The Navy Occupation Service Medal was a military 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 "Awarded to commemorate the services of Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel in the occupation of certain territories of the enemies of the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

during World War II" and recognized those personnel who participated in the

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

an and

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

n occupation forces during, and following

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. The medal was also bestowed to personnel who performed duty in

West Berlin West Berlin ( or , ) was a political enclave which comprised the western part of Berlin from 1948 until 1990, during the Cold War. Although West Berlin lacked any sovereignty and was under military occupation until German reunification in 1 ...

between 1945 and 1990. No more than one Navy Occupation Service Medal may be awarded to an individual. The Army of Occupation Medal is the equivalent of the Navy Occupation Service Medal. No person could receive both the Army and Navy occupation medals.

Description

The medal was designed by A. A. Weinman. It depicts

Neptune Neptune is the eighth and farthest known planet from the Sun. It is the List of Solar System objects by size, fourth-largest planet in the Solar System by diameter, the third-most-massive planet, and the densest giant planet. It is 17 t ...

riding a

Hippocampus The hippocampus (: hippocampi; via Latin from Ancient Greek, Greek , 'seahorse'), also hippocampus proper, is a major component of the brain of humans and many other vertebrates. In the human brain the hippocampus, the dentate gyrus, and the ...

with the words "Occupation Service". The reverse has the words "United States Navy" (or "United States Marine Corps") and is the same as that of the Dominican Campaign Medal.

Ribbon devices

The medal is authorized two service clasps: "Europe" and "Asia". The clasps are rectangular with a rope border. If eligible, both clasps may be worn on the medal. The Berlin Airlift Device is also authorized to those naval personnel who have served 90 days or more with an accredited unit in support of the

Berlin Airlift The Berlin Blockade (24 June 1948 – 12 May 1949) was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War. During the multinational occupation of post–World War II Germany, the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway, roa ...

between 1948 and 1949.

Europe Clasp

The following geographical duty areas, and time frames of eligibility, qualified a service member to receive the Navy Occupation Service Medal with "Europe" clasp.Navy Department General Order No. 255, January 28, 1948 *

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

(November 8, 1945 to December 15, 1947) *

Trieste Trieste ( , ; ) is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is the capital and largest city of the Regions of Italy#Autonomous regions with special statute, autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, as well as of the Province of Trieste, ...

(May 8, 1945 to October 25, 1954) *

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

(May 8, 1945 to May 5, 1955) (exclusive of Berlin) *

Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...

(May 8, 1945 to October 25, 1955) *

(May 8, 1945 to October 3, 1990) Service between May 9 and November 8, 1945 may not be considered unless the service member qualified for the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal prior to that date.

Asia Clasp

The "Asia" clasp was authorized for any service performed on shore or on ships in the following geographical duty areas and time frames of eligibility. * Japanese territories (September 2, 1945 to April 27, 1952) *

Korea Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically Division of Korea, divided at or near the 38th parallel north, 3 ...

and adjacent islands (September 2, 1945 to April 27, 1952) Service prior to March 2, 1946 would not be credited toward eligibility for the Navy Occupation Service Medal unless the individual is already eligible for the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal for service prior to September 2, 1945. Service after June 27, 1950 which is eligible towards the criteria for the

Korean Service Medal The Korean Service Medal (KSM) was a military award for service in the United States Armed Forces and was established November 8, 1950, by executive order of President Harry Truman. The Korean Service Medal is the primary US military award for ...

may not be considered for the Occupation Service Medal.

References

External links

Navy History & Heritage Command-Navy Occupation Service MedalSECNAVINST 1650.1H Chapter 8, § 3-831-5
{{United States Campaign Medals United States service medals