Officers and Men at The Battle of Manila Bay May 1, 1898

Claymont, DE: Orders and Medals Society of America (OMSA), 1972. Presumed First Edition, First printing --Limited edition of 2000, but this copy unnumbered. Pamphlet. Very good. [2], 66, [4] pages. Illustrations. This copy bears the stamp of Todd Wheatley. Laid in is a handwritten note from Todd Wheatley to Harold Langley presenting him this copy. OMSA is devoted to the collection, preservation and dissemination of information on U.S. and foreign orders, decorations and medals. Harold David Langley (15 February 1925 - 29 July 2020) was an American diplomatic and naval historian who served as associate curator of naval history at the Smithsonian Institution from 1969 to 1996. As a naval historian, he was a pioneer in exploring American naval social and medical history. Langley began his professional career at the Library of Congress, Manuscripts Division, in Washington, D.C., where he served as a manuscripts assistant in 1951-52, while a graduate student. Moving to the University of Pennsylvania Libraries in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was a graduate student, he served as a manuscripts specialist, rare book collection, 1952-54. Returning to the Library of Congress, he was a manuscripts specialist, there in 1954-55. In 1955, Marywood College in Scranton, appointed him assistant professor of history. He remained there until 1957, when he received an appointment as a diplomatic historian in the U.S. Department of State. In 1964, Catholic University of America appointed him associate professor, and in 1968 promoted him to full professor in 1968. In 1969, the Smithsonian Institution, appointed him associate curator of naval history. While holding that position, he was an adjunct professor of American history at the Catholic University of America from 1971 to 2001. The Dewey Medal was a military decoration of the United States Navy which was established by the United States Congress on June 3, 1898. It was designed by Daniel Chester French. The medal was struck by Tiffany & Co. The front, or obverse, depicts a bust of Commodore George Dewey. On the back, or reverse, is included the name of the vessel on which the recipient served. The name of the recipient is engraved on the medal's lower rim, this being one of only two service medals issued officially named to the recipient. The medal recognizes the leadership of Admiral of the Navy George Dewey, during the Spanish-American War, and the Sailors and Marines under his command. The Dewey Medal was created to recognize the forces of the U.S. Navy and United States Marine Corps who participated in the Battle of Manila Bay. To be awarded the Dewey Medal, a service member must have served on one of the following naval vessels on May 1, 1898: USS Baltimore; USS Boston; USS Concord; USRC McCulloch; USS Olympia; USS Petrel; and USS Raleigh. The Dewey Medal was a one-time only decoration and there were no devices or campaign stars authorized to the medal. The medal consists of a circular medallion, upon which rests an image of Admiral George Dewey, suspended from a blue and yellow ribbon. Admiral Dewey was awarded the medal, although, out of modesty, he always wore it with the medal's reverse displayed which depicted a sailor sitting on a gun. Dewey had the rare distinction of being one of only four Americans entitled to wear a medal with their own image on it. The others were Rear Admiral William T. Sampson (Sampson Medal), Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd (1st and 2nd Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medals) and General of the Armies John J. Pershing (Army of Occupation of Germany Medal). The medal was recognized as being given for active military duty; yet because it recognized a single battle in a single campaign, the Dewey Medal was a commemorative medal. When worn on a military uniform the Dewey Medal was considered senior to the Sampson Medal, although there were no individuals who received both medals. The Dewey Medal is one of a very few United States military awards to have fewer recipients than the Medal of Honor. Only 1,825 medals were struck, each machine engraved to the recipient with his name and rate (enlisted) or rank (officer).