Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp

The Army of Occupation Medal is a military decoration of the United States military which was established by the United States War Department in 1946. The medal was created in the aftermath of the Germany or Japan. The original Army of Occupation Medal was intended only for members of the United States Army, but was expanded in 1948 to encompass the United States Air Force. The U.S. Navy and Marine equivalent of the Army of Occupation Medal was known as the Navy Occupation Service Medal.

To be awarded the Army of Occupation Medal, a service member was required to have performed at least thirty consecutive days of military duty within a designated geographical area of military occupation. The Army of Occupation Medal was presented with a campaign clasp, denoting either European or Asian service, depending on the region in which occupation service had been performed.

The following geographical regions qualified for one of two campaign clasps authorized to the Army of Occupation Medal.

Germany Clasp

• Germany (May 9, 1945 to May 5, 1955)
• Austria (May 9, 1945 to July 7, 1955)
• Italy (May 9, 1945 to September 15, 1947)
• West Berlin (May 9, 1945 to October 3, 1990)

Because of the legal status of West Berlin, as an occupied territory until the unification of Germany, the Army of Occupation Medal was issued for forty five years making it one of the longest active military awards of both the Second World War and the Cold War.

In addition, some recipients of the award were born two generations after the end of the conflict which the medal was designed the represent. Much like the National Defense Service Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal has come to be considered a "multi-generational" award.

Japan Clasp

• Japan (September 3, 1945 to April 27, 1952)
• Korea (September 3, 1945 to June 29, 1949)

Campaign clasps were worn on the full sized medal only with no corresponding device when wearing the Army of Occupation Medal as a ribbon on a military uniform. For those who performed occupation duty in West Berlin, during the Berlin Airlift, the Airlift Device was authorized for wear on both the medal and ribbon of the Army of Occupation Medal.

Although authorized in 1946, it was not until 1947 that the first Army of Occupation Medals were distributed. The first two medals were simultaneously presented to Dwight Eisenhower and Douglas MacArthur for their supreme command service in the European and Asiatic theaters. The Army of Occupation Medal was also authorized for posthumous presentation, with the first posthumous award granted in 1950 to the late General George S. Patton.

A similar decoration, known as the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal was authorized for occupation service during the First World War.