2017-06-26 Mon

The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee supported designs for medals that honour Filipino Veterans of World War II just like the Commission of Fine Arts. The obverse design depicting a Trio of Soldiers a scout, infantryman and a guerrilla fighter, was selected by both the teams. The reverse features flags of the United States and the Philippines, along with the inscription DUTY TO COUNTRY, the names of major battle sites and the years 1941, 1945 and 1946.

There was a difference of opinion for the design that needs to be chosen for the Office of Strategic Services medal. CFA had recommended a design featuring six OSS operatives. It was disliked by certain officials. They finally went for an abstract obverse design featuring the shadowed profiles of a man and woman against a globe and a parachutist. A reverse design showing a quote from OSS leader Maj. Gen. William J. Donovan that reads “Only by Decisions of National Policy Based Upon Accurate Information Do We Have a Chance of a Peace That Will Endure”, was chosen. Instead of the parachutists, an OSS frogman would be included on the reverse. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin will take the final call.