Other Memories
Remarks: (1) With Company 11, Motor Battalion. (2) Sailed Overseas Oct 28, 1918 (France) (3) Returned to USA July 1, 1919 (4) 8 Months Overseas (France)
Criteria The Medal for Valor may be awarded to a member of the Kentucky National Guard who has distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call... The Medal for Valor may be awarded to a member of the Kentucky National Guard who has distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while in the service of the State and/or United States. Additionally, it must have involved personal risk of life or a performance of more than ordinarily hazardous service, the omission of which would not justly subject the person to censure for shortcoming or failure in the performance of duty. No award of the Medal for Valor shall be made except upon clear and uncontested proof of at least one eyewitness or person having personal knowledge of the act or deed. MoreHide
Criteria The Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal is awarded to any member of the U.S. Armed Forces, DOD Civilian, DMA Civilian, and Allied Forces who has distinguished himself / herself through exceptionally ... The Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal is awarded to any member of the U.S. Armed Forces, DOD Civilian, DMA Civilian, and Allied Forces who has distinguished himself / herself through exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of an outstanding service or achievement. Criteria for members of the Armed Forces of the United States are as follows: The performance must have been such as to merit recognition of key individuals for service rendered in a clearly exceptional manner. Performance of duties normal to the grade, branch, specialty, or assignment, and experience of an individual is not an adequate basis for this award. For services not related to actual war, the term \"key individuals\" applies to a narrower range of positions than in time of war and requires evidence of significant achievement. In peacetime, service should be in the nature of a special requirement or of an extremely difficult duty performed in an unprecedented and clearly exceptional manner. However, justification of the award may accrue by virtue of exceptionally meritorious service in a succession of important positions. Criteria for DOD Civilians, DMA Civilians, and Allied Forces: Exceptional performance of outstanding service or achievement resulting in direct and positive impact to a Kentucky Army National Guard unit or the organization as a whole. The service or achievement will be clearly identifiable, measurable, and beyond the normal level for the position of the individual. MoreHide
Criteria The Kentucky Merit Ribbon may be awarded to Kentucky National Guardsmen for the following: For heroism above and beyond the normal call of duty that does not merit the award of a higher medal. For exc... The Kentucky Merit Ribbon may be awarded to Kentucky National Guardsmen for the following: For heroism above and beyond the normal call of duty that does not merit the award of a higher medal. For exceptional and meritorious performance of assigned duties. For exceptional achievement. MoreHide
Criteria
Presented to the outstanding soldier and airmen who are selected for that fiscal year. The ribbon takes precedence immediately after the KY Commendation Ribbon.
Criteria The Kentucky Commendation Ribbon may be awarded to members of the Kentucky National Guard for the following: Heroism above and beyond the normal call of duty that does not merit the award of a higher ... The Kentucky Commendation Ribbon may be awarded to members of the Kentucky National Guard for the following: Heroism above and beyond the normal call of duty that does not merit the award of a higher medal. Outstanding performance of duty. Outstanding achievement. MoreHide
Criteria The Kentucky National Guard Junior ROTC Distinguished Cadet Medal is a pewter medal with the Minuteman superimposed on the raised image of the State of Kentucky with the words - Kentucky National Guar... The Kentucky National Guard Junior ROTC Distinguished Cadet Medal is a pewter medal with the Minuteman superimposed on the raised image of the State of Kentucky with the words - Kentucky National Guard Achievement - inscribed around the medal. The ribbon is navy blue with five 1/8-inch vertical gold stripes. MoreHide
Criteria The Kentucky Service Ribbon is awarded to members of the Kentucky National Guard who have completed five years of honorable service in the KYNG. The years of service need not have been performed conse... The Kentucky Service Ribbon is awarded to members of the Kentucky National Guard who have completed five years of honorable service in the KYNG. The years of service need not have been performed consecutively; however, it must have been in an active status in any KY service component of the Armed Forces of the United States, exclusive of service in an inactive status. Oak Leaf Clusters will be authorized to denote succeeding years of service. Members formerly awarded the Thirty Year Ribbon are authorized to continue wearing the ribbon. MoreHide
Criteria Members of the KYNG who have honorably completed 10 days or more of consecutive active duty service outside the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and US possessions and territories in a title 32 or... Members of the KYNG who have honorably completed 10 days or more of consecutive active duty service outside the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and US possessions and territories in a title 32 or title 10 Active Duty status. The day of departure counts; the day of return does not. This award is not applicable when service is recognized by Federal service award. Numerals will be used to denote second and subsequent awards of the KY Overseas Service Ribbon. MoreHide
Criteria The World War I Victory Medal was awarded for military service during the First World War. It was awarded for active service between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918; for service with the American... The World War I Victory Medal was awarded for military service during the First World War. It was awarded for active service between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918; for service with the American Expeditionary Forces in European Russia between November 12, 1918, and August 5, 1919; or for service with the American Expeditionary Forces in Siberia between November 23, 1918, and April 1, 1920. MoreHide
Comments
Remarks: (1) With Company 11, Motor Battalion. (2) Sailed Overseas Oct 28, 1918 (France) (3) Returned to USA July 1, 1919 (4) 8 Months Overseas (France)
Description The United States of America declared war on the German Empire on April 6, 1917. The U.S. was an independent power and did not officially join the Allies. It closely cooperated with them militarily buThe United States of America declared war on the German Empire on April 6, 1917. The U.S. was an independent power and did not officially join the Allies. It closely cooperated with them militarily but acted alone in diplomacy. The U.S. made its major contributions in terms of supplies, raw material and money, starting in 1917. American soldiers under General John J. Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), arrived in large numbers on the Western Front in the summer of 1918. They played a major role until victory was achieved on November 11, 1918. Before entering the war, the U.S had remained neutral, though it had been an important supplier to Great Britain and the other Allied powers. During the war, the U.S mobilized over 4 million military personnel and suffered 110,000 deaths, including 43,000 due to the influenza pandemic. The war saw a dramatic expansion of the United States government in an effort to harness the war effort and a significant increase in the size of the U.S. military. After a slow start in mobilising the economy and labour force, by spring 1918 the nation was poised to play a role in the conflict. Under the leadership of President Woodrow Wilson, the war represented the climax of the Progressive Era as it sought to bring reform and democracy to the world,[citation needed] although there was substantial public opposition to United States entry into the war.
Although the United States declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917, it did not initially declare war on the other Central Powers, a state of affairs that Woodrow Wilson described as an "embarrassing obstacle" in his State of the Union speech.[26] Congress declared war on the Austro-Hungarian Empire on December 17, 1917, but never made declarations of war against the other Central Powers, Bulgaria, the Ottoman Empire or the various Co-belligerents allied with the central powers, thus the United States remained uninvolved in the military campaigns in central, eastern and southern Europe, the Middle East, the Caucasus, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
The United States as late as 1917 maintained only a small army, smaller than thirteen of the nations and empires already active in the war. After the passage of the Selective Service Act in 1917, it drafted 2.8 million men into military service. By the summer of 1918 about a million U.S. soldiers had arrived in France, about half of whom eventually saw front-line service; by the Armistice of November 11 approximately 10,000 fresh soldiers were arriving in France daily. In 1917 Congress gave U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans when they were drafted to participate in World War I, as part of the Jones Act. In the end Germany miscalculated the United States' influence on the outcome of the conflict, believing it would be many more months before U.S. troops would arrive and overestimating the effectiveness of U-boats in slowing the American buildup.
The United States Navy sent a battleship group to Scapa Flow to join with the British Grand Fleet, destroyers to Queenstown, Ireland and submarines to help guard convoys. Several regiments of Marines were also dispatched to France. The British and French wanted U.S. units used to reinforce their troops already on the battle lines and not to waste scarce shipping on bringing over supplies. The U.S. rejected the first proposition and accepted the second. General John J. Pershing, American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) commander, refused to break up U.S. units to serve as mere reinforcements for British Empire and French units. As an exception, he did allow African-American combat regiments to fight in French divisions. The Harlem Hellfighters fought as part of the French 16th Division, earning a unit Croix de Guerre for their actions at Château-Thierry, Belleau Wood, and Séchault.
Impact of US forces on the war
On the battlefields of France in spring 1918, the war-weary Allied armies enthusiastically welcomed the fresh American troops. They arrived at the rate of 10,000 a day, at a time when the Germans were unable to replace their losses. After British Empire, French and Portuguese forces had defeated and turned back the powerful final German offensive (Spring Offensive of March to July, 1918), the Americans played a role in the Allied final offensive (Hundred Days Offensive of August to November). However, many American commanders used the same flawed tactics which the British, French, Germans and others had abandoned early in the war, and so many American offensives were not particularly effective. Pershing continued to commit troops to these full- frontal attacks, resulting in high casualties against experienced veteran German and Austrian-Hungarian units. Nevertheless, the infusion of new and fresh U.S. troops greatly strengthened the Allies' strategic position and boosted morale. The Allies achieved victory over Germany on November 11, 1918 after German morale had collapsed both at home and on the battlefield.... More
Memories Remarks: (1) With Company 11, Motor Battalion. (2) Sailed Overseas Oct 28, 1918 (France) (3) Returned Remarks: (1) With Company 11, Motor Battalion. (2) Sailed Overseas Oct 28, 1918 (France) (3) Returned to USA July 1, 1919 (4) 8 Months Overseas (France)... More
Dicharged from Army on July 23, 1919 at Camp Pike, AR.
(Last Unit Assigned: Company 11, Motor Battalion-France.)