Medals from the
Spanish American War
Medals, awards, and decorations from the Spanish-American War, fought in 1898 between the United States and Spain.
The Spanish-American War, fought in 1898, lasted about four months and marked the end of Spain’s colonial empire in the Americas. The war transformed the United States into a global power with overseas territories. It also ended more than 300 years of Spanish colonial rule in much of the Americas and set the stage for greater U.S. involvement in international affairs. If you want to see all the medals associated with the Spanish-American War, the best resource is the Centennial Website, one of the web’s most comprehensive resources on the Spanish–American War.
Main Medals & Awards from the
Spanish-American War
The Spanish-American War inspired the creation of several military medals and commemorative decorations. These awards recognized bravery, campaign service, naval victories, and membership in veterans’ organizations. Unlike later conflicts, many of the medals associated with the war were authorised several years after the fighting ended, while others were privately commissioned or issued by state governments and veterans’ groups. According to the Spanish-American War Centennial Website, hundreds of different medals and commemorative pieces were produced, although only a selection of the best-known examples survive today.
Official U.S. Campaign Medals
These were official United States military decorations awarded for service in a specific campaign or theatre of operations. The Official U.S. Campaign Medals form the core of the military decorations associated with the Spanish–American War and its immediate aftermath.
These medals were authorized by the War Department (for the Army) or the Navy Department (for the Navy and Marine Corps) to recognize service in a specific campaign, military operation, or theatre of war. Most of these medals were created several years after the conflict. As the United States developed a more formal military awards system in the early twentieth century, Congress and the military departments recognized that veterans of the Spanish–American War deserved campaign medals comparable to those awarded for later conflicts. Consequently, most were established between 1905 and 1919, despite commemorating service performed between 1898 and 1904.
The U.S. Navy Spanish Campaign Medal
This U.S. medal was awarded to sailors and Marines who served aboard vessels operating during the Spanish–American War.
The U.S. Army Spanish Campaign Medal
The Spanish War Service Medal was authorized in 1918 for Army personnel who served during the Spanish-American War.
The U.S. Marine Corps Spanish Campaign Medal
This U.S. medal was awarded to sailors and Marines who served aboard vessels operating during the Spanish–American War.
The Spanish War Service Military Medal
This medal was established in 1918 to recognize members of the U.S. Army who served but did not qualify for the Spanish Campaign Medal.
The U.S. Navy Philippine Campaign Medal
This campaign medal commemorates service during the Philippine–American War (1899–1902) and the subsequent pacification campaigns.
The Army of Cuban Occupation Medal
This medal was established in 1915 for soldiers who served with the American occupation forces in Cuba after the Spanish–American War.
The Army of Occupation Medal for Puerto Rico
This medal was established in 1919 for soldiers who performed occupation duty in Puerto Rico after the Spanish–American War.
The principal official campaign medals include:
- Army Spanish Campaign Medal: Awarded for service in Cuba, Puerto Rico, or the Philippine Islands during the Spanish–American War.
- Navy Spanish Campaign Medal: Awarded to sailors and Marines who served aboard designated vessels participating in operations against Spain.
- Marine Corps Spanish Campaign Medal: Issued under separate Marine Corps authority but sharing the same design and eligibility as the Navy medal.
- Army Philippine Campaign Medal: Recognized Army service during the Philippine–American War and subsequent pacification campaigns.
- Navy Philippine Campaign Medal: Awarded to Navy and Marine Corps personnel serving in Philippine waters between 1899 and 1904.
- Army of Cuban Occupation Medal: Recognized occupation duty in Cuba after the end of hostilities, from 1898 to 1902.
- Army of Puerto Rican Occupation Medal: Awarded for occupation service in Puerto Rico following the armistice in 1898.
- Spanish War Service Medal – Presented to Army personnel who served on active duty during the Spanish–American War but did not qualify for an overseas campaign medal.
Battle and Fleet Medals / Volunteer and Veterans' Association Medals
Battle and Fleet medals recognized participation in a particular battle or naval operation rather than an entire campaign. Volunteer and Veteran’s Association medals were not official government decorations but membership badges or commemorative medals issued by, for example, veterans’ organizations.
The Sampson Medal
The Sampson Medal is a commemorative medal of the United States Navy for operations in the waters of the West Indies and Cuba.
The Dewey Medal
The Dewey Medal is a military decoration of the United States Navy established by the United States Congress during the Spanish–American War.
The United Spanish War Veterans Medal
The USWV Membership Medal was not an official U.S. military decoration, but rather the membership badge of the United Spanish War Veterans,
The U.S.S. Brooklyn Medal
The U.S.S. Brooklyn Medal was a privately issued commemorative medal presented by the citizens of Brooklyn, New York, to sailors and Marines.
Other Spanish-American War Medals
State and Unit Commemorative Medals: Issued by individual states, cities, or military units to honor local volunteers. Examples include State volunteer medals, National Guard medals, Regimental reunion medals, and Civic presentation medals. These were privately or state-issued rather than federal awards.
Foreign Awards: Medals issued by nations involved in the conflict. Spanish examples: Cuban Campaign Medals, Philippine Campaign Medals, Santiago/Cavite Medal, and Military Merit decorations. Cuban examples: Cuban Liberator Medal and Veterans of the Spanish–American War Medal.
