Medal Cluster of Gerald Hennesy

Object/Artifact

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum

Name/Title

Description

Five medals arranged in order and sewn together by Gerald Hennesy to preserve as such, with two pin backings attached. Left to right: 1)US Naval Reserve Medal Bronze medal depicting an eagle with wings spread holding an anchor on top of a rock. Sun's rays appear behind it. The reverse has a single, small star at the bottom and reads 'United States Naval Reserve' and 'Faithful Service.' The ribbon was originally red (now maroon with age) with thin blue and yellow stripes along the outside border. 2)American Campaign Medal Bronze medal depicting a Navy cruiser and a B-24 Liberator bomber flying overhead. In the foreground is a sinking enemy submarine, and in the background is the skyline of a city and reads 'American Campaign.' The reverse depicts a bald eagle perched on a cliff and reads 'United States of America 1941 1945.' The ribbon is a light blue with a central set of vertical stripes of navy blue, red, and white, and with vertical stripes along either side of white, red, black, and white. 3)Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal Bronze medal depicting a tropical landing with a battleship, aircraft carrier, submarine and aircraft in the background with landing troops and palm trees in the foreground. The medal reads 'Asiatic Pacific Campaign.' The reverse depicts a bald eagle perched on a cliff and reads 'United States of America 1941 1945.' The ribbon is yellow with a central set of vertical stripes of navy blue, red, and white, and with vertical stripes along either side of white, red, and white. 4)Navy Occupation Service Medal Bronze medal depicts Neptune riding a Hippocampus and reads 'Occupation Service.' The reverse depicts a bald eagle perched on an anchor with holding a branch with leaves and reads 'United States Navy' and 'For Service.' The ribbon is vertical stripes of white, black, red, and white with a bronze plate attached that reads 'Europe.' 5)WWII Victory Medal Bronze medal depicts Lady Liberation standing full length with head turned 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 and reads 'World War II.' The reverse depicts a central palm branch and reads ' United States of America 1941 1945' and 'Freedom from fear and want' and 'Freedom of speech and religion.' The ribbon is red with vertical rainbow striping on either border.

Use

Left to right: 1)The US Naval Reserve Medal was awarded to any commissioned officer or enlisted member of United States Naval Reserve (USNR), the associated National Naval Volunteers, and local naval militia units between the medal's creation in September of 1938 and being discontinued in September of 1958. To be awarded, a service member was required to perform ten years of continuous service in one of the aforementioned components in either an active duty, drilling reservist, or inactive status. 2)The American Campaign Medal was awarded for service within the American Theater between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946. 3) The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was awarded any member of the United States Armed Forces who served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1945. 4)The Navy Occupation Service Medal was awarded to commemorate the service of Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel in the occupation of specific territories of the enemies of the United States during World War II and recognized personnel who participated in the European and Asian occupation forces during and following World War II. 5)The WWII Victory Medal was awarded for service between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946, both dates inclusive, with no minimum time in service requirement.

Context

As a F4U Corsair fighter-bomber pilot in the Pacific, Gerald Hennesy flew almost 100 missions off the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10). He received the Air Medal for downing an enemy aircraft during a rescue mission for one of his fellow pilots.

Collection

Gerald Hennesy Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2023.33

Source or Donor

Theresa Hennesy

Acquisition Method

Donation

Made/Created

Artist Information

Role

Designer

Date made

circa 1940

Embossed

Update Date

July 23, 2025