| American Defense Service Medal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Service Medal |
| Awarded for | Service between 8 September 1939 and 7 December 1941 |
| Presented by | Department of War and Department of the Navy |
| Eligibility | Military personnel only |
| Status | Inactive |
| Established | Executive Order 8808, June 28, 1941 |
| First awarded | September 8, 1939 (retroactive) |
| Last awarded | December 7, 1941 (retroactive) |
| Total recipients | about 2,000,000 |
  Service ribbon and Streamer | |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Army: Army of Occupation of Germany Medal Air Force: Air Force Recognition Ribbon Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard: China Service Medal |
| Next (lower) | Army – Women's Army Corps Service Medal Navy & Marine Corps – American Campaign Medal Air Force – American Campaign Medal |
The American Defense Service Medal was a military award of the United States Armed Forces, established by Executive Order 8808, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, on June 28, 1941.[1][2] The medal was intended to recognize those military service members who had served on active duty between September 8, 1939, and December 7, 1941.
A similar medal, known as the American Campaign Medal, was established in 1942, for service in the American Theater during the World War II era.
- ^ Army Regulation 600–8–22 Military Awards (PDF). Washington, DC: Headquarters Department of the Army. 24 June 2013. p. 70. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-04-10. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
- ^ "American Defense Service Medal". The Institute of Heraldry. Archived from the original on 2014-01-10. Retrieved 10 January 2014.