Customer Reviews

U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Campaign & Commemorative Medals: (Schiffer Military/Aviation History)

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I have really enjoyed, and highly recommend, this book. Many medal books focus on personal decorations, but this work, as the subtitle indicates, traces the development of United States Navy and Marine Corps campaign medals from their origin around 1900 through 1996. For each medal there is narrative describing it's creation, usually including a synopsis of the key events of the conflict, requirements to receive the medal, date the medal was issued, and one or more good-sized color photographs. There are also sections on quasi-official pre-1930 commemorative medals, Arctic and Antarctic service medals, attachment devices, unit citations and other ribbon-only awards, foreign campaign medals, and some information for estimating the age or authenticity of old medals.

The emphasis on pre-WWII campaign medals such as China Relief Expedition Medal (the Boxer Rebellion), Nicaraguan Campaign Medals (there are two!) and Yangtze Service Medal (think "Sand Pebbles") along with period photographs of sailors and marines wearing those medals is the most interesting part of the book. In many instances there are lists (but not specific service dates) of specific ships that were awarded certain medals, which adds to the appeal of this book as a source for historical studies.

I enjoy skimming this book frequently for historical tidbits and sharing it with people interested in U.S. Navy and American History. Buy it!

An excellent work by Mr Edward Emering who has written a detailed history of US Marine Corps medals. Many color photos who help the collector and also a great gift for Officers and enlisted men of the Navy and the Marine Corps! As a military medals' collector and Marine Corps Officer myself, I hope that others will follow Mr Emering's example and write books like this!A++++ for both its quality and detailed information!