Artifact Highlight: Medals
Posted by James Burke on October 11, 2024
Throughout the history of the United States Navy, leadership has bestowed awards and honors to sailors. These honors range from participating in a particular battle or completing an enlistment, to going above the call of duty. The Battleship Texas and her crew received accolades and awards throughout the service of the ship. Within Battleship Texas Foundation collections there are numerous awards conferred upon sailors throughout the fleet. Most medals’ origins either date back to the American Civil War, like certain conduct medals. Others were retroactively awarded through campaigns of the late nineteenth century. While many have a history as storied as the Navy itself, many are a much more recent invention. For example, the US Navy did not award campaign medals until 1908. Throughout the history of Battleship Texas, her crew took part in two world wars across several different campaigns and was recognized for their service to the nation. The medals in collection represent half a century of naval tradition in the United States.
The first medal in Battleship Texas Foundation collections is a Sampson Medal and does not actually belong to a crew member of Battleship Texas; at least not BB-35. The first USS Texas commissioned in 1895 and sailed in the Spanish-American War. The Sampson Medal was awarded to those who served under Rear Admiral William T. Sampson during the West Indies Campaign of the conflict. Each medal has a clasp at the top denoting which ship the recipient served on. This medal has a second clasp, marked “SANTIAGO” for the Battle of Santiago de Cuba on July 3, 1898. The naval engagement saw the US fleet of five battleships and two armored cruisers sink Spain’s fleet of four armored cruisers and two destroyers. Sailors received the Sampson Medal retroactively beginning in 1901. Despite the language on the face, the medal is not the official West Indies Campaign Medal, which was established with other Navy campaign medals in 1908, seven years after the Sampson Medal.
Another medal in collection belonged to John Lamson, a crew member onboard Battleship Texas during World War I. US Armed Forces awarded Victory Medals (referred to as World War I Victory Medals after 1945) to anyone who served from April 9, 1917, to November 11, 1918. Lamson’s medal has a clasp marked “GRAND FLEET” for service patrolling the North Sea with the British Grand Fleet. The medals are inscribed with names, rating, and ship on the rim. Another World War I medal is a New York World War Service Medal. Like the Victory Medal, this was meant to honor participation in World War I, though it was awarded at the state level. Washington, D.C. was the first to establish such an award in February 1919, with New York following a month later. When Battleship Texas arrived in Europe in February of 1918, dozens of men onboard came from the State of New York. Fourteen states created similar medals. Lamson’s home state of Massachusetts did not create a state service medal. Like many aboard ships during World War I, Lamson was in the reserves called up for service. At that time, there was no recognition for Naval Reservists.
In 1938, Secretary of the Navy, James Paulding established the Naval Reserve Faithful Service Medal. Recipients qualified for the medal after ten years in the US Navy Reserve. We have one example of this medal in collection. After 1958, the years served were credited towards the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. Other medals in collection are among the oldest naval traditions. The US Navy Good Conduct Medal was awarded to sailors who completed one enlistment. The Good Conduct Medals of William Hynes, Walter G. Germann and Charles Burkart are in collection. While they received their medals in 1925, 1943 and 1945 respectively, the design of the medal dates to 1885, and the medal itself to 1869.
The most abundant type of medal in Battleship Texas Foundation collections come from World War II. Despite not entering World War II when Germany invaded Poland, the US recognized the threat of Axis powers. The US Armed Forces awarded American Defense medals to military personnel who were active duty between September 8, 1939, and December 7, 1941. The American Defense Medal in collection has a clasp marked “FLEET” meaning the recipient was stationed on a ship. After the United States entered World War II, campaign medals took over as the primary means of awarding service. The American Campaign, European African Middle Eastern Campaign, and Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medals replaced the earlier defense variant. Lastly, there are several World War II Victory Medals in collection. The US Armed Forces awarded all service members who served from December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946. President Truman did not declare an end to hostilities until the last day of 1946, hence the late date for medal qualifications.
Sailors seldom wore the medals as they were awarded. Instead, they wore ribbon bars to display their honors. The practice dates to the mid-nineteenth century in Europe and made its way to the US during the first decade of the twentieth century around the same time US Armed Forces established official campaign medals. There are several in collection across the history of Battleship Texas. Two of the bars are examples of World War I era versions. The first has two medals, a New York World War Service Medal, and a police medal from stateside. The second ribbon bar also features the World War I Victory Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. The final ribbon bar is a World War II era version. The three medals correspond to the American Campaign, American Defense, and Naval Reserve Faithful Service Medal. Bronze Service Stars were awarded for participation in a specific campaign or assignment.
Battleship Texas Foundation’s oldest medal is over one hundred-twenty years old, and the youngest around eighty. Staff give particular care to more delicate accolades should clasps deteriorate or cloth fray. To ensure the preservation of the medals, bearers should wear nitrile gloves. Oils on the hands are especially damaging to bronze, and as mentioned, the cloth is prone to fraying. Covering of the medals is also essential. Light can and will damage the dyes, fabrics, and surface of the medallion. Improper archival placement without protective covering, could damage and fade the fabric. Stabilization is the goal when dealing with the majority of medals. Excessive polishing can damage medals just as much as improper storage.
There are several methods to storing and archiving medals. Battleship Texas Foundation chooses to wrap each medal in archival tissue paper, put in acid-free folder or envelope, and then into an archive box. In situations where medals are archived with other items in their collection, placing them in a partitioned items box can allow for safe storage. If concern is high, staff could store medals separate from the rest of the collection in smaller archival boxes. If stored in folders, tissue paper padding will protect the medal against other light items. The original boxes the medals are given in can work as temporary storage if stored flat. Additionally, while not employed for our collections, there are specialized books and boxes purpose-built for medal storage that could be employed in the future when our collection reaches a certain quantity.
Generous donors give new and interesting artifacts to Battleship Texas Foundation regularly. Medals recognize service and are a vital aspect to understanding the work done by the thousands of men who served onboard. The tradition predates either Texas and will continue long after. The Battleship Texas Foundation is actively collecting historic items, photographs, and documents related to Battleship Texas (BB-35), Battleship New York (BB-34), or the other commissioned ships named USS Texas (SSN-775, CGN-39, and the first USS Texas commissioned in 1895). If you have an item that makes you say, “It belongs in a museum!” please email us at [email protected] with photos and any relevant information. Our staff is working diligently to collect, accession, and archive historical items of the Last Dreadnought.
James Burke is a History PhD student at the University of Houston and has worked as curatorial staff with Battleship Texas since 2020.