United States Army Good Conduct Medal 1941
Established by Executive Order 8809 on June 28, 1941, the United States Army Good Conduct Medal honors enlisted personnel for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity
It was awarded for three years of active service after August 27, 1940, or one year of service after December 7, 1941, during wartime
Key Aspects of the 1941 Army Good Conduct Medal:
Design: Designed by Joseph Kiselewski, featuring an eagle perched on a Roman sword atop a book, with the text "EFFICIENCY, HONOR, FIDELITY" on the obverse
Reverse: A five-point star with laurel and oak leaves, inscribed "FOR GOOD CONDUCT"
Appearance: A bronze medal hanging from a red ribbon with six white stripes
Significance: It was the first dedicated Good Conduct Medal for the U.S. Army, initiated just before U.S. entry into WWII
Eligibility: Originally, it applied to three years of service, but was amended for faster award during wartime (one year after Dec 7, 1941)