Images(2)

Medal, Commemorative

Object number2007.178.20

Datec. 1945

MediumBronze; nylon ribbon

Credit LineGift of Joe Davis

DescriptionEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign medal. Ribbon: vertical stripes of brown, green, white, red, blue, and black. Circular bronze medal attached via loop at bottom of ribbon. Medal: at top is war campaign name; embossed images of naval ship, ocean, airplane in background, troops with guns. On back: embossed image of eagle on a pedestal; on right side is country name and on left side is year range. Straight pin on back of ribbon.Dimensions1.375 x 2.75 in. (3.5 x 7 cm)
InscriptionsMedal: at top, "EUROPEAN / AFRICAN MIDDLE / EASTERN CAMPAIGN".

On back: on right side, "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA"; on left side, "1941 / 1945".
Historical NotesArnold Herbert Smith served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Arnold Herbert Smith was a Pittsburgh police officer before spending twelve years with the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Police Force. Arnold Herbert Smith, Sr., was born on October 11, 1923, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Schenley High School in 1942, and quickly enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving in the Pacific Theater. Three years later he married Mattie Lesesne; four children were born to this marriage. Years after his divorce to Mattie, he married Estella Pennington, with whom he had one son. Smith worked as a steelworker before joining the Pittsburgh Police Force in 1974; he eventually worked for the Housing Authority before retiring in 1986. Smith was also active in organizations, being a 32nd Degree Mason, a Shriner, and a member of both the Veterans of Foreign Affairs and the Fraternal Order of Police. He died September 19, 1999. The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was first created in 1942 by Executive Order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The decoration was intended to recognize those military service members who had performed military duty in the European Theater (to include North Africa and the Middle East) during the years of the Second World War. Colored bands representing Germany (on the ribbon's right side), Italy (on the ribbon's left side), and the United States (in the center of the ribbon) are visible in the ribbon. The brown and green areas of the ribbon represent the terrain of the area of conflict, which ranged from beaches and sand, to grass and woodlands, to mountains. Originally known as the "EAME Ribbon," the medal is awarded for any service performed between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946 provided such service was performed in the geographical theater areas of Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East.

Previous owner Arnold Herbert Smith Sr. (1923 - 1999)

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