United States Army and Navy World War II Engagement Stars (Battle Stars)

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United States Navy

NAVY and MARINE CORPS
AWARDS MANUAL
Department of the Navy

NAVPERS 15,790(Rev. 1953)

Area Campaign Medals
and
Operation and Engagement Stars,
World War II

Part I. Regulations (G. O. No. 253).
Part II. Instructions for use of Code Numbers assigned operations and engagements.
Part III. List of Authorized Operations and Engagements.

Part I--Regulations

  1. These medals are authorized to commemorate the service performed by personnel of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard who served during the periods and in the areas designated below under the appropriate medals and whose services fulfill the prescribed requirements.
  2. Executive Order No. 9265 which provides that the subject campaign medals be established is quoted:

    Executive Order No. 9265

    By virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States and as Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, it is hereby ordered that the American, European-African-Middle Eastern, and Asiatic-Pacific campaign medals, including suitable appurtenances, be established, and that the said medals may be awarded, under such regulations as the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy may severally prescribe to members of the land and naval forces of the United States, including the Women's Reserve of the United States Naval Reserve, and to members of the Women's Auxiliary Corps who, during any period between December 7, 1941, inclusive, and a date six months subsequent to the termination of the present war, shall have served outside the continental limits of the United States in any of the respective areas as indicated by the name of the medals, such areas to be more precisely defined in the regulations hereby authorized.

    For purposes of this order, the territory of Alaska shall be considered as outside the continental limits of the United States.

    Franklin D. Roosevelt
    The White House,
    November 6, 1942.

    Executive Order

    Amending Executive Order No. 9265 of November 6, 1942, establishing the American, European-African-Middle Eastern, and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medals.

    By virtue of the authority vested in me a President of the United States and as Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows:

    1. The European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal shall not be awarded for any service rendered subsequent to November 8, 1945.
    2. The American Campaign Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal shall not be awarded for any service rendered subsequent to March 2, 1946.
    3. Effective October 12, 1945, members and former members of the land and naval forces of the United States, including the Women's Reserve of the United States Naval Reserve, and former members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, who served in the continental United States for an aggregate period of one year between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, inclusive, may be awarded the American Campaign Medal under such regulations as the Secretary of War and Secretary of the Navy may severally prescribe.
    4. Executive Order No. 9625 of November 6, 1942, establishing the American, European-African-Middle Eastern and Asiatic-Pacific campaign medals, is amended accordingly.

    Harry S. Truman
    The White House,
    March 15, 1946.

  3. The geographical definitions of the respective areas are defined as follows:

    American Area
    East boundary.--From the North Pole, south along the 75th meridian west longitude to the 77th parallel north latitude, thence southeast through Davis Strait to the intersection of the 40th parallel north latitude and the 35th meridian west longitude, thence south along that meridian to the 10th parallel north latitude, thence southeast to the intersection of the equator and the 20th meridian west longitude, thence along the 20th meridian west longitude to the South Pole. West boundary--From the North Pole, south along the 141st meridian west longitude to the east boundary of Alaska, thence south and southeast along the Alaskan boundary to the Pacific Ocean, thence south along the 130th meridian to its intersection with the 30th parallel north latitude, thence southeast to the intersection of the equator and the 100th meridian west longitude, thence south along the 100th meridian west longitude to the South Pole.

    European-African-Middle Eastern Area
    East boundary.--From the North Pole, south along the 60th meridian east longitude to its intersection with the e astern border of Iran, thence south along that border to the Gulf of Oman and the intersection of the 60th meridian east longitude, thence south along the 60th meridian east longitude to the South Pole. West boundary--Coincident with the east boundary of the American Area.

    Asiatic-Pacific Area
    East boundary.--Coincident with the west boundary of the American Area. West boundary--Coincident with the east boundary of the European-African-Middle Eastern Area.

  4. Appropriate area campaign medals as defined above are authorized for all personnel of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard who, during the period from 7 December 1941 to the terminal date designated above for each medal, shall have served in the prescribed area under any one of the following conditions:
    1. Sea Duty.--Attached to and serving on board a vessel of the Navy, or Coast Guard, or upon other vessel to which regularly assigned for duty, in the designated area, or as a member of an organization being transported for duty in an area aboard such vessels, for a period of thirty (30) days. This service need not be continuous nor in the same vessel.
    2. Shore Duty.--Attached to and regularly serving on shore in a designated area for a period of thirty (30) days except in the continental United States where the requirement is one (1) year. Such service need not be continuous nor in the same locality but must be within the designated area.
    3. Any combination of (a) and 9b) above that will aggregate the prescribed time in a designated area.
    4. Patrols.--Service in patrol vessels or aircraft operating in or above ocean waters, provided the individual has been attached to such units for a period of thirty (30) days and has performed regularly required patrols for an accumulated period of thirty (30) days. This provision is applicable even though the base from which such vessels or aircraft operate is within the continental limits of the United States.
    5. Combat.--In all cases wherein a vessel, aircraft, or other unit engages in combat with, attacks, or is attacked by enemy forces, all personnel serving in the vessel, aircraft, or other unit shall immediately become eligible for the appropriate campaign medal without reference to the thirty (30) day provision above. however, the certain presence of enemy forces, especially in the case of an enemy submarine, shall be established before this provision shall apply.
    6. Hazardous Duty.--The engagement in any service in a designated area which, in the opinion of the appropriate Fleet or Frontier Commander or Commandant, United States Marine Corps, is equally as hazardous as combat duty shall render the individuals concerned immediately eligible for the appropriate area medal without reference to any time limitation. This provision shall apply to such operations as mine recovery and disposal, bomb disposal, etc., or equally hazardous operations.
    7. Passengers.--No individual en route in a purely passenger status, i.e., observer, visitor, courier or escort, shall become eligible for any area campaign medal unless he or the means of conveyance on which he is traveling is attacked by or engages in combat with the enemy. In the latter case, he shall immediately become eligible for the appropriate medal upon the occasion of the attack or combat. in this provision passage as a patient in a hospital ship shall be considered as attached to the ship and not in a passenger status.
    8. On and after 1 July 1945, no individual engaged exclusively on temporary or temporary additional duty shall become eligible for an area campaign medal unless the duties performed by him during his stay in the area are considered by the Area Commander to have materially contributed to the progress of the campaign. Prior to 1 July 1945 no individual was entitled to an area campaign medal for temporary or temporary additional duty unless such duty included a period of at least thirty (30) days in a designated area or unless he engaged in combat with or was subject to attack by enemy forces. In the latter case he became eligible immediately upon the occasion of the attack or combat without reference to time limit.
    9. In any case, service which entitled an individual to a star as defined in existing orders shall also entitle him to the ribbon of the area in which the service is rendered.
  5. The Chief of Naval personnel, Commandant, United States Marine Corps and Commandant, United States Coast Guard have issued the necessary orders for appropriate entries to be made in the records of personnel entitled to the area campaign medals, for other required reports and records, and for procedure in case records are lost or destroyed.
  6. Stars authorized for actual combat in operations and engagements, as authorized by the Chief of Naval Operations, will be worn on the ribbon bar and suspension ribbon of the respective Area Campaign medals and will be known as engagement stars. For the purpose of this order the following definitions are applicable:
    1. An "Operation" is a series of connected military actions occupying a specific area and time and may involve many clashes with the enemy.
    2. An "Engagement" is an action with the enemy taking place within a restricted time and area, and of sufficient intensity and significance to justify recognition.
    3. An "Area" is one of the three geographical areas, viz: American Area, European-African-Middle Eastern Area, Asiatic-Pacific Area.
  7. The prerequisite to the wearing of a star on an area service ribbon shall be honorable service in a ship, aircraft unit or shore-based force at the time it participated in actual combat with the enemy. In instances in which the duty performed did not result in actual combat with the enemy but is considered equally hazardous, the Chief of Naval Operations may award an operation or engagement star to the units concerned. Not more than one star will be awarded for a single operation or engagement. Units supporting an engagement or operation, but subject only to the ordinary hazards of war, do not merit an award. (NOTE:--Any ship which has been awarded a Presidential Unit Citation or Navy Unit Commendation for meritorious participation in an action or campaign for which a combat star has been authorized is entitled to that combat star.)

Part II--Instructions for the Use of Code Numbers Assigned Operations and Engagements

  1. The code numbers given to the operations and engagements in Part III are composed of a letter and digit. The letter indicates the Theater of Operation, the digit, the Specific Campaign. "P" is the designating letter for the Asiatic-Pacific area, "E" for the European-African-Middle Eastern area, the "A" for the American area. For example, P5 is the code number of the "Pacific Raids--1942."
  2. Frequently an operation or engagement is composed of several actions. Each action listed has been further subdivided by a dash and number in sequence. For example, under the P5 Star five actions are listed, P5-1, P5-2, P5-3, etc. Participation in one or more of these actions entitles an individual to only one Star, the P5.
  3. In addition to the above code numbers there are two special series: the "200" series is given for Convoy, Armed Guard, and Special Operations. For example, in Part III P205 was given to Task Group 30.4 for the period 22 May to 15 June 1944. The "000" series is given for "A" and "B" Antisubmarine Assessments. "E001" is given to a ship for its first "A" or "B" Assessment in European waters, "E002" for the second, etc.
  4. A Star is authorized for each attack on enemy submarines which have been given an "A" or "B" assessment. However, if the date of this assessment falls within the dates for which another Star has been authorized, no additional Star shall be worn for that period. For example, in the case of the U.S.S. Bronstein (DE 189) four Stars have been authorized as follows:
    16 Feb 44 - 31 Mar 44 E216 (T.G. 21.16)
    1 Mar 44 E001 ("B" assessment)
    1 Mar 44 E002 ("B" assessment)
    16 Mar 44 E002 ("A" assessment)
    However, the personnel on board the Bronstein during this period may wear only three stars, one for each of the "B" assessments (E001 and E002) and one for the "A" assessment (E003), but may not wear one for E216.
  5. In some cases, no date for the action is given. For example, in the case of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron (MTBS) 2, the P9 Star is authorized for participation in the "Capture and Defense of Guadalcanal." The over-all date for this operation is 10 August 1942 to 8 February 1943. Personnel who were attached to MTBS 2 during part of that period are not automatically eligible unless they actively participated in the Guadalcanal Area.
  6. Attention is invited to P17-6, P22-13 and P28-7 entries. The "supporting and Consolidation" is not to be interpreted as being all-inclusive, but is to refer only to the dates so specified. For example, under "Naval Gunfire Liaison Officer, 7th Amphibious Force" we note P28-7 is authorized for Wakde Action 5-17-44. To be eligible for this Star, Navy personnel must have been at Wakde on 17 May 1944. This is not to be interpreted as entitling a Naval Gunfire Liaison Officer, who was at Wakde at a time other than 17 May during the period 21 April to 15 November 1944, to wear this Star.
  7. In case of the U.S.S. Block Island only one Star is to be worn for participation in T.G. 21.11 and 21.16.

List of Authorized Operations and Engagements

ASIATIC-PACIFIC AREA
OperationDateCode
Pearl Harbor--Midway7-Dec-41P1
Wake Island (including Johnston Island 15-22 Dec 41)8-23 Dec 41P2
Philippine Islands Operation (including Guam and other concurrent Asiatic Fleet operations)8 Dec 41-6 May 42P3
Netherlands East Indies engagements23 Jan-27 Feb 42P4
   (Only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)
.....Makassar Strait23-24 Jan 42P4-1
.....Badoeng Strait19-20 Feb 42P4-2
.....Java Sea27-Feb-42P4-3
Pacific Raids--1942P5
   (Only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)
.....Marshall-Gilbert raids1-Feb-42P5-1
.....Air action off Bougainville20-Feb-42P5-2
.....Wake Island raid24-Feb-42P5-3
.....Marcus Island raid4-Mar-42P5-4
.....Salamaua-Lae raid10-Mar-42P5-5
Coral Sea4-8 May 42P6
Midway3-6 Jun 42P7
Guadalcanal-Tulagi landings (including First Savo)7-9 Aug 42P8
Capture and defense of Guadalcanal10 Aug 42-8 Feb 43P9
Makin Raid17-18 Aug 42P10
Eastern Solomons (Stewart Island)23-25 Aug 42P11
Buin-Faisi-Tonolai raid5-Oct-42P12
Cape Esperance (Second Savo)11-12 Oct 42P13
Santa Cruz Islands26-Oct-42P14
Guadalcanal (Third Savo)12-15 Nov 42P15
Tassafaronga (Fourth Savo)30 Nov-1 Dec 42P16
Eastern New Guinea operation (only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)17 Dec 42-24 Jul 44P17
.....Designated duty in connection with motor torpedo boat operation17 Dec 42-24 Jul 44P17-1
.....Lae occupation4-22 Sep 43P17-2
.....Finschhafen occupation (Including 1st Marine Division at Finschhafen, Oro Bay, Milne Bay and Goodenough Island)22 Sep 43-17 Feb 44P17-3
.....Saidor occupation2 Jan-1 Mar 44P17-4
.....Wewak-Aitape operations14-24 Jul 44P17-5
.....Supporting and consolidating operations designated by Commander Seventh Fleet17 Dec 42-24 Jul 44P17-6
.....Woodlark Island; occupation and consolidation of30 Jun 42-7 Dec 42P17-7
Rennel Island29-30 Jan 43P18
Consolidation of Solomon Islands8 Feb 43-15 Mar 45P19
.....Consolidation of southern Solomons8 Feb-20 Jun 43P19-1
.....Consolidation of northern Solomons27 Oct 43-15 Mar 45P19-2
Aleutians operation (only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)26 Mar-2 Jun 43P20
.....Komandorski Island26-Mar-43P20-1
.....Attu occupation11 May-2 Jun 43P20-2
New Georgia Group operation (only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)20 Jun-16 Oct 43P21
.....New Georgia-Rendova-Vangunu occupation20 Jun-31 Aug 43P21-1
.....Kula Gulf action5-6 Jun 43P21-2
.....Kolombangara action12-13 Jul 43P21-3
.....Vela Gulf action6-7 Aug 43P21-4
.....Vella Lavella occupation15 Aug-16 Oct 43P21-5
.....Action off Vella Lavella6-7 Oct 43P21-6
Bismarck Archipelago operation (only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)25 Jun 43-1 May 44P22
.....Designated duty in connection with motor torpedo boat operations25 Jun 43-1 May 44P22-1
.....Supporting air actions15 Dec 43-1 May 44P22-2
.....Arawe, New Britain15 Dec 43-1 Mar 44P22-3
.....Kavieng strike25-Dec-43P22-4
.....Cape Gloucester, New Britain26 Dec 43-1 Mar 44P22-5
.....Kavieng strike1-Jan-44P22-6
.....Kavieng strike4-Jan-44P22-7
.....Green Islands landing15-19 Feb 44P22-8
.....Bombardments of Kavieng and Rabaul18-Feb-44P22-9
.....Antishipping sweeps and bombardments of Kavieng21-25 Feb 44P22-10
.....Antishipping sweeps and bombardments of Rabaul and New Ireland24 Feb-1 Mar 44P22-11
.....Admiralty Island landings29 Feb-1 Mar 44P22-12
.....Supporting and consolidating operations designated by Commander 7th Fleet25 Jun 43-1 May 44P22-13
Pacific Raids--1943P23
   (Only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)
.....Marcus Island raid31-Aug-43P23-1
.....Tarawa Island raid18-Sep-43P23-2
.....Wake Island raid5-6 Oct 43P23-3
Treasury-Bougainville operation27 Oct-15 Dec 43P24
   (Only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)
.....Supporting air actions27 Oct-15 Dec 43P24-1
.....Treasury Island landing27 Oct-6 Nov 43P24-2
.....Choiseul Island diversion28 Oct-4 Nov 43P24-3
.....Occupation and defense of Cape Torokina1 Nov-15 Dec 43P24-4
.....Bombardment of Buka-Bonis31 Oct-1 Nov 43P24-5
.....Buka-Bonis strike1-2 Nov 43P24-6
.....Bombardment of Shortland area1-Nov-43P24-7
.....Battle of Empress Augusta Bay1-2 Nov 43P24-8
.....Rabaul strike5-Nov-43P24-9
.....Action off Empress Augusta Bay8-9 Nov 43P24-10
.....Rabaul strike11-Nov-43P24-11
.....Battle off Cape St. George24-25 Nov 43P24-12
Gilbert Islands operation13 Nov-8 Dec 43P25
Marshall Islands operation26 Nov 43-2 Mar 44P26
   (Only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)
.....Air attacks designated by CinCPac on defended Marshall Islands targets26 Nov 43-2 Mar 44P26-1
.....Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls29 Jan-8 Feb 44P26-2
.....Occupation of Eniwetok Atoll17 Feb-2 Mar 44P26-3
.....Attack on Jaluit Atoll20-Feb-44P26-4
.....Mille Atoll18-Mar-44P26-5
Asiatic-Pacific Raids--1944P27
   (Only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)
.....Truk attack16-17 Feb 44P27-1
.....Marianas attack21-22 Feb 44P27-2
.....Palau, Yap, Ulithi, Woleai raid30 Mar-1 Apr 44P27-3
.....Sabang raid19-Apr-44P27-4
.....Truk, Satawan, Ponape raid29 Apr-1 May 44P27-5
.....Soerabaja raid17-May-44P27-6
.....Bombardment of Marcus Island9-Oct-44P27-7
Western New Guinea operations21 Apr 44-9 Jan 45P28
   (Only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)
.....Designated duty in connection with motor torpedo boat operations21 Apr-15 Nov 44P28-1
.....(Not included)P28-2
.....Toem-Wakde-Sarmi area operation17 May-21 Jun 44P28-3
.....Biak Island operation27 May-21 Jun 44P28-4
.....Noemfoor Island operation2 Jul-23 Jul 44P28-5
.....Cape Sansapor operation30 Jul-31 Aug 44P28-6
.....Supporting and consolidating operations designated by Commander 7th Fleet11 Sep 44-9 Jan 45P28-7
.....Morotai Landings11 Sep 44-9 Jan 45P28-8
Marianas operation10 Jun-27 Aug 44P29
   (Only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)
.....Neutralization of Japanese Bases in the Bonins, Marianas, and western Pacific10 Jun-27 Aug 44P29-1
.....Capture and occupation of Saipan11 Jun-10 Aug 44P29-2
   (See P38 for Tinian)
.....First Bonins raid15-16 Jun 44P29-3
.....Battle of Philippine Sea19-20 Jun 44P29-4
.....2d Bonins raid24-Jun-44P29-5
.....3d Bonins raid3-4 Jul 44P29-6
.....Capture and occupation of Guam12 Jul-15 Aug 44P29-7
.....(Not included)P29-8
.....Palau, Yap, Ulithi raid25-27 Jul 44P29-9
.....Fourth Bonins raid4-5 Aug 44P29-10
Western Caroline Islands operationP30
   (Only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)
.....Raids on Volcano-Bonin Islands and Yap Island31 Aug-8 Sep 44P30-1
.....Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands6 Sep-14 Oct 44P30-2
.....Assaults on the Philippine Islands9-24 Sep 44P30-3
Leyte operationP31
   (Only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)
.....Leyte landings10 Oct-29 Nov 44P31-1
.....Battle of Surigao Strait24-26 Oct 44P31-2
.....3d Fleet supporting operations Okinawa Attack10-Oct-44P31-3
.....Northern Luzon and Formosa attacks11-14 Oct 44P31-4
.....Luzon attacks15, 17-19 Oct 4;P31-5
 5-6, 13-14, 19-25 Nov 44;
 14-16 Dec 44
.....Visayas attacks20-21 Oct 44;P31-6
 11-Nov-44
.....Ormoc Bay landings7-13 Dec 44P31-7
.....Battle of Samar24-26 Oct 44P31-8
.....Battle of Cape Engano24-26 Oct 44P31-9
.....Submarine participation10 Oct-16 Dec 44P31-10
Luzon operation12 Dec 44-1 Apr 45P32
   (Only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)
.....Mindoro landings12-18 Dec 44P32-1
.....Lingayen Gulf landings4-18 Jan 45P32-2
.....3d Fleet supporting operations:
.........Luzon attacks6-7 Jan 45P32-3
.........Formosa attacks3-4, 9, 15, 21 Jan 45P32-4
.........China Coast attacks12, 16 Jan 45P32-5
.........Nansei Shoto attack22-Jan-45P32-6
Iwo Jima operation15 Feb-16 Mar 45P33
   (Only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)
.....Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima15 Feb-16 Mar 45P33-1
.....5th Fleet raids against Honshu and the Nansei Shoto15 Feb-16 Mar 45P33-2
.....Bombardments of Iwo Jima11 Nov 44-24 Jan 45P33-3
Okinawa Gunto operation17 Mar-30 Jun 45P34
   (Only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)
.....Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto24 Mar-30 Jun 45P34-1
.....5th and 3d Fleet raids in support of Okinawa Gunto operation17 Mar-11 Jun 45P34-2
3d Fleet operations against Japan10 Jul-15 Aug 45P35
Kurile Islands operation1 Feb 44-11 Aug 45P36
   (Only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)
.....Masashi-Wan-Kurabu-Zaki4-Feb-44P36-1
.....Matsuwa13-Jun-44P36-2
.....Kurabu Zaki26-Jun-44P36-3
.....Matsuwa21-Nov-44P36-4
.....Suribachi Wan5-Jan-45P36-5
.....Kurabu Zaki18-Feb-45P36-6
.....Matsuwa16-Mar-45P36-7
.....Search in Okhotsk Sea and bombardment of Suribachi19-May-45P36-8
.....Matsuwa11-12 Jun 45P36-9
.....Attack on enemy convoy west of Kurile Islands25-Jun-45P36-10
.....Search in Okhotsk Sea and bombardment of Suribachi Wan17-19, 22 Jul 45P36-11
.....Antishipping sweep and bombardments of Matsuwa-Kurabu Zaki and Suribachi11-Aug-45P36-12
Borneo operations27 Apr-20 Jul 45P37
   (Only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)
.....Tarakan Island operation27 Apr-29 May 45P37-1
.....Brunei Bay operation7 Jun-15 Jul 45P37-2
.....Balikpapan operation15 Jun-20 Jul 45P37-3
Tinian capture and occupation24 Jul-1 Aug 44P38
Consolidation and capture of Southern Philippines28 Feb-20 Jul 45P39
.....Palawan Islands landings28 Feb-10 Mar 45P39-1
.....Visayan Island landings (including Lubang, Ticao-Burias, Panay, Cebu, Negros, Masbate and Bohol)1 Mar-20 Apr 45P39-2
.....Mindanao Island landings (including Zamboanga, Malabang-Parang-Cotabato Davao Gulf-Digos-Santa Cruz-Taloma Bay-Luayon-Cape San Augustin, Macajalar Bay, Sarangani Bay-Balut Island)8 Mar-20 Jul 45P39-3
.....Zulu Archipelago landings (including Sanga Sanga, Tawi Tawi, Jolo)2-20 Apr 45P39-4
.....Supporting mine sweeping operations (including San Bernardino Straits-Verde Island Passage, Casiguran Sound-Baler Bay, Coron Bay, Balavac Strait)P39-5
Hollandia operation (Aitape Humboldt Bay-Tanahmerah Bay)21 Apr-1 Jun 44P40
Manila Bay-Bicol operations29 Jan-16 Apr 45P41
   (Only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)
.....Zambales-Subic Bay29-31 Jan 45P41-1
.....Nasugbu31 Jan-10 Feb 45P41-2
.....Mariveles-Corregidor14-28 Feb 45P41-3
.....Minesweeping of Manila Bay24 Feb-15 Apr 45P41-4
.....El Fraile (Fort Drum), Manila Bay13-Apr-45P41-5
.....Carabao Island, Manila Bay16-Apr-45P41-6
Escort, antisubmarine, armed guard and special operations
   (1 star for participation in each of the following:)
U.S.S. Navajo--Salvage operations8 Aug 42-3 Feb 43P201
Action off Vanikoro17-21 Jul 43P202
Naval Group China (6 months duty required)19 Feb 43-4 May 45P203
(Not included)P204
Task Group 30.422 May-15 Jun 44P205
Task Group 12.25 Jul-9 Aug 44P206
Minesweeping Operations Pacific23 Jun 45-2 Mar 46P207
   (Only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)
.....Tsugaru Straits (Honshu Area)7 Sep-18 Oct 45P207-1
.....Tokyo Bay (Honshu Area)28 Aug-3 Sep 45P207-2
.....Nagoya (Honshu Area)28 Sep-26 Oct 45P207-3
.....Sendai-Choshi (Honshu)10 -15 Sep 45P207-4
.....Wakanoura-Kii (Honshu Area)11 Sep-2 Oct 45P207-5
.....Kochi-Shikoku (Honshu Area)8 Sep-8 Nov 45P207-6
.....Bungo-Suido (Honshu Area)22 Sep-31 Oct 45P207-7
.....Omai-Saki (Honshu Area)11-31 Dec 45P207-8
.....Kobe (Honshu Area)28 Nov 45-9 Mar 46P207-9
.....Kure-Hiroshima (Honshu Area)27 Oct 45-26 Feb 46P207-10
.....Kagoshima (Kyushu-Korea Area)1-8 Sep 45P207-11
.....Nagasaki (Kyushu-Korea Area)10-16 Sep 45P207-12
.....Sasebo (Kyushu-Korea Area)9 Sep-17 Oct 45P207-13
.....Arcadia (Kyushu-Korea Area)1-7 Sep 45P207-14
.....Van DIeman Straits (Kyushu-Korea Area)15 Sep-1 Dec 45P207-15
.....Kadoura (Kyushu-Korea Area)24 Oct-29 Nov 45P207-16
.....Tsushima Straits (Kyushu-Korea Area)12 Oct 45-14 Apr 46P207-17
.....Fukuoka (Kyushu-Korea Area)13 Oct 45-11 Jan 46P207-18
.....Tachibana Wan (Kyushu-Korea Area)14 Dec 45-26 Jan 46P207-19
.....Fusan (Kyushu-Korea Area)28 Sep 45-29 Jan 46P207-20
....."Rickshaw" (Kyushu-Korea Area)19 Oct-1 Dec 45P207-21
....."Klondike" (East China Sea-Ryukyus Area)27 Oct-7 Nov 45P207-22
....."Skagway" (East China Sea-Ryukyus Area)14 Aug-9 Nov 45P207-23
....."Reno" (East China Sea-Ryukyus Area)2-28 Nov 45P207-24
.....(Not included)P207-25
.....Yulinkan Bay Area15 Feb-2 mar 46P207-26
.....East Hainan Area1-2 Mar 46P207-27
.....Yangtze River Approaches22 Feb-2 Mar 46P207-28
Submarine War Patrols (Pacific)7 Dec 41-2 Sep 45P208
   (1 star for participation in each war patrol)
 
EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN AREA
OperationDateCode
North African occupation8 Nov 42-9 Jul 43E1
   (Only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)
.....Algeria-Morocco landings8-11 Nov 42E1-1
.....Actions off Casablanca8-Nov-42E1-2
.....Tunisian operations8 Nov 42-9 Jul 43E1-3
Sicilian occupation9-15 Jul 43; 28 Jul-17 Aug 43E2
Salerno landings9-21 Sep 43E3
West Coast of Italy operations--1944E4
   (Only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)
.....Anzio-Nettuno advanced landings22 Jan-1 Mar 44E4-1
.....Bombardments Formia-Anzio area12 May-4 Jun 44E4-2
.....Elba and Pianosa landings17-Jun-44E4-3
Invasion of Normandy (including bombardment of Cherbourg)6-25 Jun 44E5
Northeast Greenland operation10 Jul-17 Nov 44E6
Invasion of Southern France15 Aug-25 Sep 44E7
Reinforcement of Malta14-21 Apr 42; 3-16 May 42E8
Escort, antisubmarine, armed guard and special operations:
   (Only 1 star for participation in 1 or more of the following:)
[Note: See Convoy Codes to associate codes with routes]
Russian convoy operations16 Dec 41-27 Feb 43E201
Convoy ON-16620-25 Feb 43E202
Convoy UC-122-24 Feb 43E203
Convoy SC-1213-10 Mar 43E204
Convoy UGS-612-18 Mar 43E205
Convoy HX-23316-18 Apr 43E206
Task Group 21.1220 Apr-20 Jun 43E207
Task Group 21.1113 Jun-6 Aug 43E208
Task Group 21.1227 Jun-31 Jul 43E209
Convoy MKS-2113-Aug-43E210
Task Group 21.1425 Sep-9 Nov 43E211
Convoy KMF-25A6-Nov-43E212
Task Group 21.1311 Nov-29 Dec 43E213
Task Group 21.142 Dec 43-Jan 44E214
Task Group 21.127 Mar-26 Apr 44E215
Task Group 21.1616 Feb-31 Mar 44E216
Convoy UGS-361-Apr-44E217
Convoy UGS-3711-12 Apr 44E218
Convoy UGS-3820-Apr-44E219
Task Group 21.1122 Apr-29 May 44E220
Convoy UGS-4011-May-44E221
Task Group 22.313 May-19 Jun 44E222
Norway raid2-6 Oct 1943E223
Task Group 22.53 Jun-22 Jul 44E224
Convoy HX-22916-18 Mar 43E225
Minesweeping operations in Bay of CagliariOct and Nov 43E226
Convoy KMS-3111-Nov-43E227
U.S.S. Buck (DD 420)8-9 Oct 43E228
U.S.S. Swerve (AM 121)9-Jul-44E229
 
AMERICAN AREA
OperationDateCode
Escort, antisubmarine, armed guard, and special operations:
   1 star for participation in each of the following:)
[Note: See Convoy Codes to associate codes with routes]
Convoy ON-6721-26 Feb 42A201
Convoy SC-1073-8 Nov 42A202
Task Group 21.1312 Jul-23 Aug 42A203
Task Group 21.1427 Jul-10 Sep 43A204
Task Group 21.1524 Mar-11 May 44A205
Convoy TAG-181-6 Nov 42A206
U.S.S. Frederick C. Davis (DE-136) (antisubmarine operation)24-Apr-45A207
U.S.S. Atik (SS Carolyn) A/S operation27-Mar-42A208
U.S.S. Asterion (SS Evelyn) A/S operation22 Mar 42-31 Jan 43A209

United States Army

Listing of the World War II Campaigns of the United States Army

WWII - American Theater
Antisubmarine7 December 1941-2 September 1945
 
WWII - Asiatic-Pacific Theater
Philippine Islands7 December 1941-10 May 1942
Burma, 19427 December 1941-26 May 1942
Central Pacific7 December 1941-6 December 1943
East Indies1 January-22 July 1942
India-Burma2 April 1942-28 January 1945
Air Offensive, Japan17 April 1942-2 September 1945
Aleutian Islands3 June 1942-24 August 1943
China Defensive4 July 1942-4 May 1945
Papua23 July 1942-23 January 1943
Guadalcanal7 August 1942-21 February 1943
New Guinea24 January 1943-31 December 1944
Northern Solomons22 February 1943-21 November 1944
Eastern Mandates31 January-14 June 1944
Bismarck Archipelago15 December 1943-27 November 1944
Western Pacific15 June 1944-2 September 1945
Leyte17 October 1944-1 July 1945
Luzon15 December 1944-4 July 1945
Central Burma29 January-15 July 1945
Southern Philippines27 February-4 July 1945
Ryukyus26 March-2 July 1945
China Offensive5 May-2 September 1945
 
WWII - European-African-Middle Eastern Theater
Egypt-Libya11 June 1942-12 February 1943
Air Offensive, Europe4 July 1942-5 June 1944
Algeria-French Morocco8-11 November 1942
Tunisia17 November 1942-13 May 1943
Sicily9 July-17 August 1943
Naples-Foggia18 August 1943-21 January 1944 (Air)
Naples-Foggia9 September 1943-21 January 1944 (Ground)
Anzio22 January-24 May 1944
Rome-Arno22 January-9 September 1944
Normandy6 June-24 July 1944
Northern France25 July-14 September 1944
Southern France15 August-14 September 1944
Northern Apennines10 September 1944-4 April 1945
Rhineland15 September 1944-21 March 1945
Ardennes-Alsace16 December 1944-25 January 1945
Central Europe22 March-11 May 1945
Po Valley5 April-8 May 1945

Sources:
United States Army
United States Navy
HyperWar Foundation

Last Major Update: Dec 2020






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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Jeff Lloyd says:
20 Aug 2022 11:12:19 AM

I am preserving my father's WW2 service medals. He is authorized operation engagement stars for two Pacific operations, both when a member of VMF-223 ground echelon.
Where might I buy the device please? I can't even find an image of the device.

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