1946 - USA WW II Victory Medal - unnamed and unattributed (CGG members served in the USA Army during WW2)

Object/Artifact

Musée Canadian Grenadier Guards Museum

Name/Title

Description

The World War II Victory Medal is a service medal of the United States military which was established by an Act of Congress on 6 July 1945 (Public Law 135, 79th Congress). Although no Active WW2 CASF or 22nd CAR (CGG) CGG soldiers were awarded this Medal, there were many Canadians who served with US Forces during WW2 and several US Citizens that joined CGG at the outbreak of the Second World War. CGG Recipients may have been awarded or eligible for the award including: Colonel Carlton 'Carlos' Merrill Lawrence (Recipient) - He was Commander of 173rd Battalion 43rd US Infantry Division Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Pope Gilday, DSO (Non-Recipient) - Although not awarded this medal, LCol Gilday, DSO served alongside US Forces as part of 3rd Regiment FSSF Lt. Paul Gatien Laporte (Non-Recipient) - Although not awarded this medal, Lieutenant Laporte served alongside US Forces as part of 3rd Regiment FSSF **** Further Research is required to determine actual numbers of US Citizens that joined CGG or how many 2nd Reserve Battalion CGG members entered the US Military during WW2. *** CGG / USA CONNECTIONS: Some interesting connections between the USA and CGG during WW2 include the use of US Vehicles such as the M1A1 Sherman Tank, and the US Jeep (640,000 build for WW2), receiving USA air support, and being overall commanded by a US General (Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force General Dwight D. Eisenhower). Date: Issued in 1946 Obverse: A figure of Liberation standing full length with head turned to dexter looking to the dawn of a new day, right foot resting on a war god's helmet with the hilt of a broken sword in the right hand and the broken blade in the left hand, the inscription WORLD WAR II placed immediately below the center. Reverse: Inscriptions for the Four Freedoms: FREEDOM FROM FEAR AND WANT and FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND RELIGION separated by a palm branch, all within a circle composed of the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1941 1945. Measurements: 1 1/2 inches x 3/8 inch Material: Bronze The medal was designed by Thomas H. Jones and approved by the Secretary of War on 5 February 1946. Consequently, it did not transition from a ribbon to a full medal until after World War II had ended. The World War II Victory Medal was first issued as a service ribbon, referred to as the “Victory Ribbon.” CRITERIA: The World War II Victory Medal was awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946, both dates inclusive, with no minimum time in service requirement. The reason for this late date is that President Harry S. Truman did not declare an official end to hostilities until the last day of 1946. As every member of the United States Armed Forces who served from 7 December 1941 to 31 December 1946 was eligible for the medal, there were over twelve million eligible recipients, making the World War II Victory Medal the second most widely awarded military award of the United States, after the National Defense Service Medal.

Created By

Bertille L. Hurel

Create Date

July 14, 2022

Updated By

Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.

Update Date

October 27, 2024