United States Antarctic Expedition Medal
| United States Antarctic Expedition Medal | |
|---|---|
| Type | Medal in Gold, Silver, and Bronze |
| Awarded for | Valuable services to the Nation in the field of polar exploration and science |
| Presented by | Department of the Navy |
| Eligibility | Members of U.S. Antarctic Expedition (1939–1941) |
| Status | Obsolete; replaced by Antarctica Service Medal |
| Established | September 24, 1945 |
Ribbon bar | |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | World War II Victory Medal |
| Next (lower) | Navy Occupation Service Medal |
| Related | Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal Second Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal Antarctica Service Medal |
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The United States Antarctic Expedition Medal is a combined military-civilian award that was authorized by the United States Congress on September 24, 1945 under Public Law 185 of the 79th Congress (59 Stat. 536). The award recognizes members of the United States Antarctic Expedition of 1939–1941. There were gold, silver, and bronze versions. It is unclear if the gold version is considered a Congressional Gold Medal, as was the case with the 1st Byrd expedition.