YANGTZE SERVICE

Although U.S. Navy ships had operated in China’s rivers and coastal waters since the 1850s, the number of vessels patrolling those area in order to protect American interests dramatically increased in the first three decades of the 20th century. This was due in part to the increased trade that was taking place between China and the rest of the world, as well as incidents of violence against foreigners, most notably during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900-1901. The vessels performing this service, many of them river gunboats, were designated the Yangtze Patrol.

Authorized by the Secretary of the Navy on April 298, 1930, the Yangtze Service Medal was awarded to members of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps who took part in operations in the Yangtze River Valley during two distinct periods: 3 September 1926 to 21 October 1927, and 1 March 1930 and 31 December 1932.

Navy regulations also stated it could be awarded to Servicemembers serving shore duty in Shanghai or who had taken part in a landing force in the valley of the Yangtze river during those same time periods. These including landing party personnel from the hospital ship USS Chaumont and the the fuel ship USS Pecos, as well as the 6th Regiment of the USMC aboard the USS Henderson (2 May 1927 to 2 June 1927) and an Expeditionary Detachment, Aircraft Squadrons of the Third Brigades of the Marine Corps that was also aboard the Henderson (June 23 – 27, 1927).

The Wikipedia entry states that the Yangtze Service Medal was declared "obsolete" when the the China Service Medal was issued, but this is almost certainly untrue since each medal has its own distinct set of service dates. The earliest date of eligible operations for the China Service Medal is July 7, 1937—nearly five years after the ending date of eligible operations for the Yangtze Service Medal.

Officers and enlisted personnel who served aboard the following ships for missions during the eligibility period are eligible for the decoration, with the caveat that no Servicemember may receive more than one award.