Skip to main content
Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Related Content
Topic
  • Awards and Medals
Document Type
  • Artifact
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War I 1917-1918
  • Korean Conflict 1950-1954
  • World War II 1939-1945
File Formats
  • Image (gif, jpg, tiff)
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC

US Navy Good Conduct Medal, Type III (1885-1961)


Good Conduct planchet with red ribbon and two devices attached to ribbon, one with pin and clasp brooch

Title: Medal, Good Conduct,Type III, Navy
Accession #: NHHC 2006-59-1
Circa: 1905
Size: 3.25 x 1.5
Medium: Fabric, Metal
Location: Headquarters Artifact Collection, Naval History and Heritage Command

One U.S. Navy Good Conduct Medal. Circular bronze medal with red suspension ribbon. The center of the obverse side of the medal is a depiction of the USS Constitution. The image has a circular rope border with an anchor underlay. The edge of the medal has a chain border. Between the rope and chain borders are the words “United States Navy.” The reverse side of the medal is engraved “C.S.C. / No. 9766 / John Murnane / U.S.S. / Wabash / May 31, 1905.” The medal is bordered by the words "Fidelity / Zeal / Obedience" around the perimeter. A suspension ring attaches to an straight ribbon bar. The ribbon has the devices "Constellation" and "Reserve Torpedo Division / Charleston. SC."

The Navy adopted a new style of Good Conduct Medal in 1885 that was used until minor changes were made in 1961. The Type III medal was a Good Conduct medallion suspended from an all red ribbon with a suspension ring attaching to a ribbon bar with an un-tapered ribbon. Enlistment bars, denoting each honorable enlistment completed, were pinned on the ribbon as attachments. The pins were later changed to slip on bars. In the 1950s, bronze and silver stars replaced the enlistment bars, with one silver star worn in lieu of five bronze stars.


Reverse of medal showing diffferent devices on ribbon and engraved planchet

Published: Thu Apr 23 10:15:55 EDT 2020