56.10.17

Medal, Military, encased

1945 Approximate

World War II Victory medal. Material: textile, metal. Size: 3" x 1 1/2". Description: purple, blue, yellow, white and red vertical striped fabric ribbon; gold medallion suspended from ribbon engraved on front: "World War II"; figure of Liberation standing full length with head turned to the dawn of a new day, right foot resting on a war goddess helmet with the hilt of a broken sword in the right hand and the broken blade in the left hand; engraved on back: "United States of America 1941 1945, Freedom from fear and want, freedom of speech and religion."

Lester Quitney was with the Tank Destroyer Battalion 899 for the United States army from 1943-1945. He worked at a CCC Camp in Washington State in December 1941. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and served in Rhineland Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), Central Europe, Northern France and Normandy until being honorably discharged in 1945. The WW II Victory Medal was awarded to all military personnel for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946.