European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal

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The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was first created on November 6, 1942 by Executive Order 9265 issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The decoration was intended to recognize those military service members who had performed military duty in the European Theater (to include North Africa and the Middle East) during the years of the Second World War. Colored bands representing Germany (on the ribbon's right side), Italy (on the ribbon's left side), and the United States (in the center of the ribbon) are visible in the ribbon. The brown and green areas of the ribbon represent the terrain of the area of conflict, which ranged from beaches and sand, to grass and woodlands, to mountains.

Originally known as the “EAME Ribbon”, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is awarded for any service performed between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946 provided such service was performed in the geographical theater areas of Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East. For those service members who participated in multiple battle campaigns, service stars are authorized to the decoration with the arrowhead device awarded for any airborne or amphibious operations performed. The Fleet Marine Force combat operation insignia is also authorized for certain sailors.

The following campaigns are recognized by service stars to the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

• Egypt-Libya: 11 Jun 42 - 12 Feb 43
• Air Offensive, Europe: 4 Jul 42 - 5 Jun 44
• Algeria-French Morocco: 8-11 Nov 42
• Tunisia: 12 Nov 42 - 13 May 43
• Sicily: 14 May 43 - 17 Aug 43
• Naples-Foggia: 18 Aug 43 - 21 Jan 44
• Anzio: 22 Jan 44 - 24 May 44
• Rome-Arno: 22 Jan 44 - 9 Sep 44
• Normandy: 6 Jun 44 - 24 Jul 44
• Northern France: 25 Jul 44 - 14 Sep 44
• Southern France: 15 Aug 44 - 14 Sep 44
• Northern Apennines: 10 Sep 44 - 4 Apr 45
• Rhineland: 15 Sep 44 - 21 Mar 45
• Ardennes-Alsace: 16 Dec 44 - 25 Jan 45
• Central Europe: 22 Mar 45 - 11 May 45
• Po Valley: 5 Apr 45 - 8 May 45

For those service members who did not participate in a designated battle campaign, the following "blanket campaigns" are authorized to the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, denoted by service stars

• Antisubmarine: 7 Dec 41 - 2 Sep 45
• Ground Combat: 7 Dec 41 - 2 Sep 45
• Air Combat: 7 Dec 41 - 2 Sep 45

The Pacific Theater counterpart to the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded as a ribbon throughout the entire Second World War and it was not until 1947 that a full sized medal was authorized. The first recipient of the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was General of the Army Dwight Eisenhower who was presented the decoration in recognition of his service as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force during World War II.