American Defense Service Medal

The American Defense Service Medal was established by Executive Order 8808 signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on 18 June 1941, and implemented by War Department Bulletin 17, 1941 and broadcast in Department of the Army Circular 44, dated 13 February 1942. The medal was designed by Joseph Kiselewski and sculpted by Lee Lawrie, a civilian sculptor from Easton, Maryland. The Commission of Fine Arts approved the model of the medal on 5 May 1942. The Secretary of War and Secretary of Navy approved the ribbon design on 7 January 1942. The Foreign Service clasp is worn on the suspension ribbon to signify service outside the Continental United States. A bronze star is worn on the service ribbon instead of the foreign service clasp.