The Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal is a

Congressional medal The Congressional Gold Medal is an award bestowed by the United States Congress. It is Congress's highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions. The congressional pract ...

established by an Act of Congress in 1930 to commemorate the Byrd Antarctic Expedition of 1928–1930. Presented in gold, silver and bronze, the medals were awarded to 81 individuals associated with the expedition, for a total cost of $6,560.

Appearance

The medal is circular in shape and made of gold, silver, or bronze. The obverse depicts a relief of Admiral Byrd in fur lined arctic clothing. Around the depiction is the embossed wording: ''BYRD ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 1928-1930''. The reverse bears a relief depicting the sailing ship ''City of New York'' surrounded by the text ''PRESENTED TO THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE BYRD ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION TO EXPRESS THE HIGH ADMIRATION IN WHICH THE CONGRESS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HOLD THEIR HEROIC AND UNDAUNTED SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THE SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION EXPLORATION OF THE ANTARCTIC CONTINENT''. The medal is borne by a white silk ribbon with light blue center stripe. Of the 81 men who received the medal, 65 received gold medals, 7 received silver medals, and 9 received bronze medals. After Byrd's 1934 to 1935 Antarctic Expedition, the Second Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal was awarded to the expedition's participants.

Noteworthy recipients

Note - the military ranks indicated are the highest the individuals achieved in their careers and not those held at the time of the expedition. *Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd, USN - expedition commander *Colonel

Bernt Balchen Bernt Balchen (23 October 1899 – 17 October 1973) was a Norwegian pioneer polar aviator, navigator, aircraft mechanical engineer and military leader. A Norwegian native, he later became an American citizen and was a recipient of the Distingu ...

, USAF - chief pilot *Lieutenant Colonel Kennard F. Bubier, USMC - mechanic *Commander

Jack Bursey Commander Jacob "Jack Bursey" (1903–1980) was a polar explorer, U.S. Coast Guard officer, and a lecturer. Biography Early years Bursey was born in 1903 in a small village called St. Lunaire in Newfoundland. He grew up fishing on the Grand B ...

, USCG - seaman and dog sled driver *Chief Warrant Officer

Victor H. Czegka Victor Hugo Czegka (May 21, 1880 – February 18, 1973) was a highly decorated United States Marine Corps warrant officer. He was awarded two Navy Crosses, the United States military's second-highest award, for his participation in the Byrd Anta ...

, USMC - machinist and two time Navy Cross recipient *Frank T. Davies - Canadian physicist *Dr.

Lawrence Gould Laurence McKinley Gould (August 22, 1896 – June 21, 1995) was an American geologist, educator, and polar explorer. He made expeditions to both the Arctic and Antarctic, and was chief scientist on Richard Evelyn Byrd's first Antarctic expeditio ...

- geologist and second in command *Lieutenant

Harold June Harold Irving June (1895–1962) was a machinist, an aviator, a test pilot, and an explorer in Antarctica. He is best known for his 1928–1930 service in the first Antarctic expedition of Admiral Richard E. Byrd. Sitting in the co-pilot's seat ...

, USN - pilot and radio operator *Colonel

Ashley Chadbourne McKinley Ashley Chadbourne McKinley (June 23, 1896 – February 11, 1970) was an accomplished American aerial photographer and colonel in the U.S. Army Air Corps who helped pioneer aviation at subzero temperatures. He accompanied Richard E. Byrd as an aer ...

, USAF - photographer and aerial surveyor * Arthur Treadwell Walden - dog team head and dog breeder * Paul Siple, Ph.D. - a 20-year-old

Boy Scout A Scout (in some countries a Boy Scout, Girl Scout, or Pathfinder) is a child, usually 10–18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split ...

at the time of the expedition *

George W. Tennant George Woolsey Tennant (born March 7, 1882, Manistee, Michigan; died February 15, 1953, Manistee, Mich.) served as chief steward in the Byrd Antarctic Expedition. In 1928, on the first stage of the expedition, he served in the galley on expediti ...

- cook

References

External links

* Joint Resolution Authorizing the presentation of medals to the officers and men of the Byrd antarctic expedition., Wikisource. {{Authority control 1930 establishments in the United States Awards established in 1930 Congressional Gold Medal recipients