Which States & Towns Issued WW1 Service Medals?

[BILL THE PATCH]

Here's my one and only ww1 Fulton county NY medal in original box. Came with the service number on pink slip of paper and is the father of an AAF aerial gunner. I have his group and this was in it. Can anyone tell me by the service number what outfit he was in ? His last name should be Miller.

[mikes militaria]

Everforward,  I have definitely opened a can of worms with this interest. I started with VA medals and have really gotten carried away. I have more states to post. I’m narrowing it down to the more rare medals. There are a couple states that issued minimal local medals. It’s an ongoing learning process. 
 

There are two VA medals I would like to find, that I know of, Goochland County issued 365. It’s not unreasonable to possibly find one. The other listed in Small’s book is Fleetwood. I googled Fleetwood and found two different farms. There is no info in Small’s book about the Fleetwood medal except that one existed. There is another book by Boyce ,that I don’t have, that may have more info on VA medals. Mike

[mikes militaria]

Hey Bill the Patch,  

I haven’t researched anyone, but I might suggest the Unit and Individual research forum. You may get more attention to your question or someone that could give you more information on finding what you’re looking for.

[BILL THE PATCH]

1 minute ago, mikes militaria said:

Hey Bill the Patch,  

I haven’t researched anyone, but I might suggest the Unit and Individual research forum. You may get more attention to your question or someone that could give you more information on finding what you’re looking for.

Oh yes I know that, I'm just being lazy. Sometimes I'm just not in the mood to start thread

[bertmedals]

1 hour ago, mikes militaria said:

Everforward,  I have definitely opened a can of worms with this interest. I started with VA medals and have really gotten carried away. I have more states to post. I’m narrowing it down to the more rare medals. There are a couple states that issued minimal local medals. It’s an ongoing learning process. 
 

There are two VA medals I would like to find, that I know of, Goochland County issued 365. It’s not unreasonable to possibly find one. The other listed in Small’s book is Fleetwood. I googled Fleetwood and found two different farms. There is no info in Small’s book about the Fleetwood medal except that one existed. There is another book by Boyce ,that I don’t have, that may have more info on VA medals. Mike

Mike, Everforward, et al.,

I'll jump in here on the WW1 Virginia medals.  I use Richard Planck's book as my guide because I think it is the most comprehensive and then work in Louis Small's book to fill in the gaps.  I think I have a near complete collection of the Virginia medals as shown in the picture below.  Based on Planck's book I'm missing only the Virginia Sons of the American Revolution medal.  There are also a couple I would like another example of so I can display them front and back which I like to do in my displays.  I also include the organization medals including the service medal for the Richmond Howitzers which served in WW1 as Battery A, 111th FA, 29th Division.  For good measure I have included 2 examples of the 29th Division WW1 medal which is not technically a Virginia medal per se since the division included National Guard units from Maryland, New Jersery, Delaware, and DC as well as Virginia.  I, too, have seen references to several other Virginia medals including Fleetwood, but have not seen any corroborating evidence of their existence.  I would certainly like to see any others that Forum members may have in their collection.

 

If the labels in the picture are not legible please speak up and I'll post a list.

Dennis

 

[mikes militaria]

Here are some interesting medals from the northern and western states.

 

  Top row:

     Garfield Co. Colorado,    La Plata Co. CO.,     Saginaw Co. Michigan,     Goodhue Co. Minnesota,

              383                                462                               4,132                               1,269

 

     Austin- Mower Co. MN.,     Fresno Co. California,    City of San Francisco CA.     Valley City North Dakota

              425                                         5,305                                 20,875                                  193

 

  Second row:

      Seattle WA., Nat’l Army,     Iona MI., Welcome Home,     Cass Co. MI.,     McLeod Co. MN at Hutchinson

               N/A                                   286                                           840                        842

 

      City of Long Beach CA.,      Box elders Co. Utah,     City of Council Bluffs Iowa,

                 2,290                                          N/A                                   1,490 

 

      Jefferson Co. Idaho, Welcome Home,     Cascade Co. Montana

                     388                                                          1,601

 

    Third row:

        City of Zeeland MI,      Copper Country MI,     Tuscola Co. MI,     Moorhead MN,     Wyandotte MI, overlapping >

                  94                                    N/A                          1,373                      236                         571

 

      < Iron Co. Wisconsin, Welcome Home,    Washington Co. IA.,      Grundy Co. IA.,    Red Willow Co. Nebraska

                                    N/A                                                841                          594                         471

 

    Fourth row:

           Green Bay  WI. “Called to the Colors”,      City of Green Bay WI.     Sauk Co. WI.,     Fond Du Lac Co. WI.,

                      N/A                                                                 1,278                         1,341                     2,312

 

           Trempealeau Co. WI.,      City of Beaver Dam WI.,    City of Racine WI.,

                     1,009                                    329                                  2,414

 

          The City of Zeeland MI is displayed over the Seattle Nat’l Army medal/ ribbon. See pictures.

 

        

[mikes militaria]

            Orange County California table medal next to San Francisco medal.

[mikes militaria]

Hi Dennis,
Thank you for posting your VA medals. I had no idea a York Co medal existed, and your Goochland Co medal. Gives me hope that maybe I’ll find one. There are two medals under the Richmond medals. If I had to guess I’d say they are the reverse of the Richmond medals but I can’t tell.

 

  Again, thank you for your pictures and information, Mike 

[mikes militaria]

Some southern medals:

 

     Top row:

         Virginia Jr OUAM. Order of United American Mechanics,   Boncombe Co. N.C.,     Calhoun Co. Alabama,

                    N/A                                                                                          2,643.                           1,970

 

          City of Mobile AL.,    Anne Arundel Co. MD.,    Oldham Co. KY.,     City of Louisville KY. 138th F/A

                  2,504                           2,327                                317                              9,677

 

      Second row:

           City of Richmond VA.     City of Winchester & Frederick Co. VA.    City of Washington D.C. 

                     7,072                                                 797                                                18,016

       
          Texas Calvary,      Greenville S.C.

                       N/A                          3,646

 

      Third row:

             City of Parkersburg W. VA.,     Blue field W. VA.,    Martinsburg & Berkeley Co. W. VA.

                          826                                     627                                        1,011

   
             City of Chattanooga & Hamilton Co. TN.,         City of Nashville TN.

                           4,777                                                                  4,876

                                                                                                                                                               

[bertmedals]

30 minutes ago, mikes militaria said:

Hi Dennis,
Thank you for posting your VA medals. I had no idea a York Co medal existed, and your Goochland Co medal. Gives me hope that maybe I’ll find one. There are two medals under the Richmond medals. If I had to guess I’d say they are the reverse of the Richmond medals but I can’t tell.

 

  Again, thank you for your pictures and information, Mike 

My pleasure.  What I have labeled "York County" is frequently, in my opinion, misidentified as "Messick, VA".  The medal was presented by the "Women's Service League of Messick" but from my research, was presented to York County veterans. This was not an unusual occurance.  For example, there was recently an interesting post on the Forum about the Bethlehem, PA medal.  That medal was presented to all Bethlehem, PA vererans by the "Go Eddie Tobacco Fund".  A number of private and public organizations did this, usually soliciting funds for the medals then awarding them on behalf of the town, county, etc.  Messick is not actually a town in VA but is probably more accurately identified as a "populated place".  You can find some interesting information online on its status and history under Poquoson, VA.  There are a lot of dots to connect.

 

I have 5 Richmond medals in the case.  They are the 5 to the left of the Goochland County, and Frederick County and Winchester medals.  Three of the 5 are named including the one with the suspension rings cut off.

 

In my experience, putting together "complete" state collections of these medals takes persistence, impeccable timing, and a heck of a lot of luck.

 

DD

[everforward]

Here is one I have that is near and dear to my heart, the Winchester/Frederick Co. Va. Medal, mint and unissued……I also have one from Harrisonburg in the same condition.

[bertmedals]

11 hours ago, everforward said:

Here is one I have that is near and dear to my heart, the Winchester/Frederick Co. Va. Medal, mint and unissued……I also have one from Harrisonburg in the same condition.

Very nice examples of those 2 medals.

[mikes militaria]

      New Jersey Medals:

 

   Top row:

       City of Bayonne,    Township of North Bergen,    Irvington,    Paterson,     City of Long Branch

              3,162                              962                                1,050          5,598                   557

 

       City of Burlington,       City of Perth Amboy

                 373                               1,718

 

 

   Second row:

       City of Rahway,    Middletown,      Town of Belvidere,     Hackensack,    State of N.J. WAR SVC.

               455                      244                         74                            728                     130,024

 

       Somerville,     City of Elizabeth,     Madison,     Town of West Orange

            277                      3,946                   228                     641

 

 

   Third row:

         Borough of Washington,     Montclair,     Rutherford,      County of Sussex,     Town of Union,

                    138                                 1,187                391                       1,026                       851

 

         South River,       Town of Kearney

              272                       1,101

 

     

 

 

   

       

[mikes militaria]

               Ohio:

 

  Top row:

      Alliance,     Allen Co.,     Niles,     North Cincinnati,     Massillon Co.,     Seneca Co.,    Canton

         890            2,811           539                N/A                         718                     1,779            3,588

 

 

   Second row:

 

       Elyria,     Youngstown, Presented by the Slovaks of the Mahoning Valley,     Mahoning  Co.

        844               N/A                                                                                                        7,675

 

       Salem,     East Liverpool

        424               882

 

 

   Third row:

        Cincinnati Home Guard,

                     N/A

  

   Fourth row:

        Greene Co.,     Norwood,     Lohrain,      Miamisburg,      Guernsey Co.

             1,286              1,028             N/A                126                     1,869

[mikes militaria]

       Connecticut:

 

   Top row:

       Town of Enfield,     CT State War Svc,     Town of Stratford,    City of Meridan,    Stafford,

              483                           56,881                          508                          1,432                 223

        

       Broad Brook,      Town of Windsor

             N/A                         231

 

    
    Second row:

          City of New Britain,      Town of West Hartford,     Town of Manchester,     City of Stamford,

                     2,443                                   17                                        757                          1,651

 

          Town of Vernon & City of Rockville,      Town of Berlin,       Winsted, Winchester

                                   367                                          132                               371

 

    Third row: 

          Town of Windham,       City of New Haven,       Town of Suffield,       Town of East Hartford,

                   569                                 6,696                             168                                 480

 

          Town of Putnam,      City of Shelton,     Town of Seymour

                   346                           390                          279

[mikes militaria]

     Mid Western States:  Kansas, Missouri, Indiana and Illinois 

 

    Top row:

       Goshen Co. Indiana,    Lincoln Co. Kansas,     Ottawa KS.,   Independence KS.,    Miami Co. KS.,     
                    392                              406                          372                      491                         816

 

       Webster Co. Missouri,     St Joseph & Buchanan Co. MO.,     Jewel Co. KS.,     St Louis MO.

                      684                                          3,859                                    669                12th Railway Engineers.

                                                                                                                                                   N/A

    Second row:

        Shawnee Co. KS.,      City of Salina KS.,      Pittsburgh KS.,     Delaware Co. IN.,    Henry Co. IN.,

                2,905                            622                            744                         2,179                      1,383

   
        Cloud Co. KS.,     Republic Co. KS.,    River Valley Cities Illinois

               730                        653                                  N/A

    Third row:

        City of Logansport & Cass Co IN.     Elkhart IN.     La Port Co. IN.,     St Joseph Co. IN., 

                     1,654                                           2,275              2,148                        4,954

       Dearborn Co. IN.,     Clay Co. MO.,    Chariton Co. MO.     Kansas City MO.,     Lake Forest IL.

              968                          843                       897                          13,366                      151

 

     Fourth row:

        Du Page Co. IL.,    Henry Co. & Cambridge IL.,    Ogle Co. IL.,     Champaign Co. IL.,     Tazewell Co. IL.,

             1,753.                                 1,861                             1,105                      2,346                         1,587

 

       Cook Co. Proviso & Forest Townships IL.,    Will Co. IL.,     Douglas Co IL.,   Melrose Park Village Cook Co. IL.

                                 179                                             3,827                  808                                294

 

[bertmedals]

4 hours ago, mikes militaria said:

               Ohio:

 

  Top row:

      Alliance,     Allen Co.,     Niles,     North Cincinnati,     Massillon Co.,     Seneca Co.,    Canton

         890            2,811           539                N/A                         718                     1,779            3,588

 

 

   Second row:

 

       Elyria,     Youngstown, Presented by the Slovaks of the Mahoning Valley,     Mahoning  Co.

        844               N/A                                                                                                        7,675

 

       Salem,     East Liverpool

        424               882

 

 

   Third row:

        Cincinnati Home Guard,

                     N/A

  

   Fourth row:

        Greene Co.,     Norwood,     Lohrain,      Miamisburg,      Guernsey Co.

             1,286              1,028             N/A                126                     1,869

Love seeing those Ohio medals! 

[Primoris Scio]

Were there any medals from Louisiana?  

[bertmedals]

3 hours ago, Primoris Scio said:

Were there any medals from Louisiana?  

The only one I have seen and is in the references is for the Ninth Ward of New Orleans.  Would love to see pictures of any others Forum members may have or be aware of.

 

Photos are obverse ad reverse of the Ninth Ward medal in my collection.

 

Dennis

 

[Primoris Scio]

2 hours ago, bertmedals said:

The only one I have seen and is in the references is for the Ninth Ward of New Orleans.  Would love to see pictures of any others Forum members may have or be aware of.

That looks great, do you know what the original ribbon was?

 

I doubt there is one made for DeSoto Parish.

[bertmedals]

26 minutes ago, Primoris Scio said:

That looks great, do you know what the original ribbon was?

 

I doubt there is one made for DeSoto Parish.

The medal is listed in Richard Planck's book.  He does not identify the type of ribbon it had, or even if it had a ribbon.  Some county and town medals were intended to be used as watch fobs and were not presented with a ribbon.  Perhaps someone else on the Forum knows the answer.

 

Previously unknown county and town medals still show occaisionally.  Perhaps more will come out of the woodwork for Louisiana.

Dennis

[bertmedals]

I should also have mentioned that the obverse of the Ninth Ward New Orleans medal depicts the Victory Arch in the Ninth Ward which is considered to be the first permanent memorial to Americans who served in WW1.  It still stands in Macarty Square in New Orleans.

 

[bertmedals]

One more thing... (LOL),

Newport News, VA did the same thing, dipicting their Victory Arch on their medal. That arch still stands, too.  Pictures of the Newport News medal and the arch are below.

 

 

[Hermanus]

Apart from the extensive array of beautifull medals, this topic is full of new information.

 

Thanks for the education.  😊

 

Regards

Herman  

[mikes militaria]

Great info Dennis