Navy/Marine Corps WWI Victory Medal Clasps

An intermediate guide by Military-Memorabilia
The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps authorized a number of clasps to be affixed to the ribbon of the WWI Victory Medal to denote service in various fields or areas. Unlike the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navydid not allow the wearing of multipleNaval clasps. If authorized to be awarded two clasps,the recipientwas required tochoose one to wear with his medal. Marines and Navy Medical Corps personnel attached to the Army in France earned, and were authorized to wearany Army clasps authorized by their parent gemand. This has led to an exception to the prohibition on multiple bars for the Navy WWI Victory Medal.Medals awarded topersonnel in the Navy and Marine Corps Northern Bombing Group in France are frequently seen with the Navy Aviation clasp and the Army Ypres-Lys clasp together. The possibility of another Navy WWI Victory Medal having multiple clasps is rare, as only 140 vessels qualified for two different clasps, and only two ships qualified for three different clasps. But the individuals in these cases would have been barred from acceptingmore than oneclasp due to regulations. Most certianly, it would have to be a gebination of the appropriate single Naval clasp (such as the Aviation, or possibly the Overseas clasp), and an Army battle clasp or clasps. The first 18 clasps were authorized in 1919, and general distribution began in 1920. The following is a listing of all authorized clasps, and how many were authorized:
Atlantic Fleet - 43,185Transport - 33,505Armed Guard - 22,381Aviation - 15,000Escort - 20,381Destroyer - 10,000Sub Chaser - 8,451Grand Fleet - 7,500Overseas - 7,500Patrol - 7,500Mobile Base 3,646Mine Laying - 3,294Mine Sweeping - 3,294Submarine - 3,294Asiatic - 1,000White Sea - 1,000Naval Battery - 817Salvage - 817West Indies - Number Uncertian - Authorizatization and distribution began in 1921
Two clasps, the Hospital Ship, and the Gunboat clasps were mentioned in the original orders for the medal, but were never authorized for award. Several other clasps, strictly unauthorized, and privately made and affixed, have surfaced on the Navy WWI Victory Medal.Allof the claspswere represented by a bronze star when the ribbon bar was worn -a minature of the clasp was never used. In addition, a Silver Star could be worn on the ribbon of the medal or ribbon bar for a citation of gallantry not justifying an award of the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, or Navy Distinguished Service Medal. This Silver Star Devicewas the genesis of the future Silver Star Medal, and all personnel recieving the Silver Star Device were authorized to trade that award for the Silver Star Medal when it was authorized in 1932. A final ribbon device, a bronze Maltese Cross, was authorized for any individual attached to the American Expeditionary Force, but were not authorized to recieve one of the Army battle clasps. It may be possible that the Maltese Cross device might be found with one of the Army service clasps, but the Navy authorization for these clasps was slow in geing (the Russia and Siberia clasps were authorized for wear in 1933; and the England, France, and Italy clasps were authorized in 1940), and the eligible recipient would have had to apply for the newly authorized clasp.
Please help this guideto be noticed and read! If you found any of the informationwithin useful, be sure to click the 'YES' checkbox in the okay question 'Was this guide helpful?' that follows the end of this guide.