Ref Thread: Cuban Occupation Medal

[Garth Thompson]

The last official striking of the pre-WW2 US campaign medals all the way back to the Civil War was done some time in the 1950's. The medals were done by the US Mint, Medallic Arts Co. and, I think Rex Arts. They come in the same blue cardboard boxes the WW2 and later campaigns come in. They are struck medals with fine detail. They will be un-numbered with the earlier 1/2" wide flat crimp brooches. If a collector doesn't have the deeper pockets for numbered, attributed medals IMHO a very nice collection of quality official campaign medals.

Just for the record I don't consider that current GRACO junk worth owning.

Garth

 

For the pictures the earliest example will be on the viewer's right end the last official strike will be on the viewer's left.

 

 

US Army Cuban Occupation, from left to right 1950's strike, plain numbered contract strike and a No numbered 1st strike.

 

Reverse:

[Too Much WW1 Militaria]

The rim number on the Cuban is 5000 and the MBS is 17016. I have a really high numbered MBS, I'm debating whether to put this one on the ring/suspension of the other. 

 

 

[FrankEaton01]

Unfortunately, the Cuban Occupation is above the traceable range. MBSM #17016 was issued in April 1920 to H.H. Osborn of Washington, DC. Whitehead & Hoag was the manufacturer of the MBSM and used basically the same style wrap brooch found on WWI Victory Medals. If your higher numbered MBSM was made by Mayer or Northern Stamping, the brooch will be slightly different and incorrect for a W&H medal. If you're going to reribbon it, I'd recommend just using a VM brooch.

 

Issue rolls for many of the early Army campaign medals were published in the 1980s - 1990s by the Planchet Press, but I believe all are currently out-of-print.

[hink441]

I just recently obtained this Cuban occupation medal. Unfortunately it does not have the ribbon drape or brooch. This one is rim numbered "No. 4290". I did a quick search on the forum and found out these are traceable to only around number 4100.

 

I believe these traceable numbers are the result of the exhausting research done by Mr. Gleim. My question is why are the other medals above that number not traceable? Was the research incomplete, or was that the end of the paperwork trail? I was hoping some of the more knowledgable collectors might be able to help with my questions.

 

Thanks,

Chris

 

 

[JBFloyd]

Col Al Gleim haunted the Archives, tracking all of the known issue records for Army campaign medals. If it was in the Archives, Al found it. He knew more about the contents of the Archives than the archivists. So, the medals above the range of his medal rolls are not traceable through the issue records. It is certainly possible that an individual's personnel file might contain a medal that's not in the issue records, but Gleim was probably 99+% complete on what was available.

[derrbrad]

Picked this up locally. I know just enough about medals to be dangerous, but the price was cheap enough that I took a chance.  Numbers match from box to medal.

 

Like I said before, I don't know a lot about medals (other than ones that were issued to me) is it common to find them numbered with the numbered boxes and everything that was with them?

[KurtA]

None of these later contract (1930) Cuban Occ Medals with unprefixed medals are traceable. But, you picked up a really nice complete example.

[KurtA]

Cuban Occupation Medals that generate the most interest (and value) are those that have a traceable rim number ( a "No." prefix in front of the number) for an interesting battle and/or recipient. Untraceable medals primarily appeal to ":type" collectors:. A contract Cuban Occupation Medal is relatively common as far as campaign medals go, but yours is an example a type collector would want (and pay a premium for), as it has it all - condition, matching # box, lapel pin, extra ribbon bars.

[Javelin4life]

In addition to being this medals new caretaker, I am also honored to share with you the story of it's attributed recipient, Master Sergeant Theron Hayes Jackson.

 

Theron Hayes Jackson was Born on February 10th, 1878 in Polk County, North Carolina to David C. Jackson and Sarapta Jane Jackson. He had 3 siblings, John, David and Pearl. David was a sergeant in the army during WWI. Theron enlisted roughly between 1895-1896 when was 18-19 years old, standing 59 with auburn hair and blue eyes. During the Spanish American War, he was attached to the 69th Quartermaster Corps and rose to the rank of Master Sergeant. After serving his country, Theron was honorably discharged on April 15th, 1911 in Front Royal, Virginia at the end of his 5th enlistment.

 

After the war, he married his wife Ethel and had 3 children. In 1920, he and his family were living in Front Royal, Warren, Virginia where he worked as a Store keeper. In 1930, they moved to Washington DC. In 1940, Therons oldest son Hayes enlisted into service, and subsequently in 1942, Theron was issued what is known as an Old Mans Draft Card. At 78 years old, M/Sgt. Jackson passed away on August 3rd, 1956 and was interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

 

 

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[36-tex]

Medal #5131