This is a Philippine Campaign Medal, awarded from AD 1908 onwards under Special Order No. 81 issued by the United States Department of the Navy, to officers and enlisted personnel who participated in the suppression of the Philippine resistance movement between AD 1898 and AD 1904. The medal exists in two versions, for the Army and the Navy; the present specimen is the United States Navy version.
The medal is circular in form and is suspended from the ribbon by a circular ring. The ribbon consists of three equal-width vertical stripes in red, yellow, and red, and is worn as a breast ribbon. At the centre of the medal is a stone gate leading to Manila. Around the upper outer edge appears the inscription “PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN,” while below is the date “1899–1903,” indicating the duration of the Philippine Campaign; a palm branch is placed on each side of the date. The reverse bears the emblem of the United States Marine Corps, consisting of a bald eagle with outstretched wings, grasping an anchor and anchor chain in its talons. Beneath this is the word “FOR,” encircled by the word “SERVICE,” together meaning “for service.” Around the emblem is the inscription “UNITED STATES NAVY.” The edge of the medal is flat.
The conflict between the United States and the Philippines traces back to the Spanish-American War of AD 1898. During this time, the United States allied with the Filipino resistance led by Emilio Aguinaldo to jointly oppose Spain, the former colonial ruler of the Philippines. In January AD 1899, Aguinaldo declared the establishment of the “First Philippine Republic.” However, in December of the preceding year, the United States acquired sovereignty over the Philippines through the signing of the Treaty of Paris with Spain.
On February 4, AD 1899, armed Filipino forces clashed with American troops in Manila, marking the beginning of the Philippine-American War. Under the command of Arthur MacArthur (the father of Douglas MacArthur), the US military deployed up to 70,000 troops in the Philippines at one point.
In March AD 1901, organised resistance in the Philippines subsided with the surrender of President Aguinaldo, but sporadic resistance continued until AD 1913. In AD 1916, the United States granted the Philippines autonomy, and in AD 1934, the Philippine Commonwealth was established. The Philippines had to wait until the end of World War II, and its full independence was declared with the Manila Treaty in AD 1946.
獎章外觀為圓形，以環形懸掛銜接綬帶。綬帶為三道等寬色帶，依序為紅、黃、紅色，並且以胸綬方式配戴。獎章中央為通往馬尼拉之石門。章圖外側上方環列「PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN」，即「菲律賓戰役」，下方「1899-1903」為菲律賓戰役的持續時間，年份兩側各有一根棕櫚樹枝。獎章背面為美國海軍徽記，為一白頭海鵰，兩翼伸展，雙爪銜抓船錨及錨鍊，下方橫列「FOR」，再環列「SERVICE」，即「服役」。徽記外側環列「UNITED STATES NAVY」，即「美國海軍」。獎章邊稜光平。
