USAREUR
Display Recognition

Site Index

      • Sample Display Recognition
      • Display Types
      • Issue Requirements
      • Issue Regulations
      • Who May Apply
      • Administration Processing and Delivery
      • How To Apply For This Display Recognition and/or Medal
      • Mailing Address
      • Questions?
      • Other Army Unit Display Recognitions
      • Other Display Recognitions
      • Army Service Websites
      • Sample Display Recognition:



        Who May Apply

        • Veteran recipients
        • Active Duty recipients
        • Family Members of recipients
        • Estate Inheritors

        Display Types

        You have four display types to choose from:
        Black & White (No Color)
        Heavy Bond Enclosure
        or EnDurable Acrylux© Frame
        or Classic Deluxe Frame

        Heavy Bond Enclosure
        Colors: Regal, Black, Navy
        Trimmed in Appearance Gold

        Ready for Mantle or Shelf Display

        EnDurable Acrylux© Frame
        Colors: Chocolate Brown or Black
        Trimmed in Appearance Gold
        Ready for Wall or Shelf Display

        Classic Deluxe
        Color: Appearance Gold
        Ready for Wall or Shelf Display

        Issue Requirements
        You must submit the followind:

      • An unaltered photocopy of your Report of Separation (DD-214, WD AGO, etc.) If your service in the European Theater is not displayed on your Report of Separation you must provide a copy of your Report of Separation -AND- a copy(s) of any military-issued clearly displaying your European service.
      • NOTICE

        This Display Recognition is available ONLY to authorized recipients who possess orders, or authorization form, or release documentation that confirms award eligibility. (See "Issue Requirements"). To obtain either a Display Medal or a Display Recognition for your authorized award you will be required to provide military-issued documentation authorizing your award. There are no exceptions.

        WARNING!
        You must NOT submit a military issued document or photocopy that:

        • has been altered in any way by you after
          the original's official issue
        • contains information or corrections or
          additions that you entered
        • lists awards or training you knowingly did not receive
        • contains highlighting, colorizing or other markings you entered

        Be advised that on request any knowingly fraudulent document sent by you will be released to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that may result in prosecution and/or fine/imprisonment.

        Email Questions, or Phone: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone)

        Personnel Branch
        Processing and Delivery

        Style Admin Shipping Total
        Full Color .PDF (Printable) $7.50 Emailed $7.50
        Document only (Full Color) $14.00 $11.60 $25.60
        Heavy Bond Enclosure (Full Color) $19.00 $11.60 $30.60

      • * Total/Shipping fees, above, apply to 50 U.S. states
      • * Contact The War Library for international shipping cost
      • How to Apply

        You may apply for your Display Recognition using a...

      • Check Debit card (* Shipped within 1 week)
      • Charge card (* Shipped within 1 week)
      • Personal, Business, Bank or Cashiers Check ( Shipped in 6 weeks)
      • Money Order (* Shipped in 6 weeks)
      • (* Upon reception of required documentation)

        Complete and MAIL this APPLICATION FORM.
        Don't forget to include an unaltered COPY of your DD-214, WD AGO 53-55 or other pre-arranged document(s).

        DISPLAY RECOGNITION and/or MEDAL APPLICATION FORM

        Mailing Address

        Records Chief (REC-AMW)
        The American War Library
        817 East Via Carmelitos
        Virginia Building 319
        Long Beach CA 90805-7549

        Questions?

        Click here for answers to common questions

        Email: USAREUR Service Display Recognition Inquiry

        Telephone: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone)

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        Issue Regulations
        USAREUR Service


        Click for larger image

        Authorized to all military and civilian personnel in service with or under command of the USAREUR. (Unit awards apply to members who served during the unit's award period. See Meritorious, Valorous, Presidential, Superior, Outstanding and other unit award categories.)

        SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA. Description: On a dark blue Norman shield with curved top 3 5/16 inches (8.41 cm) in height and 2 1/2 inches (6.35 cm) in width, palewise, a double handed flaming sword, 2 1/8 inches (5.40 cm) in length, hilt golden yellow, white blade, red flames, all below an arched chief 5/8 inch (1.59 cm) in depth on center line, 1/8 inch (.32 cm) from the top and sides of the shield in sky blue, the base of which is 5/8 inch (1.59 cm) on center line divided into a rainbow of five colors: red, golden orange, yellow, green, and blue in descending order.

        Symbolism: The black shield, changed to dark blue when redesignated for the Headquarters U.S. Forces, European Theater in 1945, represented the darkness of oppression. The sword of liberation with rising flames represents justice by which the enemy power will be broken. Above the sword is a rainbow, emblematic of hope, containing the colors of the National Flags of the Allies. The sky blue above the rainbow represents a state of peace and tranquility to be restored to the enslaved people by the United Nations.

        Background: The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Forces on 13 December 1944. It was redesignated for Headquarters, U.S. Forces, European Theater and revised to change the background color from black to dark blue on 2 August 1945. It was redesignated for the European Command on 23 June 1947. The insignia was redesignated for United States Army Europe on 7 November 1952. It was amended to include the specific shade of orange in the description on 22 July 1970. It was cancelled effective 16 July 2009. The insignia was reinstated for United States Army Europe on 7 July 2009, revoking the cancellation. (TIOH Dwg. No. A-1-367).

        DISTINCTIVE UNIT INSIGNIA. Description: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 3/16 inches (3.02 cm) in height consisting of a vertical sword point up, with gold hilt and a white blade issuing red flames to wither side above a gold background contained in base by a curved V-shaped blue scroll with ends at either side of the flame turned gold; and the scroll inscribed with the words SWORD OF FREEDOM in gold letters.

        Symbolism: The flaming sword, a symbol of military strength and readiness, and the colors gold, white, red, and blue are adapted from the shoulder sleeve insignia of United States Army Europe.

        Background: The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for United States Army Europe on 27 July 1970. It was cancelled effective 16 July 2009. The insignia was reinstated for United States Army Europe on 7 July 2009, revoking the cancellation.

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