English: A Pacific Service Medal awarded by the United States Navy.
First issued as a ribbon in 1941, the decoration was made official with the issuing of Executive Order 9265 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on November 6, 1942. A full medal was authorized in 1947. The decoration was awarded to any member of the United States military who served in the Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1945. The front of the medal was designed by Thomas Hudson Jones. It depicts a sailor (left) and a marine (right) in full combat gear, holding rifles. A beach with shattered palm tree trunks can be seen behind them, with a long palm tree still standing. In the water beyond the beach are an aircraft carrier (left) and a submarine (right). An airplane is visible over the sub.
The reverse side was designed by Adolph Alexander Weinman. It depicts a bald eagle in profile standing on a rock ledge, facing left. The dates "1941 - 1945" are to the eagle's left, and "United States of America" to the eagle's right. The rear design was used on the reverse of the European-African-Middle Eastern and American Campaign medals.
There were 21 Army and 48 Navy/Marine campaigns in the Pacific Theater. The number of campaigns a person fought in is denoted by the number of stars on the ribbon – in this case a silver service star for 5 awards plus two bronze service stars equals 7 additional awards (8 total). An arrowhead device indicates campaigns which involved amphibious assaults.
The Fleet Marine Force combat operation insignia (a globe with an eagle on top, and a tilted anchor behind it) was authorized for certain sailors.
The white and red stripes represent the enemy (Japan). The red, white, and blue stripes in the center are the same as those in the American Defense Service Medal. (That medal recognized military service from September 1939 to December 6, 1941.)