United States of America


The United States of America (US, USA) is located in North America, bordered by Canada to the North and Mexico to the South. It is a federal republic composed of fifty states with a population of 325 million, spanning 3,800,000 square miles and nine time zones. The capital city is Washington, D.C, however, the most densely populated area is New York. The US is a highly developed nation, reaping the world’s largest economy by nominal GDP. The country has been active in roughly all notable world conflicts of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. The President holds the title of Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, and the Department of Defense administers the armed force (Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force). The country operates 865 bases and facilities around the world.

The United States gained independence from thirteen British Colonies in 1776. In appreciation for helping drive the British out of Boston, General George Washington was awarded the nation’s first medal. However, the first wearable award, known as the Badge for Military Merit was introduced by General Washington on August 7, 1782. This award was revived in 1932 and is now known as the Purple Heart, awarded to all soldiers wounded or killed in action against an enemy and to those who suffered as prisoners of war. The most prestigious decoration is the Medal of Honor, awarded in three separate categories - Army, Navy and Air Force.

In MedalBook, the United States is organized by National Awards, Badges and Insignia. You can explore the awards, or search for keywords to bring up your desired product.

Sources


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Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. “Medal, Air Medal, Gen. Claire Chennault.” Accessed on November 15, 2017. https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/medal-air-medal-gen-claire-chennault
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The Marine Corps Legacy Museum. “The Marine Corps Brevet Medal.” Accessed November 15, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20060506065755/http://www.mclm.com/gallery/brevet.html
The Medal Collector. “Awards and Decorations of the Central Intelligence Agency.” Accessed on December 15, 2017. http://themedalcollector.com/uploads/AWARDS~1.pdf
The Medal Collector. “The Congressional Texas Cavalry Brigades Medal.” Published in November, 1972. http://www.omsa.org/files/jomsa_arch/Full/1972/JOMSA_Vol23_11.pdf
The National Museum of American History. “Badge: Shipbuilding War Service.” Updated on April 18, 2017. http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1355085
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Uniform Ribbons. “Navy Cross.” Published on June 21, 2014. http://www.uniformribbons.com/navy-cross/
United States Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol. “Civil Air Patrol Uniform Manual.” National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol CAP Manual 39-1. Published June 24, 2014. https://www.capmembers.com/media/cms/M391_E6F33EAAEC28A.pdf
United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) Enlisted Heritage. “Defense Distinguished Service Medal.” Accessed November 20, 2017. http://usafeenlistedheritage.org/distinguished/decorated/criteria/?id=11
United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) Enlisted Heritage. “Defense Meritorious Service Medal.” Accessed November 20, 2017. http://usafeenlistedheritage.org/distinguished/decorated/criteria/?id=15
United States Antarctic Program. “Antarctica Service Medal.” Accessed on November 15, 2017. https://www.usap.gov/travelAndDeployment/contentHandler.cfm?id=510
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “The 10th Armored Division.” Accessed on January 2, 2018. https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10006147
United States of America Central Intelligence Agency. “Medals of the CIA.” Last updated on December 30, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20121013001622/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/additional-publications/the-work-of-a-nation/items-of-interest/medals-of-the-cia.html
United States of America Department of the Air Force. “The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program.” Published on December 18, 2013. http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afi36-2803/afi36-2803.pdf
United States of America Office of the Director of National Intelligence. “National Intelligence Awards Program.” Published on May 23, 2007.https://fas.org/irp/dni/icd/icd-655.pdf
U.S. Army Insignia. “Aviation Badges, Army Air Force.” Accessed on December 28, 2017. http://www.emersoninsignia.net/files/Download/AAFWings.pdf
U.S. Army Medical Department: Army Medical Department Regiment. “Certificate of Merit.” Published on January 14, 2014. http://ameddregiment.amedd.army.mil/certmerit.html
U.S. Department of Justice Washington, D.C. 20530. “The Attorney General’s 56th Annual Awards Ceremony: AG Award Program 2008 Copy.” Published on October 10, 2008. http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/files/ag_awardprogram_2008.pdf
U.S. Militaria Forum. “Certificate of Merit Medal No. 169.” Posted on June 18, 2017. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/291987-certificate-of-merit-medal-no-169/
U.S. Militaria Forum. “USMC Brevet Medal.” Posted on September 26, 2007. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/10508-usmc-brevet-medal/
US Military Ribbons and Medals. “Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.” Accessed November 25, 2017. https://www.mymilitarymedals.com/shop/product/590MM
Woodbury, Mark. “DCMA Civilian, Military Medals Process.” Defense Contact Management Agency. Published in 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20130303145016/http://www.dcma.mil/communicator/spring07/4_business_processes/DCMA_Comm_v07n01_pp58-pp61.pdf

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