Sampson Medal
| Sampson Medal | |
|---|---|
| Type | Campaign medal |
| Awarded for | Combat operations in the waters of the West Indies and Cuba. |
| Presented by | Department of the Navy |
| Eligibility | Personnel who were assigned in the fleet of Rear Admiral William T. Sampson during the Spanish–American War |
| Status | Obsolete |
| Established | 1901 |
| First award | 1901 Retroactive to 1898 |
Sampson Medal ribbon | |
| Order of Wear (1972) | |
| Next (higher) | Dewey Medal |
| Next (lower) | Peary Polar Expedition Medal |
The Sampson Medal was a U.S. Navy campaign medal. The medal was authorized by an Act of Congress in 1901. The medal was awarded to those personnel who served on ships in the fleet of Rear Admiral William T. Sampson during combat operations in the waters of the West Indies and Cuba. The Sampson Medal was also known as the West Indies Naval Campaign Medal, not to be confused with the West Indies Campaign Medal which was a separate award. A similar commemorative decoration was the Dewey Medal, considered senior to the Sampson Medal.