Us Army Puerto Rican Occupation Medal #1127

A circular bronze disc with an oxidized matte finish in relief, the obverse presents a castle in the centre with two small round towers at the corners, at the top is the inscription “ARMY OF OCCUPATION OF PORTO RICO,” the date “1898” appears at the bottom, to the left of the date is a branch of tobacco plant and a stalk of sugar cane on the other side, the reverse shows a spread eagle standing on a cannon, six rifles, four standards, a Native American shield, quiver of arrows with three spears, a Cuban machete, and Sulu kris, below this are the words “FOR SERVICE,” circumscribed by the words “UNITED STATES ARMY” above thirteen five-pointed stars, officially stamped (numbered) “1127” on the bottom outer edge, measures 33.44 mm (1.32 inches) in diameter, on loop for suspension from period original ultramarine blue ribbon with stripes of red at the edges and a stripe of red at the center bordered by yellow stripes, with brooch pinback. Excellent Condition. Approximately 3,000 medals were issued.The Army of Puerto Rican Occupation Medal was a service medal of the United States Army which was created by order of the United States War Department on 4 February 1919. A retrospective award created decades after the action was commemorated, the medal recognized Army service from 14 August through 10 December 1898 in Puerto Rico. The Army of Puerto Rican Occupation Medal was commemorative by nature although it was approved for wear on active military uniforms. A similar medal, the Army of Cuban Occupation Medal was created for occupation service in Cuba following the Spanish–American War. The regulations for the Army of Cuban Occupation Medal were re-written to include regulations for the Army of Puerto Rican Occupation Medal.