Title
Medal Cluster of Gerald Hennesy
Description
Five medals arranged in order and sewn together by Gerald Hennesy to preserve as such, with two pin backings attached.
Left to right:
1)US Naval Reserve Medal
Bronze medal depicting an eagle with wings spread holding an anchor on top of a rock. Sun's rays appear behind it.
The reverse has a single, small star at the bottom and reads 'United States Naval Reserve' and 'Faithful Service.'
The ribbon was originally red (now maroon with age) with thin blue and yellow stripes along the outside border.
2)American Campaign Medal
Bronze medal depicting a Navy cruiser and a B-24 Liberator bomber flying overhead. In the foreground is a sinking enemy submarine, and in the background is the skyline of a city and reads 'American Campaign.'
The reverse depicts a bald eagle perched on a cliff and reads 'United States of America 1941 1945.'
The ribbon is a light blue with a central set of vertical stripes of navy blue, red, and white, and with vertical stripes along either side of white, red, black, and white.
3)Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Bronze medal depicting a tropical landing with a battleship, aircraft carrier, submarine and aircraft in the background with landing troops and palm trees in the foreground. The medal reads 'Asiatic Pacific Campaign.'
The reverse depicts a bald eagle perched on a cliff and reads 'United States of America 1941 1945.'
The ribbon is yellow with a central set of vertical stripes of navy blue, red, and white, and with vertical stripes along either side of white, red, and white.
4)Navy Occupation Service Medal
Bronze medal depicts Neptune riding a Hippocampus and reads 'Occupation Service.'
The reverse depicts a bald eagle perched on an anchor with holding a branch with leaves and reads 'United States Navy' and 'For Service.'
The ribbon is vertical stripes of white, black, red, and white with a bronze plate attached that reads 'Europe.'
5)WWII Victory Medal
Bronze medal depicts Lady Liberation standing full length with head turned looking to the dawn of a new day, right foot resting on a war god's helmet with the hilt of a broken sword in the right hand and the broken blade in the left hand and reads 'World War II.'
The reverse depicts a central palm branch and reads ' United States of America 1941 1945' and 'Freedom from fear and want' and 'Freedom of speech and religion.'
The ribbon is red with vertical rainbow striping on either border.
Left to right:
1)US Naval Reserve Medal
Bronze medal depicting an eagle with wings spread holding an anchor on top of a rock. Sun's rays appear behind it.
The reverse has a single, small star at the bottom and reads 'United States Naval Reserve' and 'Faithful Service.'
The ribbon was originally red (now maroon with age) with thin blue and yellow stripes along the outside border.
2)American Campaign Medal
Bronze medal depicting a Navy cruiser and a B-24 Liberator bomber flying overhead. In the foreground is a sinking enemy submarine, and in the background is the skyline of a city and reads 'American Campaign.'
The reverse depicts a bald eagle perched on a cliff and reads 'United States of America 1941 1945.'
The ribbon is a light blue with a central set of vertical stripes of navy blue, red, and white, and with vertical stripes along either side of white, red, black, and white.
3)Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Bronze medal depicting a tropical landing with a battleship, aircraft carrier, submarine and aircraft in the background with landing troops and palm trees in the foreground. The medal reads 'Asiatic Pacific Campaign.'
The reverse depicts a bald eagle perched on a cliff and reads 'United States of America 1941 1945.'
The ribbon is yellow with a central set of vertical stripes of navy blue, red, and white, and with vertical stripes along either side of white, red, and white.
4)Navy Occupation Service Medal
Bronze medal depicts Neptune riding a Hippocampus and reads 'Occupation Service.'
The reverse depicts a bald eagle perched on an anchor with holding a branch with leaves and reads 'United States Navy' and 'For Service.'
The ribbon is vertical stripes of white, black, red, and white with a bronze plate attached that reads 'Europe.'
5)WWII Victory Medal
Bronze medal depicts Lady Liberation standing full length with head turned looking to the dawn of a new day, right foot resting on a war god's helmet with the hilt of a broken sword in the right hand and the broken blade in the left hand and reads 'World War II.'
The reverse depicts a central palm branch and reads ' United States of America 1941 1945' and 'Freedom from fear and want' and 'Freedom of speech and religion.'
The ribbon is red with vertical rainbow striping on either border.
Collection
Gerald Hennesy Collection
Context
As a F4U Corsair fighter-bomber pilot in the Pacific, Gerald Hennesy flew almost 100 missions off the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10). He received the Air Medal for downing an enemy aircraft during a rescue mission for one of his fellow pilots.
Accession #
2023.33
