SECOND HAITIAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL
(Navy and Marine Corps)
(1919-1920)
                        

ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY

The Second Haitian Campaign Medal was established by Navy Department General Orders Number 77 on December 29, 1921.

EFFECTIVE DATES

The Second Haitian Campaign Medal was awarded for qualifying service between the inclusive dates of April 1, 1919, and June 15, 1920.

CRITERIA

The Second Haitian Campaign Medal was awarded to Navy and Marine Corps personnel who engaged in operations, either ashore or afloat, in Haiti between April 1, 1919, and June 15, 1920.

ORDER OF PRECEDENCE

The Second Haitian Campaign Medal was worn after the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal and before the Yangtze Service Medal.

DEVICES

Members of the Navy or Marine Corps who served in Haiti during the 1915 campaign and received this medal, and who subsequently served in Haiti during the second qualifying period (April 1, 1919 to June 15, 1920), received a bar bearing the dates 1919-1920 for wear on the ribbon of the First Haitian Campaign Medal. This bar was represented on the service ribbon by a bronze star.

FIRST RECIPIENT

The name of the first recipient of the Second Haitian Campaign Medal is not known.

DESIGNER

The design of the Second Haitian Campaign Medal was based on that of the First Haitian Campain Medal which was designed by Rudolf Freund (1878-1960) of Bailey, Banks & Biddle.

DESCRIPTION AND SYMBOLISM

Obverse

To the left of center in a bronze medallion one and a quarter inches in diameter, a palm tree is shown facing a body of water behind which appears a stretch of beach lined with palms. In the background there is a mountain range with a building on one of the mountains. Following the contour of the upper portion of the medal are the words HAITIAN CAMPAIGN; and in the exergue, the date 1919-1920 is shown.

The scene is the north coast of Haiti. The squared off top of the right hand peak is the Citadel of Christophe, the most famous of the old Haitian forts. The palm tree represents the political stability re-established by the U.S. military presence (when every township and municipality in Haiti was required to plant a single palm tree in an open space known as the "Forum of the People"). The date is the year of the campaign. The beach scene alludes to the landing by American forces on Cape Haitian on July 9, 1915.

Reverse

In the center of a bronze medallion, an eagle with its wings displayed is shown alight upon an anchor with draped chain, over the words FOR SERVICE in raised letters. At the base of the medal, and following the contour of its rim, there is an elongated wreath composed of oak on the left and laurel on the right. Following the contour of the upper portion of the medal, the words UNITED STATES NAVY (or UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS) are shown in raised letters.

The eagle is the American bald eagle and represents the United States. The anchor and draped chain allude to naval service. oak represents strength and laurel represents victory.

Ribbon



The ribbon to the Second Haitian Campaign Medal is the same as that of the First Haitian Campaign Medal and consists of a dark blue background with two parallel center stripes of red. The colors were taken from the flag of Haiti.

Numbering

Second Haitian Campaign Medals issued to Navy recipients were not numbered; however, those awarded to member of the Marine Corps were numbered on the rim at the 5:00 o'clock position.
                        

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