USA Defence Service Medal with Fleet Clasp 1941
The American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp was awarded to U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel who served on active duty between September 8, 1939, and December 7, 1941, specifically for service on the high seas while attached to a vessel or aircraft squadron of the Atlantic, Pacific, or Asiatic Fleets
Key Details for the Fleet Clasp Medal:
Purpose: Recognized active duty service during the limited emergency period immediately preceding the U.S. entry into World War II
Eligibility: Required regular attachment to a vessel or squadron operating under the Chief of Naval Operations or within the named fleets (Atlantic, Pacific, Asiatic)
The Clasp: A metal bar inscribed "FLEET" worn on the ribbon of the medal
Other Devices: Personnel might also be authorized a bronze "A" (for service in active/potential belligerent contact in the Atlantic) or a bronze star (representing the clasp when the ribbon bar is worn) .