World War II Victory Medal

The World War II Victory Medal was a service medal of the United States military which was established by an Act of Congress on 6 July 1945 (Public Law 135, 79th Congress) and promulgated by Section V, War Department Bulletin 12, 1945.The Congressional authorization for the medal specified that it was to be awarded to any member of the United States military, including members of the armed forces of the Government of the Philippine Islands, who served on active duty, or as a reservist, between 7 December 1941 and the ending of hostilities as declared by the president.As hostilities during the Second World War ended on 2 September 1945, there may be cases of service members who had enlisted, entered officer candidate school, or had been a cadet or midshipman at the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S.Naval Academy or the U.S. Coast Guard Academy between 3 September 1945 and any date in 1946, receiving the medal without having been a veteran of the period of active hostilities during the war; the reason for this late date is that President Harry S. Truman did not declare an official end to hostilities until the last day of 1946.The obverse is a figure of Liberation standing full length with head turned to dexter looking to the dawn of a new day, right foot resting on a war god's helmet with the hilt of a broken sword in the right hand and the broken blade in the left hand, the inscription WORLD WAR II placed immediately below the center.
Merchant Marine World War II Victory MedalObverseDepartment of WarDepartment of the NavyService ribboncampaign streamerEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign MedalArmy of Occupation MedalNavy Occupation Service Medalservice medalUnited States militaryCongressThomas H. JonesWorld War IIGovernment of the Philippine IslandsUnited States Merchant MarineNational Personnel Records CenterU.S. Military AcademyU.S. Naval AcademyU.S. Coast Guard AcademyHarry S. TrumanNational Defense Service MedalreverseFour FreedomsWorld War I Victory Medalclaspscampaign medalsNational World War II MemorialAwards and decorations of the United States militaryUnited States Statutes at LargeOffice of the Federal RegisterCivil War Campaign MedalIndian Campaign MedalDewey MedalSampson MedalCardenas Medal of HonorWest Indies Campaign MedalSpanish Campaign MedalSpanish War Service MedalArmy of Cuban Occupation MedalArmy of Puerto Rican Occupation MedalPhilippine Campaign MedalPhilippine Congressional MedalChina Campaign MedalCuban Pacification MedalNicaraguan Campaign MedalHaitian Campaign MedalDominican Campaign MedalMexican Service MedalMexican Border Service MedalTexas Cavalry MedalArmy of Occupation of Germany MedalNavy Expeditionary MedalMarine Corps Expeditionary MedalNC-4 MedalSecond Nicaraguan Campaign MedalYangtze Service MedalByrd Antarctic Expedition MedalSecond Byrd Antarctic Expedition MedalUnited States Antarctic Expedition MedalChina Service MedalAmerican Defense Service MedalWomen's Army Corps Service MedalAmerican Campaign MedalEuropean–African–Middle Eastern Campaign MedalAsiatic–Pacific Campaign MedalMedal for Humane ActionKorean Service MedalAntarctica Service MedalCoast Guard Arctic Service MedalArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalVietnam Service MedalSouthwest Asia Service MedalAir and Space Expeditionary Service RibbonKosovo Campaign MedalArmed Forces Service MedalHumanitarian Service MedalMilitary Outstanding Volunteer Service MedalAfghanistan Campaign MedalIraq Campaign MedalInherent Resolve Campaign MedalGlobal War on Terrorism Expeditionary MedalGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalKorea Defense Service MedalAir and Space Campaign MedalNuclear Deterrence Operations Service MedalRemote Combat Effects Campaign Medal