United States Antarctic Expedition Medal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Antarctica Service Medal | |
|---|---|
| Awarded by 79th United States Congress | |
| Type | Medal |
| Awarded for | service within territorial limits of Antarctica. |
| Status | Obsolete; replaced by Antarctica Service Medal |
| Statistics | |
| Established | September 24, 1945 |
| First awarded | January 1, 1939 |
| Last awarded | December 31, 1945 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | World War II Victory Medal |
| Next (lower) | Navy Occupation Service Medal |
| Related | Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal Antarctica Service Medal |
The United States Antarctic Expedition Medal is a combined military-civilian award that was authorized by the United States Congress on September 24, 1945 under Public Law 185 of the 79th Congress.[1] The decoration recognizes those United States citizens who participated in polar exploration on Antarctica between 1939 and 1945.
The first United States Antarctic Expedition Medal was presented to Admiral Richard E. Byrd. The medal was similar to the Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal, awarded for similar actions on the continent of Antarctica.
The United States Antarctic Expedition Medal was an authorized military decoration for wear on a United States military uniform. Shortly after its issuance, however, the medal became regarded as a commemorative decoration although it was typically worn on active duty uniforms. In 1960, the medal was declared obsolete following the creation of the Antarctica Service Medal.
