Along with the China and Philippine Campaigns, the authorization for a Spanish Campaign badge was made in the War Department’s General Orders 5 on January 12, 1905, just one day after the War Department gave the authorization for campaign badges in general.
The orders specified that the award would be eligible for United States Army personnel who took part in actions at three locations and during distinct periods of time during the Spanish-American War: the island of Cuba (May 11, 1898 to July 17, 1898); the island of Puerto Rico (June 30, 1898 and August 16, 1898); or on the seas during the trip to either location during 1898.
On the medal’s obverse side is an image of a castle with two round towers, a reference to the castle that is featured on the coat of the Royal Arms of Spain. The reverse side features an eagle over accouterments of war associated with the locations of the fighting—a cannon, four standards, six rifles, an Indian shield, a quiver of arrows, three spears, a Kris (sword with a distinctive “wavy” design), and a Cuban machete.
The Army’s Spanish Campaign Medal was design by F. D. Millet, an acclaimed artist, sculptor, and journalist also responsible for designing the
Army’s Civil War Campaign Medal. Millet died in the sinking of the RMS
Titanic on April 12, 1912.
A U.S. Navy version of the medal was established in June, 1908, and awarded to any Navy or Marine Corps personnel who served in the Philippine Island during the period of 1 May 1898—16 August 1898 (the crewmembers of certain vessels were eligible service before May 1). The Navy also created the West Indies Campaign Medal and the Sampson Medal (the latter was authorized in 1901 by a Congressional resolution). Although the West Indies Campaign Medal was later discontinued, the Navy did expand the eligibility criteria for the Spanish Campaign Medal to include all personnel who had been on active duty during the Spanish-American War.