Iraq Campaign Medal History

Introduction to the Iraq Campaign Medal

The Iraq Campaign Medal is a military award that was established by the United States Congress in 2004. The medal was created to recognize the service and sacrifices of members of the United States Armed Forces who participated in the Iraq War, which began in 2003 and lasted until 2011. The medal is awarded to service members who served in Iraq or in support of operations in Iraq during the designated period. In this blog post, we will delve into the history of the Iraq Campaign Medal, its eligibility criteria, and the significance of this award.

Background of the Iraq War

The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, began on March 20, 2003, when a coalition of forces led by the United States invaded Iraq. The invasion was aimed at removing the regime of Saddam Hussein, who had been in power since 1979. The war was authorized by the United States Congress in October 2002, and it was supported by a number of other countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Poland. The conflict lasted for eight years, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians, soldiers, and insurgents.

Establishment of the Iraq Campaign Medal

The Iraq Campaign Medal was established by Public Law 108-234, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush on May 28, 2004. The law authorized the Secretary of Defense to design and award a campaign medal to recognize the service of members of the United States Armed Forces who participated in the Iraq War. The medal was designed by the Institute of Heraldry, which is responsible for designing military awards and insignia.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Iraq Campaign Medal, service members must have served in Iraq or in support of operations in Iraq between March 19, 2003, and December 31, 2011. The medal is awarded to members of all branches of the military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Service members who served in Iraq for at least 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days are eligible for the medal. The medal is also awarded to service members who were killed in action or died of wounds while serving in Iraq.

Design of the Medal

The Iraq Campaign Medal is a bronze medal that features a relief of the map of Iraq on the obverse (front) side. The reverse side of the medal features a relief of a palm tree, which is a symbol of Iraq. The medal is suspended from a ribbon that features a pattern of red, white, and blue stripes, which are the colors of the Iraqi flag. The medal is awarded with a campaign clasp, which features the name of the campaign or operation in which the service member participated.

Campaign Clasps

The Iraq Campaign Medal is awarded with a number of campaign clasps, which recognize the service of service members in specific campaigns or operations. The campaign clasps that are authorized for the Iraq Campaign Medal include: * Operation Iraqi Freedom * Operation New Dawn * Operation Iraqi Freedom – Transition of Iraq

Significance of the Medal

The Iraq Campaign Medal is a significant award that recognizes the service and sacrifices of members of the United States Armed Forces who participated in the Iraq War. The medal serves as a reminder of the bravery and dedication of service members who served in a combat zone, often in difficult and dangerous conditions. The medal is also a symbol of the appreciation and gratitude of the American people for the service and sacrifices of their military personnel.

Comparison to Other Campaign Medals

The Iraq Campaign Medal is similar to other campaign medals that have been established to recognize the service of members of the United States Armed Forces in various conflicts. For example, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal was established to recognize the service of service members who participated in the War in Afghanistan, which began in 2001. The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal was established to recognize the service of service members who participated in the Global War on Terrorism, which began in 2001.

Medal	Established	Eligibility Criteria
Iraq Campaign Medal	2004	Served in Iraq or in support of operations in Iraq between March 19, 2003, and December 31, 2011
Afghanistan Campaign Medal	2004	Served in Afghanistan or in support of operations in Afghanistan between October 24, 2001, and December 31, 2014
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal	2003	Served in a combat zone or in support of operations in a combat zone between September 11, 2001, and August 30, 2016

👉 Note: The eligibility criteria for each medal may vary depending on the specific operation or campaign.

In summary, the Iraq Campaign Medal is a significant award that recognizes the service and sacrifices of members of the United States Armed Forces who participated in the Iraq War. The medal is awarded to service members who served in Iraq or in support of operations in Iraq between March 19, 2003, and December 31, 2011. The medal serves as a reminder of the bravery and dedication of service members who served in a combat zone, often in difficult and dangerous conditions.

The final thoughts on this topic are that the Iraq Campaign Medal is an important award that recognizes the service and sacrifices of members of the United States Armed Forces. The medal is a symbol of the appreciation and gratitude of the American people for the service and sacrifices of their military personnel. It is also a reminder of the bravery and dedication of service members who served in a combat zone, often in difficult and dangerous conditions.