State and local service medals for all US campaigns

[mikes militaria]

Hello everyone, I thought I’d start a conversation about state and local medals from all of the US campaigns. I’m not going to address WW1 local medals because they are covered pretty well in other topics. I mostly collect WW1 medals but ran across a few WW2 medals. I hate to admit it, but more than one of my WW2 medals were mistaken for WW1 medals. When I got the medal in hand and read the fine print, I realized that there are local WW2 medals. They look very similar in design to the WW1 medals. It made me notice the other service medals from other wars. I don’t see a lot of information on the local medals. If anyone has any information or just want to add some pictures I’d appreciate any help on this one.

 

Pictured is a WW1 Barnstable Massachusetts service medal with a WW2 Barnstable service medal.

[mikes militaria]

This is a West Virginia Civil War service medal issued to George W. Sayers Co. E 10th Infantry Regiment Volunteers.

The Brooch says “Honorably Discharged”. I’ve seen another W Va medal with a “ Killed in Battle” brooch. 
 I’ve seen a few other Civil War Star medals but this is the only one I have. I haven’t researched George Sayers.
 

I’ve seen one Indian War State issued medal from Utah. It’s on eBay right now. 

[mikes militaria]

Span-Am State Medals

Top row left is Connecticut.  Top row center is Elyra, Ohio 1910 USWV Encampment medal.   Top row right is California. 
 

Center row left is Michigan.   Center row right is Wisconsin

 

Bottom row left is New York.   Bottom row center is New Jersey. It’s pretty heavy for a medal.  Bottom row right Missouri 

[mikes militaria]

Mexican Border Service.

 I’ve seen quite a few MBS medals over the years. This is a small example of MBS medals issued.

 

Top row left to right:

City of Roanoke, Va NG:  Borough of Brooklyn:  State of New York:  Federal Service #90:  State of Missouri NG:  

City of Boston, Massachusetts NG: City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin NG.

 

Center row:

Baltimore Maryland, 5th MD. Infantry Regiment USNG:  State of Nebraska NG: City of Louisville Ky. 1st Infantry Regiment KNG.

 

Bottom row:

State of Colorado NG. Blue Ribbon for Infantry:  Colorado NG Red Ribbon for artillery. I’m wondering if there is a Yellow ribbon for Cavalry. The planchette on the Colorado service medals are the same it seems. The brooch indicates the service the medal was issued for. The Colorado Span-Am medal is very distinct. The MBS medals are less ornate and uniform. I haven’t seen a Colorado WW1 medal but Jeff Floyd has two Colorado service medal on his site. One for Bosnia and one for “Noble Eagle”. The medals are a newer strike but the same design as the Colorado MBS medals. The newer ribbons have smaller red yellow and white stripes on the outside and a thicker blue stripe in the middle. I’m guessing a combination of the separate red , blue etc ribbons for the artillery, infantry etc used on the MBS medals. The distinction of service is determined by a device attached to the ribbon. Allowing the medals to be generic. The only difference is the device on the ribbon stating the service the medal was issued for. 
 

State of Iowa NG: State of Pennsylvania NG: State of Missouri NG: State of Ohio: State of Wisconsin NG.

[268th C.A.]

This was in a three medal group from a Missouri Veteran 1916 Border Service 

[mikes militaria]

It seems that WW1 was the pinnacle of local service medals. There is a lot of info on the forum about WW1 local medals.

 I’m skipping on to WW2 local medals. The few I have are very similar if not the same as the WW1 issued medals. I haven’t seen near as many WW2 local medals as I would have thought.  I can only speculate the reason but choose not to.

 

Top row left to right:

City of Leominster, Massachusetts:  Barnstable, Massachusetts: Kenosha County, Wisconsin.

 

Center: 

 Wayne County Pennsylvania: Lakewood New Jersey

 

Bottom :  Borough of Red Bank, New Jersey.

 

[mikes militaria]

I haven’t seen any local service medals anywhere for Korea. In my limited experience, that means little. If there are some out there, I haven’t seen them but would like to. 
 

Vietnam. I recently bought this from Jeff Floyd at the SOS. I really like this medal. 
Vietnam Service Medal from the state of New Jersey. The only Vietnam service medal I’ve ever seen. Again, I’m sure they’re out there. I just haven’t seen them. 

[mikes militaria]

New York State Service Medal for Operation Desert Storm.

 

 

That’s all I have. I’d like to thank 268th CA for his addition of his MBS medal. 
 The more information and examples the better.

[mikes militaria]

I went to the ASMIC Show in Canton, Ohio. There were some really great displays there. One display was state issued medals for Mexican Border Service. I didn’t get the displayers’ name. I’d like to give him credit. The pictures aren’t the best but it’s a reference of what was issued and what they look like.

[manayunkman]

I wish I had more to offer other than these are some very interesting medals and ribbons.