Army of Puerto Rican Occupation Medal

Awarded to U.S. Army personnel having performed military occupation duty in Puerto Rico after the close of the Spanish-American War. For those service members who performed duty both during and subsequent to the Spanish-American War, the Spanish Campaign Medal was also authorized. The qualifying dates for the Army of Puerto Rican Occupation Medal were from August 14 through December 10, 1898. The United States Navy and Marine Corps had no equivalent to the Army of Puerto Rican Occupation Medal. The Army of Puerto Rican Occupation Medal was commemorative by nature although was approved for wear on active military uniforms. A similar decoration, the Army of Cuban Occupation Medal was created for occupation service in Cuba following the Spanish-American War. The Army of Puerto Rican Occupation Medal was created by an act of the United States War Department on February 4, 1919.