U.S. Naval Reserve Long Service Medal

[Lukasz Gaszewski]

Does anybody have any information about this beautiful medal?

[Hugh]

Does anybody have any information about this beautiful medal?

Very interesting! Despite a 34 year association with the Navy, I've never seen it. There was a Naval Reserve medal in use when I first transferred to the Reserve (1971), but the ribbon was quite different. The ribbon looks old, but the design of the warship looks 20th century, perhaps 1930 - 40's. I'll hit the books and get back to you.

Hugh

[Hugh]

I took the easy way out and went to Wikipedia. The details sound about right with my recollection. The medal you have shown must have been a predecessor earlier in the century.

The Naval Reserve Medal is a decoration of the United States Navy which was created by order of Secretary of the Navy James Paulding. The medal was first issued on September 12, 1938 and was an active decoration until 1958. On September 12, 1958, the Naval Reserve Medal was declared discontinued and was replaced by the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. It is not to be confused with the Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal which is a completely different decoration. The Naval Reserve Medal was awarded to any member of the United States Naval Reserve, the associated National Naval Volunteers, and local Naval militia units. To be awarded the decoration, a service member was required to perform ten years of continuous service in one of the aforementioned components in either an active duty, drilling reservist, or inactive status.

Additional decorations of the Naval Reserve Medal were denoted by service stars. The United States Marine Corps equivalent to the decoration was the Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon.

Edited June 13, 2010 by Hugh

[Lukasz Gaszewski]

Thanks Hugh for this valuable information. I wonder if the medal preceded the medal of 1938 (it indeed looks like pre-WWII made) or it is still something else. One thing is obvious - it is engraved on reverse (I blurred the engraving on the photo) and was certainly worn by someone - it has traces of wearing and the ribbon is half-torn in the upper part. A real mystery to me.

[JPL]

Thanks Hugh for this valuable information. I wonder if the medal preceded the medal of 1938 (it indeed looks like pre-WWII made) or it is still something else. One thing is obvious - it is engraved on reverse (I blurred the engraving on the photo) and was certainly worn by someone - it has traces of wearing and the ribbon is half-torn in the upper part. A real mystery to me.

Hi Lukasz,

I know that some of the States had Naval Militia components, for example New York State. Perhaps this a State Naval Reserve LS medal.

Jean-Paul

[Lukasz Gaszewski]

Thanks JP. I also thought about NG/SG, but what made me doubt was the lack of the appropriate inscription on the medal. My first thought, however, when I saw the medal was it must have been a NY state medal.