Overview

The World War II Victory Medal is a United States military service decoration created to recognize personnel who served during the Second World War. It was authorized by an Act of Congress on 6 July 1945 (Public Law 135, 79th Congress) and subsequently issued to members of the U.S. armed forces who performed active duty service during the designated wartime period.

Design and appearance

The medal is a circular bronze medallion accompanied by a distinctive multicolored "rainbow" ribbon. The obverse and reverse feature symbolic imagery and inscriptions that emphasize victory and the collective effort of the armed services. The ribbon commonly includes a central grouping of patriotic colors flanked by multiple bands that suggest the spectrum of allied cooperation.

Eligibility and distribution

Eligibility was broad: it covered members of the United States military who served on active duty during the World War II era. The authorized period of service used to determine entitlement is widely given as beginning on 7 December 1941 and extending through the immediate postwar demobilization. The medal was mass-issued at war's end and remains one of the most commonly held U.S. service awards from that conflict.

History and significance

Congress created the decoration while the war was still ongoing to provide a single recognition for all who contributed to the Allied victory. The medal complements more narrowly focused campaign and theater awards by recognizing overall wartime service rather than participation in a specific battle or campaign. For official details on its authorization see the original Act of Congress.

  • The World War II Victory Medal is distinct from theater and campaign medals such as the European-African-Middle Eastern and Asiatic-Pacific campaign medals, which acknowledge service in particular theaters.
  • Many Allied nations issued their own victory medals after the war; the U.S. version serves as the national recognition for general wartime service.