Medal Bar
Photo credit: Museum staff
Accession Number: C.2025.29.2
Dimensions: 3.25 in X 4 3/8 in X .15 in
Dimensions (Metric): 8.255 cm X 10.16 cm X 0.381 cm
Dimensions (Metric): 8.255 cm X 10.16 cm X 0.381 cm
Source: James Whittaker
Credit Line: Gift of James Whittaker
Description
Bronze medal bar with three military medals awarded to James Whittaker. The medals are (from left to right) a National Defense Service medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary medal, and Global War on Terrorism medal. The medals are attached to the bar by their ribbons. The back of the bar has two butterfly clasps for affixing to a uniform.
National Defense Service Medal (left):
The bronze medal features a bald eagle, perched on a sword and palm, with the inscription "NATIONAL DEFENSE" in a semicircle above. The reverse side is embossed with a shield with thirteen vertical bars, half-encircled below with an oak leaf to the left and a laurel spray to the right, knotted in the center. The medal is attached to a ribbon with a wide yellow/gold stripe in the center, flanked by narrow stripes of red, white, and blue and two wide red stripes on either side.
Global War on Terrorism expeditionary medal (middle):
The bronze medal features a shield and bald eagle with spread wings adapted from the Great Seal of the United States, superimposed over two crossed swords enclosed in a laurel wreath. The reverse is embossed with the phrase "WAR ON TERRORISM | EXPEDITIONS," with a bald eagle and two crossed swords depicted in the center. The medal is attached to a multicolored ribbon.
Global War on Terrorism medal (right):
The bronze medal features the Great Seal of the United States, which includes a bald eagle with spread wings holding an olive branch in its right claw and three arrows in its left claw and a shield with thirteen vertical bars on the eagle's breast. A terrestrial globe is above the eagle with the inscription "WAR ON TERRORISM SERVICE" appearing in a semicircle above. The reverse is embossed with a laurel wreath. The medal is attached to a multicolored ribbon.
Bronze medal bar with three military medals awarded to James Whittaker. The medals are (from left to right) a National Defense Service medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary medal, and Global War on Terrorism medal. The medals are attached to the bar by their ribbons. The back of the bar has two butterfly clasps for affixing to a uniform.
National Defense Service Medal (left):
The bronze medal features a bald eagle, perched on a sword and palm, with the inscription "NATIONAL DEFENSE" in a semicircle above. The reverse side is embossed with a shield with thirteen vertical bars, half-encircled below with an oak leaf to the left and a laurel spray to the right, knotted in the center. The medal is attached to a ribbon with a wide yellow/gold stripe in the center, flanked by narrow stripes of red, white, and blue and two wide red stripes on either side.
Global War on Terrorism expeditionary medal (middle):
The bronze medal features a shield and bald eagle with spread wings adapted from the Great Seal of the United States, superimposed over two crossed swords enclosed in a laurel wreath. The reverse is embossed with the phrase "WAR ON TERRORISM | EXPEDITIONS," with a bald eagle and two crossed swords depicted in the center. The medal is attached to a multicolored ribbon.
Global War on Terrorism medal (right):
The bronze medal features the Great Seal of the United States, which includes a bald eagle with spread wings holding an olive branch in its right claw and three arrows in its left claw and a shield with thirteen vertical bars on the eagle's breast. A terrestrial globe is above the eagle with the inscription "WAR ON TERRORISM SERVICE" appearing in a semicircle above. The reverse is embossed with a laurel wreath. The medal is attached to a multicolored ribbon.
Historical Notes
James Whittaker was 18 years old on 9/11. While he always aspired to serve his country in the military, he credits the 2001 terrorist attacks with reinforcing that commitment and motivating his enlistment in the U.S. Marines. Signing up in 2003, he began boot camp in 2004 and was sent to Iraq in 2005 as an infantryman—his first of two deployments under the banner of the Global War on Terrorism.
James Whittaker was 18 years old on 9/11. While he always aspired to serve his country in the military, he credits the 2001 terrorist attacks with reinforcing that commitment and motivating his enlistment in the U.S. Marines. Signing up in 2003, he began boot camp in 2004 and was sent to Iraq in 2005 as an infantryman—his first of two deployments under the banner of the Global War on Terrorism.
