← Military & Defence

Medal Ceremonies in Military History

Ceremonies depicting award presentations to military personnel during WWII. These images highlight valor, recognition, and military traditions.

A Member Of The 390Th Bomb Group Is Congratulated After Receiving An Award During A Ceremony At An Air Base Somewhere In England. 26 October 1943.

Colonel William T. Seawell Is Presented The Croix De Guerre With Palm By Gen De Corps D'Arme Valin Of The French Air Force - Colonel Seawell Was Group Commander Of The 401St Bomb Group Based In England. 7 May 1945.

Lt. Mcchesney, Attached To Hdq., 1St Bomb Division, Is Presented The Distinguished Flying Cross By Brig. General Howard M. Turner During A Ceremony At On 29 October 1944 At An 8Th Air Force Base In England.

A Member Of The 379Th Bomb Group Is Congratulated After Receiving An Award During A Ceremony At An Air Base Somewhere In England. 20 August 1943.

Gen. MacArthur , Armories, Military parades & ceremonies, Military officers, MacArthur, Douglas, 1880-1964, Watertown Arsenal Mass.. Records of U.S. Army Operational

1St Lt. Robert W. Barrell Of Berwick, Penn., Bombardier Of The Boeing B-17 'Old Bill' Is Congratulated By His Fiance, 2Nd Lt. Marion Mcclelland Of Burlington, Virginia, After He Received The Distinguished Service Cross During A Ceremony At Chelveston, Eng

(L to R) Col Willard D. Carlock; Col Edward L. Austin, CIC, Pow exchange operation "Little Switch"; and Rear Admiral John C. Daniel, USN, UN delegates, check map of site for prisoner exchange at Panmunjom, Korea, conference sit of military armistice negotiations between representatives of the communist forces fighting in Korea and United Nations forces representatives. April 10, 1953. (Photo by US Army Photo).

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Visit Minister Romme to Grote Oost Makassar, Menado, Ambon, Flores, Surabaya. Surabaya. Dr. C.P.M. Romme is greeted at the airport through Colonel G.J. Vermeulen and Resident Dr. f.w.t. Hunger. 1 February 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies, Surabaya

A Member Of The 554Th Bomb Squadron, 386Th Bomb Group Is Congratulated After Receiving The Air Medal During A Ceremony At An Air Base In Beaumont, France. 6 December 1944.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Presentation of the bronze lion to corporal van der Keyl. On the grounds of the armored troops in Bandoeng, the bronze lion is a corporal fighting truck driver P.J. Van der Keyl of the 2nd Eskadron Fighting Carts awarded. July 16, 1947. Bandung, Indonesia, Indonesia

First Civilian Employee Of The Army In The China Theater To Receive The Emblem For Meritorious Service, Mr. Albert K. Fong, 33, 316 K St., Sacramento, Calif., Airplane Salvage Foreman, Is Decorated By Colonel Richard H. Wise, Commanding Officer, 140 Hodge

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Decoration Major Druce. In the presence of different authorities, Wed Lieutenant General, Generaal-Major Buurman of Vreeden, General-Major Kengen, General Major Doorman and Superior Jungschlager, Head of the Nefis, by Colonel MR. Van Houten in a festive manner in the officer cross The Orange-Nassau order with the swords awarded to Major HC Druce, DSO With bar and m.c. During the war the decorated was charged with the organization of the espionage in the Netherlands. Colonel van Houten picks up the decorations at Major Bruce. October 7, 1946. Batavia, Indonesia, Jakarta, Dutch East Indies

British Soldiers Of The Royal Signal Corps, That Owned And Operated The Only Radio In Prisoner Of War Camp #13. Yokohama, Japanesean. September 1945.

COL Homer B. Moran is awarded the Legion of Merit upon his retirement from the Army. Making the presentation is MGEN Raymond H. Bishop Jr., Commander of the U.S. Army Health Services Command. Base: Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio State: Texas (TX) Country: United States Of America (USA)

FEEDING 'ROOS. .. WAC PFC Naoma Van Steenberg of Burt, Iowa enjoys a day off somewhere in Australia at one of the local Zoos. PFC F.M. Copeland of Cerro Gordo, Illinois, joins her to feed bread to the kangaroos. One of the first WACS to be

Col. Newman , Armories, Military parades & ceremonies, Military officers, Watertown Arsenal Mass.. Records of U.S. Army Operational

S/Sgt. M. Hunt Of The 652Nd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, 25Th Weather Reconnaissance Group, Is Presented The Air Medal At An 8Th Air Force Base In England. 10 June 1944.

No Need For Parachutes On This Ride. (L To R) 2Nd. Lieuts. John A. Wheeler Of Spokane, Washington, And Charles O. Rainwater Of Dandridge, Tenn., Pictured Above Seated In The Rear Of A "Crash-Boat" While Being Transported To An Awaiting Ambulance Which Rus

Generals , Armories, Ordnance industry, Military officers, Generals, Watertown Arsenal Mass.. Records of U.S. Army Operational

MAJ Werner receives the Meritorious Service Medal for outstanding performance of duties from BGEN William Weise during morning colors. Base: Usmc Recruit Depot,Parris Island State: South Carolina (SC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Torgau, Germany, April 25, 1945In front of sign symbolizing the historic meeting of the Russian and American armies, stand happy 2nd Lt. William D. Robertson, Los Angeles, California, 69th Infantry Division, U.S. First Army, and Lt. Alexander Sylvashko, Russian Army. Lieutenant Robertson was the first man to meet the Russian Forces, meeting a Russian enlisted man on the twisted and sloping girders of a blown-out bridge, spanning the Elbe River, east of Torgau, Germany, and Lieutenant Sylvashko on the east bank of the Elbe river.

Officer receiving award , Ordnance industry, Armories, Military officers, Awards, Watertown Arsenal Mass.. Records of U.S. Army Operational

Presentation Of Medal To Sgt. R.D. Comer Of The 493Rd Bomb Group, 8Th Air Force. England, 16 March 1945.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. Ceremony T.G.v. Grant awards. General Major W.J.K. Baay at one of the decorated. 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies, Surabaya

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. Major General J.K. Meyer receives the decorations of the military willow order from General Spoor. August 21, 1948. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies, Semarang

Aircraft, Burma, India & INDIA,RECREATION War

Emergency Mass Feeding, Fort Dix, New Jersey 1954 , Civil defense. Records of the Office of Civil Defense and Defense Mobilization

Generals , Armories, Ordnance industry, Military officers, Generals, Watertown Arsenal Mass.. Records of U.S. Army Operational

A master sergeant briefs GEN Bryce Poe, commander, Air Force Logistics Command, on metal fatigue of the wing struts of an F-111 aircraft. The master sergeant is a superintendent of the 48th Field Maintenance Squadron. Base: Raf Lakenheath State: East Anglia Country: England / Great Britain (ENG)

Royal Air Force in North Africa, 1944-1945. Air Vice-Marshal G G Dawson, Director of Maintenance and Supply, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces, is presented with the American Legion of Merit in the degree of Commander, by Brigadier-General Harold A Barton, Commanding General of the USAAF Service Command, Mediterranean Theatre of Operations, during a parade at Algiers.

SHAPE Exercise CPX-4. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

Mrs. James W. Wilkinson Received The Distinguished Service Cross And The Silver Star On 17 July 1944 From Brig. General Murray C. Woodbury In Behalf Of Her Husband, Capt. James W. Wilkinson Of The 82Nd Fighter Squadron, 78Th Fighter Group, Who Was Killed

Two officers , Military officers, Watertown Arsenal Mass.. Records of U.S. Army Operational

Photographs depicting military activities in France, May - June 1940. Included photographs of Rommel, Guderian, Dreuz, Bottcher, Italian General Garaboldi, Lucie Rommel, shots of Rommel with Hitler. Photographs of equipment and troops arriving and in action, from the personal collection of Rommel.

Secretary Of War Henry L. Stimson Presents The Congressional Medal Of Honor To S/Sgt. Maynard H. Smith, A Boeing B-17 Gunner From Caro, Michigan, During A Ceremony At Thurleigh, England On 15 July 1943.

Lt. General George E. Stratemeyer Presents An Award To A Member Of The 14Th Air Force During A Ceremony At An Air Base Somewhere In China.

Coast Guard Skipper Tells "How We Got Her". Lieut. Commander Maurice D. Jester, U. S. Coast Guard, tells how the 165-foot Coast Guard cutter Icarus, while on patrol duty off the Carolina coast, blew a Nazi U-boat to the surface, engaged it with deck guns and took 33 prisoners. Skipper of the Icarus at the time, he was awarded the Navy Cross. He is now assistant District Coast Guard Operations Officer at Miami. Captain J.E. Whitbeck, left, Seventh Naval District Coast Guard Officer, and Ensign Maurice F. Jester, U. S. Coast Guard, center, son of Lieut. Commander Jester and now a student at the sub chaser school, Miami, intently listen to the firsthand account of the exploit.

Aircraft, Burma, India &Ceremonies& Decorations, Awards, War

Two Members Of The 48Th Fighter Squadron, 14Th Fighter Group, Stationed At An Air Base Somewhere In Tunisia, Proudly Display A Poster Which Proclaims The Score Of The Units Fighter Pilots. 1943.

Big Ike and Young Ike - General Dwight D. Eisenhower ***** his infectious grin on his young son,Lt. ***** Sheldon Eisenhower (right) as the father and ***** leave a banquet given in Big Ike's honor by president Truman. The stag affair was attended by the entire Eisenhower party, which arrived in the U.S. aboard a transport, as well as high military and civilian dignitaries. June 19, 1945. (Photo by ACME).

DF-SN-89-01214. Country: Unknown

FRANCE-Flanked by M.P.s who coveted the job of escorting him, Bing Crosby is shown as he arrived at 9th AF headquarters to sing for G.I.s stationed there. He is being greeted by Col. Stanley Scott of Pittsburgh, Pa., Philadelphia, Pa., and Winter

Coast Guardsman Decorated by Admiral. Wounded on his fifth trip in an invasion barge during the African landing operations, Coast Guardsman George W. Klemchuk, 23, is awarded the Purple Heart by Rear Admiral Robert Donohue, Chief of Coast Guard Personnel. Klemchuk made five trips to the beach, landing men and supplies. He was taking his boat through a hail of machine gun bullets back to his transport when he noticed that some of his shipmates were having difficulty getting their boats off the beach. disregarding his own safety, Klemchuk went back to help them and was hit by shrapnel as he went to their assistance. Klemchuk, whose home is at 2440 Rosemont Avenue, Chicago, was recently released from a hospital in an eastern port where he had been recuperating from his wounds.

DM-SN-85-02946. Base: Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe State: Hawaii (HI) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Colonel John Mather, Commanding Officer, Watertown Arsenal, rehearsing script for Army Hour broadcast, 20 February 1944 , Military officers, Rehearsals, Radio broadcasting, Watertown Arsenal Mass.. Records of U.S. Army Operational

San Francisco Coast Guardsmen Participate in Philippine Invasion. Coast Guardsmen Frank L. Cuenca, Yeoman Second Class, and Oliver Goldsmith, Photographer's Mate Second Class, both of San Francisco, Calif., were among the first to set foot on the Philippine island Leyte. Both Coast Guardsmen hit the beach with the infantry in the third assault wave. This photograph was taken on Red Beach at Leyte Island, Central Philippines. Cuenca and Goldsmith were high school buddies in San Francisco and also "boot camp" shipmates at the United States Coast Guard training station in August, 1942.

Lt. Gen. John Cannon, Commanding General Of The U.S. A.A.F. In Europe.

Axmann and Van Geelkerken, 1942 photograph Arthur Axmann, Reichsjugendführer, visits The Hague and speaks with C. van Geelkerken, leader of the Youth Storm. Geelkerken, barefoot, with the symbol of the youth storm on its uniform, on the left Axmann in uniform. Behind them two more men in uniform. The Hague photographic support gelatin silver print political meeting, propaganda meeting The Hague

Photographs depicting military activities in France, May - June 1940. Included photographs of Rommel, Guderian, Dreuz, Bottcher, Italian General Garaboldi, Lucie Rommel, shots of Rommel with Hitler. Photographs of equipment and troops arriving and in action, from the personal collection of Rommel.

EDE, Mr. Propaganda photography: Marshal Pétain receives the heads responsible for national teams in audience ". On October 19, the Marechal de France, chief / state, received the chiefs / officials from the national teams, which / were presented to him by Mr. Olivier Mar- / Tin, Secretary General for Youth, and / Accompanied by Mr. Rabaud, their Inspector / General and Commander MESNIER, his Ad- / Joint. V.85.552. Gelatino-silver-bromide draw. Dactylographed legend in black ink. Between 1943-10-19-and 1943-10-20. Paris, Carnavalet museum. 144784-5

Two officers , Military officers, Watertown Arsenal Mass.. Records of U.S. Army Operational

Soldier and worker shaking hands , Ordnance industry, Armories, Soldiers, Watertown Arsenal Mass.. Records of U.S. Army Operational

Photographs Relating to the Minor Nuremberg Trials

Capt. Kavanaugh Of The 490Th Bomb Group Is Awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross By Major General Earle E. Partridge At An 8Th Air Force Base In England. 12 February 1945.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Visit Minister Romme to Grote Oost Makassar, Menado, Ambon, Flores, Surabaya. Surabaya. Dr. C.P.M. Romme is greeted at the airport through resident Dr. f.w.t. Hunger. 1 February 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies, Surabaya

Coop Project: Federal National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Photographs Relating to National Forests, Resource Management Practices, Personnel, and Cultural and Economic History

Swiss Armistice Team In Korea -- Four members of Switzerland's armistice supervisory committee pose together at the Base Camp at Munsan following their arrival in Korea to oversee the armistice. Shown L-R: Maj. Enrico Moor; Col. Ernst Asper, (head of the team); Capt. Kurt Meyer and Capt. Edward Rey. July 26, 1953. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

General Gribble, Chief R & D, visits Watertown , Armories, Ordnance industry, Military personnel, Watertown Arsenal Mass.. Records of U.S. Army Operational

Admiral Decorates Wounded Coast Guardsman. Photograph - George T. Rhodes, 23, of Awendaw, South Carolina, MM2c, who had a fist fight with a Jap sailor in the Pacific after abandoning a sinking destroyer, is awarded the Purple Heart. Rear Admiral Robert Donohue, Chief of Coast Guard Personnel, decorates Rhodes with the medal. Rhodes was twice wounded by gunfire before his ship went down. While swimming away from the ship, he was attacked by a Jap sailor who attempted to get his life jacket, but Rhodes gave the Jap the finishing blow and never saw him again. He was one of CG unit aboard the USS Gregory.

The Second Indochina War, known in America as the Vietnam War, was a Cold War era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of South Vietnam, supported by the U.S. and other anti-communist nations. The U.S. government viewed involvement in the war as a way to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam and part of their wider strategy of containment. The North Vietnamese government viewed the war as a colonial war, fought initially against France, backed by the U.S., and later against South Vietnam, which it regarded as a U.S. puppet state. U.S. military advisors arrived beginning in 1950. U.S. involvement escalated in the early 1960s, with U.S. troop levels tripling in 1961 and tripling again in 1962. U.S. combat units were deployed beginning in 1965. Operations spanned

Emergency Mass Feeding, Fort Dix, New Jersey 1954 , Civil defense. Records of the Office of Civil Defense and Defense Mobilization

War Makes Them Blood-Brothers. Whole blood donated by Coast Guardsmen for their Marine brothers-in-arms aboard a Coast Guard-manned attack transport just before the Saipan invasion was credited with saving many lives among the early assault casualties. Here, Coast Guardsman Edward G. Gonyaw (left), chief storekeeper, of Olympia, Wash., receives a handshake from Public Health Surgeon William C. Lewis, of Chicago, Ill., after giving blood. Hospital apprentice Francis Ballard of Pittsfield, Ill., assists the surgeon.

Lt. General Joseph W. Stillwell gives General Chiang Kai-shek the Legion of Merit medal, 1943

COL Edward D. Resnik is retired from the Marine Corps and is also presented with his second Legion of Merit medal. MGEN Hal W. Vincent, the commanding officer, Marine Corps Air Station, presents the medal. Base: Mcas, Cherry Point State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Colonel Robert G. Pugh, Executive Officer Of Hq. 68Th Composite Wing, 14Th Air Force, Major General Claire L. Chennault, Commanding General Of The 14Th Air Force And Colonel Robert A. Breitweiser, A-3, Of 68Th Composit Wing In Kweilink East China, 1944.

Anefo photo collection. WI West Indies / Anefo London series. Princess Juliana visit Suriname (1943). Princess Juliana congratulates a Dutch lieutenant, who has just been decorated by her .. November 1943. Suriname

Sgt. Eddie Cope Of Austin, Texas Tries Out Sign Language On An Italian Fruit Peddler. He Buys An Orange - But It Costs Him Double! Italy.

A United States service romance was climaxed in a wedding ceremony somewhere in Australia on 21 June 1944 for WAC Pvt. Madge Lamping of San Gabriel, Calif., and her high school sweetheart, Cpl. John Whitlock of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Zaragoza, 10/10/1985. The Prince of Asturias Don Felipe, at the Military Academy of Zaragoza, listening to a Topography lesson.

of 3