centered immediately
above the pocket with the long axis
of the lozenge horizontal.
Philippine Liberation Ribbon
The Philippine Liberation Ribbon is
awarded for participation in the
Philippines' liberation from Oct. 17,
1944 to Sept. 3, 1945, if personnel:
1) Participated in the initial landing
operations on Leyte or adjoining
islands from Oct. 17-20, 1944.
Personnel are considered as having
participated in such operations if they
landed on Leyte or adjoining islands,
were on ships in Philippine waters, or
were crewmembers of airplanes that
flew Participated in any engagement
against the enemy during the
campaign on Leyte and adjoining
islands. Personnel are considered as
having participated in such operations
if they were members of or present
with units actually under enemy fire or
air attack, or were crewmembers in an
airplane under enemy aerial or ground
fire.
Republic of Vietnam Campaign
Ribbon w/ Device (1960)
Background: a. The Secretary of
Defense approved a request for
approval of foreign awards to US
Military personnel on 7 February
1966. As a result of this approval,
the Republic of Vietnam
Campaign Medal with device bar
(1960- ) was awarded to US
Armed Forces personnel by the
Government of the Republic of
Vietnam per Republic of Vietnam
Armed Forces Order No. 48,
dated 24 March 1966. The
acceptance, criteria and
description was announced in the
Federal Register, Volume 31, No.
147, 30 July 1966 (Title 32, Code
of Federal Regulation 47).
Expert Badge and Rifle Bar and
Sharpshooter Badge and Carbine Bar
United States Army
US Army marksmanship badges
The United States Army issues
marksmanship badges for expert,
sharpshooter and marksman
qualifications. Suspended from it are
component bars that indicate the
specific weapons the soldier is
qualified for. Only three marksmanship
badges are authorized for wear at one
time, and each may only have up to
three component bars.
Component bars are authorized in the
following weapons (listed with exact
inscription): Rifle, Pistol, AA Arty, Auto
Rifle, Machinegun, Field Artillery, Tank
Weapons, Flamethrower, Submachine
Gun, Rocket Launcher, Grenade,
Carbine, Recoilless Rifle, Mortar,
Bayonet, Small Bore Rifle, Small Bore
Pistol, Missile, and Aero-weapons
A Tribute to my Grandfather
Jason Andrew Paugh
A Curtis Des Rochers Production