The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is unique among the three Campaign Medals established by President Franklin Roosevelt with Executive Order 9265 in that its area of eligibility is defined only in relation to the areas of the other two campaigns, i.e., its eastern boundary extends to the western boundary of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, and its western boundary reaches to the eastern boundary of the American Theater.
The obverse sides of all three Campaign Medals were designed by Thomas Hudson Jones (the reverse sides of all three medals share a design by A. A. Weinman), but this one particularly noteworthy because Hudson based his design on a request by General Dwight Eisenhower that it include an invasion scene.
Aside from the obvious distinction in locations, the only significant difference in the eligibility requirements for the EAMEC Medal as opposed to the other two Campaign medals is the ending eligibility date of November 8, 1945. Recipients of the EAMEC are authorized to wear a bronze service star for each of the campaigns that took place in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater (a silver service star is worn in lieu of five bronze stars). According to The Institute of Heraldry, there are nineteen campaigns in the theater that may be designated with a service star, but three of them—Antisubmarine, Ground Combat, and Air Combat—are generic and therefore are not displayed as streamers on the Army flag.
Befitting imagery displayed on the observe of the medal, Regulations also authorize the Arrowhead device for wear on the EAMEC Medal, indicating participation in an amphibious assault landing, combat glider landing, combat parachute jump, or helicopter assault. (Authorization for Arrowhead devices depends on the recipient being assigned or attached as a member of a specified, organized force that was carrying out an assigned tactical mission.)