Spanish-American War medals
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Rear Admiral Roger Welles
(American, 1862 - 1932)
Date1898-1903
Mediumbronze; grosgrain ribbon
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (length of longest medal x width of top bar): 3 5/8 × 4 1/2in. (9.2 × 11.4cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Roger P. Welles
Object number1972.8.8.10
DescriptionA bar pin with three medals suspended from the bar. The medals were awarded to Rear Admiral Roger Welles.
On the left, is the Sampson Medal, which was awarded through the Department of the Navy to U. S. Navy service members for military service of unusual merit in the waters of the West Indies and on the shores of Cuba between April 27 and August 14, 1898. At the medal is a bar with the name of the ship Lieut. Roger Welles, Jr. served on during this time, the USS Wasp. The ribbon has red and blue stripes. At the bottom of the ribbon are two bars, each inscribed in the center with "CABANAS" and "MARIEL." The medal is suspended from the ribbon. On the front of the medal is a relief portrait of William T. Sampson. On the reverse side is a relief image of three men.
In the middle, is the West Indies Campaign medal, which was awarded through the Department of the Navy to U. S. Navy personnel who participated in the West Indies Naval Campaign and had previously been awarded the Sampson medal in 1901. The medal is suspended from a gold and blue striped ribbon. On the front of the medal is a relief image of a fort. The reverse side has a relief image of an eagle flying with holding an anchor in its talons.
On the right, is the Philippine Campaign medal, which was awarded through the Department of the Navy to U. S. Navy service members who served on the shore in the Philippine Islands between February 4, 1899, and July 4, 1902. The medal is suspended from a red and blue striped ribbon. On the front of the medal is a relief image of gates. The reverse side has a relief image of an eagle flying with holding an anchor in its talons.
NotesBiographical Note: Rear Admiral Roger Welles (1862-1932) was born in Newington, Conn. He graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland in 1884. During the Spanish-American War, he served as executive officer on the USS Wasp. After the Spanish-American War in 1903, he attended the U. S. Naval War College, and then was appointed director of the U. S. Office of Naval Intelligence in 1917. He was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1919. He retired from the U. S. Navy in 1926.On the left, is the Sampson Medal, which was awarded through the Department of the Navy to U. S. Navy service members for military service of unusual merit in the waters of the West Indies and on the shores of Cuba between April 27 and August 14, 1898. At the medal is a bar with the name of the ship Lieut. Roger Welles, Jr. served on during this time, the USS Wasp. The ribbon has red and blue stripes. At the bottom of the ribbon are two bars, each inscribed in the center with "CABANAS" and "MARIEL." The medal is suspended from the ribbon. On the front of the medal is a relief portrait of William T. Sampson. On the reverse side is a relief image of three men.
In the middle, is the West Indies Campaign medal, which was awarded through the Department of the Navy to U. S. Navy personnel who participated in the West Indies Naval Campaign and had previously been awarded the Sampson medal in 1901. The medal is suspended from a gold and blue striped ribbon. On the front of the medal is a relief image of a fort. The reverse side has a relief image of an eagle flying with holding an anchor in its talons.
On the right, is the Philippine Campaign medal, which was awarded through the Department of the Navy to U. S. Navy service members who served on the shore in the Philippine Islands between February 4, 1899, and July 4, 1902. The medal is suspended from a red and blue striped ribbon. On the front of the medal is a relief image of gates. The reverse side has a relief image of an eagle flying with holding an anchor in its talons.
Status
Not on view
Noble & Westbrook Division
John Henry Kelso Davis