Return to Service Medal Index
Return
to Naval Historical Center homepage
Navy Occupation Service Medal
To commemorate the services performed by the personnel of the Navy,
Marine Corps and Coast Guard in the occupation of the territories of the
enemies of the United States during World War II, and subsequent to the
surrender of those enemies, the Navy Occupation Service Medal was
established and will be awarded to individuals of the above-named services
who participated in such occupation according to the requirements of eligibility
hereinafter set forth. It is further provided that the Secretary of the
Navy may tender this medal to personnel of the Army or other components
of the Armed Forces of the United States for services which he may determine
to be commensurate and consistent with the service for which the award is
made to personnel in the naval service.
The Navy Occupation Service Medal shall not be awarded for any service
for which another medal is authorized. Not more than one Navy Occupation
Service Medal will be awarded to any individual regardless of whether service
has been performed in different areas or places at different interval of
time. Appropriate clasps marked "Europe" and "Asia"
are authorized to be attached to the ribbon of the medal to denote service
in Europe and Asia, respectively. No distinctive device to denote possession
of the above clasps is authorized for wearing on the service ribbon.
The obverse (front) of the medal was designed by A.A. Weinman, sculptor
of the Mercury dime.
Naval personnel serving 90 consecutive days or more on permanent
or temporary duty while assigned or attached to a unit which has been designated
by the Chief of Naval Operations as participating in direct support of the
Berlin Airlift between 26 June 1948 and 30 September 1949 are eligible for
the Navy Occupation Service medal and the Berlin Airlift Device. The Berlin
Airlift Device is a gold-colored miniature of a C-54 type aircraft and is
to be worn on the service ribbon and suspension ribbon of the Navy Occupation
Service Medal with the nose pointing upward at a 30-degree angle and toward
the wearer's own right. The device is of three-eighths inch wing span, other
dimensions proportionate. (Note: In many cases, individuals eligible
for the Berlin Airlift device became eligible for the Medal
for Humane Action in lieu of the Navy Occupation Service Medal.) (ALNAV
25 of 22 Jan. 1947; Navy Department General Order No. 255 of 28 Jan. 1948.)
Source: 1953 U.S. Navy Awards Manual
21 June 1998