TracesOfWar needs your help! Every euro, pound or dollar you contribute greatly supports the continuation of this website. Go to stiwot.nl and donate!

World War Two Victory Medal

The World War Two Victory Medal was instituted by the US Congress July 6th, 1945, Public Law, 79th Congress in memory of any member of the American Armed Forces, including members of the Philippine Armed Forces who had been on active service or in reserve between December 7th, 1941 and December 31st, 1946.
Initially, the decoration was introduced as a ribbon and was named Victory Ribbon. In 1946 however, a medel was added as the World War Two Victory Medal.
The award consists of a bronze medal, 1,37" in diameter and was designed by Mr. Thomas M. Jones. The design was approved on February 5th, 1946. The obverse of the medal depicts the goddess of peace, Nike, looking at the rising sun and holding a broken sword, representing the broken power of the Axis nations.
Beneath her right foot, the helmet of he god Ajax is depicted, representing the end of hostilies. Behind her is the rising sun, representing the coming of peace. Next to her, the text World War II is engraved.
The reverse of the medal shows the Four Freedom lines: "Freedom from Fear and Want" and "Freedom of Speeech and Religion", as declared by President Roosevelt and separated by a palm branch. Around it, the text "United States of America" and the yesr "1941-1945" are engraved.
The ribbon, 1,37" in width shows a multi colored rainbow on each side, 0,35" in width, derived from the Allied World War I Victory Medal. The inner band in red represents the spilled blood of the soldiers. The narrow white bands between the red band and the rainbow symbolize the rays of hope.
For military units, a banner was instituted which is in use by the US Navy and the US Marine Corps only.
Formally, no period of time has been fixed during which military personell must have served to become eligible for the award. As President Truman had declared that hostilities had ended on December 31st, 1946, it is possible for soldiers to have received the award without having participated in any hostility or even having entered service after May 8th, 1945.

Abbey, Philip David* October 18th, 1923
† June 9th, 1944
Plot: F Row: 17 Grave: 9

more
Grid List
NameDate of birthDate of deathAwards
Gabaldon, Guy Louis22-03-192631-08-2006
Gable, William Clark01-02-190116-11-1960more
Gabreski, Francis Stanley "Gabby"28-01-191931-01-2002more
Gagnon, Rene Arthur07-03-192512-10-1979
Gahagan, Joseph Eugene29-05-192523-06-1984
Gaido, Bruno Peter00-00-191615-06-1942
Galer, Robert Edward23-10-191327-06-2005more
Gallery, Philip Daly17-10-190729-11-1973more
Ganzberger, Stephen25-08-192420-05-2011more
Garman, Harold Alva26-02-191813-08-1992
Gary, Donald Arthur23-07-190309-04-1977
Gavin, James Maurice22-03-190723-02-1990more
Gehres, Leslie Edward23-09-189815-05-1975more
Geidel, Merlin E.21-06-191904-10-2014
Geiger, Roy Stanley "Jiggs"25-01-188523-01-1947more
Geller, Herbert Seemore00-00-192319-03-1945
George, Harold Huston "Pursuit"14-09-189229-04-1942more
George, Harold Lee19-07-189324-02-1986more
Geppert, William01-03-191817-09-2014
Gerhardt, Charles Hunter "Uncle Charlie" (General)06-06-189509-10-1976more
Gerow, Leonard Townsend13-07-188812-10-1972more
Gerstung, Robert E.06-08-191517-06-1979
Gettys, Richard Oliver "Dick"15-02-192013-01-1991
Gibson, Donald Clay04-05-191307-01-1998more
Giglio, Pasquale John19-07-1921 
Giles, Barney McKinney13-09-189206-05-1984more
Giles, Grant30-05-192219-08-2001more
Gilliland, Fred Spencer28-03-191800-08-1986
Gilmore, Howard Walter29-09-190207-02-1943more
Ginsburg, Edward Merrill 00-00-1979more
Gitlin, Sydney17-08-1923 more
Givens, Warren L.18-11-192407-08-1942more
Gladding, Leon David01-11-1908 more
Glassford, William Alexander Jr.06-06-188630-07-1958more
Globokar, Raymond (USN)20-06-192222-08-1945more
Goggins, William Bernard10-09-189827-12-1985more
Gonsalves, Charles Harold28-01-192615-04-1945
Gonzales, David M.09-06-192325-04-1945more
Gonzales, Pablo  
González, César Luis10-06-191922-11-1943
Goode, Alexander D.10-05-191103-02-1943
Gordon, Nathan Green04-09-191608-09-2008more
Gould, William James14-07-192408-08-1944
Grabiarz, William J.25-03-192523-02-1945more
Grant, Charles E. "Chuck"00-00-192200-00-1984
Gray, Ross Franklin01-08-192027-02-1945
Green, William E. 04-02-1944more
Green, William E.28-10-192025-11-2002more
Greenman, William Garrett26-08-188806-02-1956more
Greenwell, John "Jack"25-09-192208-01-2011
Greeson, Francis V.  
Grider, George William "Gindy"01-10-191220-03-1991more
Griffin, Robert Glaye21-02-192408-01-2008
Griffith, Bennie Willis, Jr.00-00-192100-00-1988more
Griggs, Gale E.06-11-190404-11-1973more
Guarnere, William J. "Wild Bill"28-04-192208-03-2014more
Guidry, Arnold J.  
Gularek, Francis M.14-04-192227-08-1999more
Gurke, Henry06-11-192209-11-1943
Gyorfi, Albert John28-02-191914-06-1942

Sources