Dewey Medal
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The Dewey Medal, also known as the Battle of Manila Bay Medal, was a
military decoration Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medallion. Civil decorations award ...
of the
United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
which was established by the
United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature, legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, including a Lower house, lower body, the United States House of Representatives, ...
on June 3, 1898. The medal recognizes the leadership of
Admiral of the Navy Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many navy, navies. In the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general officer, general in the army or the air force. Admiral is r ...
George Dewey George Dewey (December 26, 1837January 16, 1917) was Admiral of the Navy, the only person in United States history to have attained that rank. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish–American War, wi ...
, during the
Spanish–American War The Spanish–American War (April 21 – August 13, 1898) was fought between Restoration (Spain), Spain and the United States in 1898. It began with the sinking of the USS Maine (1889), USS ''Maine'' in Havana Harbor in Cuba, and resulted in the ...
, and the Sailors and Marines under his command.


Criteria

The Dewey Medal was created to recognize the forces of the U.S. Navy and
United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...
who participated in the
Battle of Manila Bay The Battle of Manila Bay (; ), also known as the Battle of Cavite, took place on May 1, 1898, during the Spanish–American War. The American Asiatic Squadron under Commodore George Dewey engaged and destroyed the Spanish Pacific Squad ...
. To be awarded the Dewey Medal, a service member must have served on one of the following naval vessels on May 1, 1898. There were 1,848 men of the Navy and Marine Corps eligible for the Medal: * * * * USRC ''McCulloch'' * * * The colliers and were part of Dewey's squadron and supported the Manila Bay operation but are not listed in Navy regulations having their crew members eligible for the Dewey Medal. This is probably because 1. the ships were not actively engaged in the battle and 2. they were, at that time, civilian crewed ships purchased to support the Navy. ''Nanshan'' was commanded by Lieutenant Benjamin W. Hodges, USN but technically remained a merchant ship so she could resupply at neutral ports which simplified the squadron's logistics. ''Zafiro'' was commanded by Ensign Henry A. Pearson, USN and, like ''Nanshan'', was technically a merchant ship at the time of the battle. Both ships were later commissioned in the Navy. The Dewey Medal was a one-time only decoration and there were no devices or campaign stars authorized to the medal. Admiral Dewey was awarded the medal, although, out of modesty, he always wore it with the medal's reverse displayed. which depicted a sailor sitting on a gun. Dewey had the rare distinction of being one of only four Americans entitled to wear a medal with their own image on it. The others were Rear Admiral William T. Sampson ( Sampson Medal), Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd (1st and 2nd Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medals) and General of the Armies John J. Pershing ( Army of Occupation of Germany Medal). The medal was recognized as being given for active military duty; yet because it recognized a single battle in a single campaign, the Dewey Medal was a commemorative medal. When worn on a military uniform the Dewey Medal was considered senior to the Sampson Medal, although there were no individuals who received both medals. The Dewey Medal is one of a very few United States military awards to have fewer recipients than the
Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...
, which numbers just over 3,500 as of 2021. Only 1,825 medals were struck in the original Navy order to Tiffany and Company.


Appearance

This medal was designed by celebrated artist
Daniel Chester French Daniel Chester French (April 20, 1850 – October 7, 1931) was an American sculpture, sculptor in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His works include ''The Minute Man'', an 1874 statue in Concord, Massachusetts, and his Statue of Abr ...
, who sculpted the statue of a seated Lincoln in Washington's
Lincoln Memorial The Lincoln Memorial is a List of national memorials of the United States, U.S. national memorial honoring Abraham Lincoln, the List of presidents of the United States, 16th president of the United States, located on the western end of the Nati ...
and the '' Minuteman'' statue at
Concord, Massachusetts Concord () is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. In the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the town population was 18,491. The United States Census Bureau considers Concord part of Greater Boston. The town center is n ...
. The medal was struck by Tiffany & Co. The medal consists of a circular medallion, suspended from a blue and yellow ribbon. The front, or obverse, depicts a bust of Commodore George Dewey. On the back, or reverse, is included the name of the vessel on which the recipient served. The name of the recipient and rate (enlisted) or rank (officer) is engraved on the medal's lower rim, this being one of only two service medals issued officially named to the recipient.


Literature

The Call of Duty : Military Awards and Decorations of the United States of America; by John E. Strandberg and Roger James Bender; R James Bender Pub; 1st of June 1994 ISBN 0912138548


References

{{Authority control 1898 establishments in the United States Awards and decorations of the United States Navy Awards established in 1898 Military awards and decorations of the Spanish–American War Manila Bay Philippines–United States military relations