This miniature medal group comprises four miniature decorations intended for wear with civilian formal attire, such as a tailcoat. Arranged from left to right, they are the Spanish War Service Medal (Army version), the China Relief Expedition Medal (Army version), the Philippine Campaign Medal (Army version), and the Mexican Border Service Medal (Army version).
Spanish War Service Medal (Army version)
The Spanish War Service Medal (Army version), occasionally designated the ‘National Guard Medal’, was authorised on 9 July AD 1918. It was instituted to recognise personnel who completed military service between 20 April AD 1898 and 11 April AD 1899, but who did not qualify for the Spanish Campaign Medal. The obverse, designed by Colonel Charles J. R. M. Taylor of the United States Army, features a sheathed Roman sword resting upon a tablet inscribed ‘For Service in the Spanish War’, encircled by a wreath. The reverse, executed by the firm Bailey, Banks and Biddle, displays the United States coat of arms with a scroll underneath, the entire composition enveloped by a wreath incorporating the insignia of the Infantry, Artillery, and Cavalry. The accompanying ribbon is emerald green intersected by two yellow stripes.
Philippine Campaign Medal (Army version)
The Army Philippine Campaign Medal was likewise authorised in AD 1905 to commemorate the service of officers and troops deployed to the Philippines during the insurrection. Its eligibility criteria were subsequently extended to encompass military engagements throughout the archipelago until AD 1913. Designed by Francis D. Millet, the obverse features a coconut palm tree flanked on one side by a Roman lamp, symbolising the enlightenment of the islands under American governance, and on the opposite side by the scales of justice. This central motif is framed by a circular inscription reading ‘Philippine Insurrection 1899’. The reverse is identical to that of the Indian Wars Medal. The ribbon is characterised by a blue centre, flanked by broad red stripes and narrow blue borders. Owing to the protracted period of service recognised by this decoration—extending from AD 1899 to AD 1913—certain specimens feature alternative specific years engraved or scratched onto the obverse over the original ‘1899’ date, typically executed to the left or right of the palm tree.
China Relief Expedition Medal (Army version)
The China Relief Expedition Medal (Army version) was authorised in AD 1905 to honour Army officers and enlisted personnel who served ashore in China with the Peking Relief Expedition between 20 June AD 1900 and 27 May AD 1901. Designed by Francis D. Millet, the obverse depicts an imperial Chinese five-toed dragon within a circular border inscribed with the legend ‘China Relief Expedition’ across the upper arc and ‘1900–1901’ at the base. This striking representation renders it one of the most distinctive of all American military decorations. The design of the reverse corresponds identically to that of the Indian Wars Medal. The ribbon is predominantly yellow, reflecting the imperial colour of the then-ruling Manchu Dynasty, flanked by narrow dark blue edges.
Mexican Border Defense Medal (Army version)
The Mexican Border Service Medal (Army version) was established on 9 July AD 1918 to decorate members of the National Guard who served on the Mexican border between 9 May AD 1916 and 24 March AD 1917, as well as regular Army personnel assigned to the Border Patrol between 1 January AD 1916 and 6 April AD 1917. Conversely, individuals entitled to the Mexican Service Medal were excluded from this award. Throughout this operational timeframe, a substantial proportion of the regular Army and approximately 150,000 National Guard personnel engaged in training and border service; because the majority of regular Army members had already received the Mexican Service Medal, this particular decoration was predominantly awarded to the National Guard, frequently leading to its erroneous colloquial designation as the ‘National Guard Medal’. Designed by Colonel Charles J. R. M. Taylor, the medal shares an identical aesthetic form with the Spanish War Service Medal, save for the obverse inscription, which reads ‘For Service on the Mexican Border’. The ribbon features a yellow central band bordered by green stripes of equal width, matching the colour scheme utilized for the Spanish War Service Medal ribbon.
此勳章有時被稱為「國民兵勳章」（National Guard Medal），於公元1918年7月9日獲准設立，用以表彰在公元1898年4月20日至1899年4月11日期間服役，但未參與「西班牙戰役勳章」表列戰役的人員。勳章正面由美國陸軍查爾斯·J·R·M·泰勒（J. R. M. Taylor）上校設計，中央為一把套著鞘的羅馬短劍，平放在刻有「For Service in the Spanish War」（以表彰在西班牙戰爭中的服役）字樣的平板上，外圈環繞著花環。背面由貝利·班克斯與比德爾公司（Bailey, Banks and Biddle）設計，圖案為美國國徽，下方帶有一條飾帶，整體由展現了步兵、砲兵和騎兵徽章的花環環繞。綬帶為祖母綠色，並帶有兩條黃色條紋。
菲律賓戰役獎章(陸軍版)
此勳章於公元1905年獲准設立，用以表彰在起義期間於菲律賓服役的官兵。其授予範圍後來亦經過擴大，以涵蓋直到1913年為止在該群島各處進行的軍事行動。該勳章由法蘭西斯·D·米萊特（Francis D. Millet）設計。勳章正面中央為一棵椰子樹，一側帶有一盞羅馬燈，象徵著島嶼在美國統治下的啟蒙與開化；另一側則是象徵公正的正義天平。整個景致外圈環繞著銘文「Philippine Insurrection 1899」（1899年菲律賓起義）。背面的設計則與「印第安戰爭勳章」相同。綬帶中央為藍色，兩側配有寬赤條紋，最外緣則帶有狹窄的藍色邊條。由於這枚勳章表彰的服役時間跨度極長（從1899年一直到1913年），因此會發現部分勳章正面的「1899」年份字樣處，被刻上或刮上了其他具體年份。這些雕刻文字通常出現在椰子樹的左側或右側。
遣華解救遠征軍獎章 (陸軍版)
此勳章於公元1905年獲准設立，用以表彰在公元1900年6月20日至1901年5月27日期間，隨遣華解救遠征軍在中國登岸服役的陸軍官兵。勳章正面由法蘭西斯·D·米萊特（Francis D. Millet）設計，中央為中國代表皇權的五爪神龍，外圈上緣刻有銘文「China Relief Expedition」（中國救援遠征軍），下緣刻有「1900-1901」。這幅極具視覺衝擊力的圖案，使其成為美國最獨樹一幟的勳章之一。背面的設計則與「印第安戰爭勳章」相同。綬帶為黃色（當時統治中國的滿清王朝之代表色），兩側邊緣帶有狹窄的深藍色邊條。
墨西哥邊境服役勳章 (陸軍版)
此勳章於公元1918年7月9日設立，用以表彰在公元1916年5月9日至1917年3月24日期間於墨西哥邊境服役的國民兵（National Guard）成員，以及在公元1916年1月1日至1917年4月6日期間隨邊境巡邏隊（Border Patrol）服役的正規陸軍（regular Army）官兵。然而，此勳章並不授予已具備「墨西哥服役勳章」獲頒資格的人員。在該服役期間，有很大一部分的正規陸軍以及約15萬名國民兵成員參與了邊境的訓練與服役；由於大多數陸軍官兵此前已獲頒「墨西哥服役勳章」，因此本勳章通常授予國民兵成員，也常被誤稱為「國民兵勳章」（National Guard Medal）。該勳章由查爾斯·J·R·M·泰勒（J. R. M. Taylor）上校設計，其外觀與「西班牙戰爭服役勳章」相同，唯獨正面中央的銘文改為「For Service on the Mexican Border」（以表彰在墨西哥邊境的服役）。綬帶中央為黃色，兩側配有等寬的綠色條帶；其顏色與「西班牙戰爭服役勳章」的綬帶顏色相同。
