Mexican Border Service Medal
Display Recognition

Site Index

      • Example Display Recognition
      • Applicable Military Branches
      • Display Types
      • Issue Requirements
      • Issue Regulations
      • Who May Apply
      • Administration Processing and Delivery
      • How To Apply For This Display Recognition and/or
      • Mailing Address
      • Questions?
      • Other Display Recognitions
      • Army Service Websites
      • Example Display Recognition:
        Actual Size: 8 1/2 x 11



        Military Branches

        Army Only

        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

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

        Ready for Mantle or Shelf Display

        Issue Requirements
        You must submit the following:

      • Military documentation authorizing this award or military documentation stating Mexican Border service during the eligibility period.
      • 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 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
        Published Document only (Full Color) $14.00 $10.50 USPS $24.50
        Published Document in Heavy Bond Enclosure (Full Color) $19.00 $10.50 USPS $29.50
        Full Color Printable Certificates
        on CD-Rom (minimum 20 Certificates)
        $7.50 $7.50 By Count

      • *** USPS USPS Shipping fee based on 1 Certificate shipped to any U.S. state, FPO or APO
      • ** USPS USPS Shipping fee based on 1 Certificate shipped to any U.S. state, FPO or APO
      • 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 APPLICATION FORM

        Mailing Address

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

        Questions?

        Click here for answers to common questions

        Email: Mexican Border Service Medal Display Recognition Inquiry

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

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        Issue Regulations
        Mexican Border Service Medal


        Click for larger image

        CRITERIA
        The Mexican Border Service Medal was awarded for service on the Mexican border between May 9, 1916 and March 24, 1917 or with the Mexican Border Patrol between January 1, 1916 and April 6, 1917. It was authorized for persons not eligible for the Mexican Service Medal.

        DESCRIPTION
        A bronze medal, 1 1/4 inch in diameter, with an oxidized, relieved finish.

        OBVERSE
        A sheathed Roman sword hanging on a tablet which is inscribed FOR SERVICE ON THE MEXICAN BORDER. The tablet is surrounded by a laurel wreath.

        REVERSE
        The Coat of Arms of the United States above a scroll and surrounded by a wreath ending at the center with cross rifles in dexter, crossed sabers in sinister, and crossed cannons in base.

        Ribbon
        The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches in width and consists of the following vertical stripes: 7/16 inch Emerald Green, 1/2 inch Golden Yellow, 7/16 inch and Emerald Green.

        COMPONENTS
        Medal. MIL-DTL-3943/193.
        Ribbon. MIL-DTL-11589/93.

        BACKGROUND
        The Mexican Border Service Medal was established by Act of Congress (Public Law 193, 65th Congress) on July 9, 1918.

        The Roman sword symbolizes war or military strength and is sheathed to indicate service in the United States rather than in actual combat. The wreath represents achievement. The rifles, sabers, and cannons represent the Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery. The ribbon colors are the same as used in the Mexican Service Medal.

        ESTABLISHING LEGISLATION
        The Mexican Border Service Medal was established by Act of Congress (Public Law 873: Chapter 143, 40 Stat. 873, 65th Congress) on July 9, 1918.

        EVENT COMMEMORATED
        The Mexican Border Service Medal commemorates military service on the Mexican border between May 9, 1916, and March 24, 1917, or with the Mexican Border Patrol between January 1, 1916, and April 6, 1917. Like the Spanish War Service Medal, this award was primarily intended to reward service in the National Guard (service members eligible for the Mexican Service Medal were not eligible for the Mexican Border Service Medal).

        ORDER OF PRECEDENCE
        The Mexican Border Service Medal takes precedence after the Mexican Service Medal and before the World War I Victory Medal.

        DEVICES
        No devices were authorized for this medal.

        DESIGNER
        The obverse of the Spanish War Service Medal was designed by Colonel John R. M. Taylor, and the reverse was designed by Rudolf Freund of Bailey, Banks & Biddle. The medal was sculpted by John R. Sinnock of the Philadelphia Mint.

        FIRST RECIPIENT
        Mexican Border Service Medal #1 issued to Major General Charles M. Clement on July 16, 1919

        DESCRIPTION AND SYMBOLISM
        Obverse
        In the center of a bronze medallion one and a quarter inches in diameter, a sheathed Roman sword is shown hanging on a tablet upon which is inscribed, FOR SERVICE ON THE MEXICAN BORDER. The tablet is surrounded by a laurel wreath contained within the raised edge of the medal.

        The tablet symbolizes the kind of tablet used for the discharge certificates of Roman Legionairies, which were of bronze and were nailed up in the houses of their recipients. The Roman sword symbolizes war or military strength; its being sheathed indicates National Guard service within the United States, rather than in actual combat. The wreath represents achievement.

        Reverse
        In the center of a bronze medallion one and a quarter inches in diameter, the Coat of Arms of the United States with a scroll below, surrounded by a wreath displaying crossed rifles (on the left); crossed sabers (on the right), and crossed cannon (beneath). The Arms of the United States denote service to the United States government (as opposed to purely state service). The crossed rifles, sabers, and cannon allude to the combat arms (infantry, cavalry and artillery). The laurel wreath represents achievement and alludes to the distinction with which the National Guard members served during this period.

        Ribbon
        The ribbon to the Mexican Border Service Medal consists of a field of green bisected in the center by a gold stripe. The colors have the same symbolism as those of the Spanish War Service Medal: green is symbolic of freedom while gold alludes to virtue. The colors of this ribbon refer to civic virtue by serving the government in the cause of freedom. The proportions were altered to avoid confusing it with the Spanish War Service Medal.

        Numbering
        This medal was serially numbered (without prefix) at the six o'clock position on its rim.

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