BACKGROUND: Due to the non-combat status of medical personal, Army Regulations strictly forbade granting combat awards to combat medics. With the introduction of the E.I.B. (Expert Infantryman Badge) and C.I.B. (Combat Infantryman Badge) in November 1943 and the extra $10.00-a-month pay that came with it, a lot of Infantrymen complained that it was unfair to treat medics this way. Thus a design was adopted on the third of March 1945 by the Surgeon General’s Office for a medical badge to honour medical personal.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A die struck silver badge consisting of a caduceus with the cross of the Geneva Convention between a set of wings, over top of a horizontal stretcher all surrounded by an oak wreath. To the reverse is a simple hinge pin and is marked "Sterling". Shows slight darkening and wear to the surfaces.