Army of Cuban Occupaton Medal

Awarded to U.S. service members having performed duty within the geographical borders of Cuba between the dates of July 18, 1898 and May 20, 1902. The medal was primarily awarded to members of the United States Army, but was available to other branches of service under certain circumstances. The first Army of Cuban Occupation Medal was awarded to Major General Leonard Wood. A similar post Spanish-American War occupation medal was the Army of Puerto Rican Occupation Medal. The Army of Cuban Pacification Medal was a similarly named decoration, but was awarded for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Cuba seven years after the close of the Spanish-American War. The award was created by the United States War Department in June of 1915. The medal recognizes those service members who performed garrison occupation duty in Cuba, following the close of the Spanish-American War.