European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
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| European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal | |
|---|---|
 European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal | |
| Type | Medal |
| Eligibility | served in the armed forces between the following dates:
|
| Status | Inactive |
  ribbon and streamer | |
| Precedence | |
| Next (lower) | World War II Victory Medal |
The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was first created on November 6, 1942 by Executive Order 9265 [1] issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The decoration was intended to recognize those military service members who had performed military duty in the European Theater (to include North Africa and the Middle East) during the years of the Second World War. Colored bands representing Germany (on the ribbon's left side), Italy (on the ribbon's right side), and the United States (in the center of the ribbon) are visible in the ribbon. The brown and green areas of the ribbon represent the terrain of the area of conflict, which ranged from beaches and sand, to grass and woodlands, to mountains.
Originally known as the “EAME Ribbon”, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is awarded for any service performed between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946 provided such service was performed in the geographical theater areas of Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East. For those service members who participated in multiple battle campaigns, service stars are authorized to the decoration with the arrowhead device awarded for any airborne or amphibious operations performed. The Fleet Marine Force combat operation insignia is also authorized for certain sailors.
The following campaigns are recognized by service stars to the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.[2]
- Egypt-Libya: June 11, 1942 – February 12, 1943
- Air Offensive, Europe: July 4, 1942 – June 5, 1944
- Algeria-French Morocco: November 8–11, 1942
- Tunisia: November 12, 1942 – May 13, 1943
- Sicily: May 14, 1943 – August 17, 1943
- Naples-Foggia: August 18, 1943 – January 21, 1944
- Anzio: January 22, 1944 – May 24, 1944
- Rome-Arno: January 22, 1944 – September 9, 1944
- Normandy: June 6, 1944 – July 24, 1944
- Northern France: July 25, 1944 – September 14, 1944
- Southern France: August 15, 1944 – September 14, 1944
- Northern Apennines: September 10, 1944 – April 4, 1945
- Rhineland: September 15, 1944 – March 21, 1945
- Ardennes-Alsace: December 16, 1944 – January 25, 1945
- Central Europe: March 22, 1945 – May 11, 1945
- Po Valley: April 5, 1945 – May 8, 1945
For those service members who did not participate in a designated battle campaign, the following "blanket campaigns" are authorized to the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, denoted by service stars
- Antisubmarine: December 7, 1941 – September 2, 1945
- Ground Combat: December 7, 1941 – September 2, 1945
- Air Combat: December 7, 1941 – September 2, 1945
The Pacific Theater counterpart to the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded as a ribbon throughout the entire Second World War and it was not until 1947 that a full sized medal was authorized. The first recipient of the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was General of the Army Dwight Eisenhower who was presented the decoration in recognition of his service as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force during World War II.
References
- ^ *Federal Register for Executive Order 9265
- ^ Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual, NAVPERS 15,790 (REV.1953), Part III. - List of Authorized Operations and Engagements, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN AREA