The Nicaraguan Campaign Medal is a military decoration of the United States Navy which was authorized by Presidential Order of Woodrow Wilson on September 22, 1913. The medal was again authorized by an act of the United States Congress on November 8, 1929. The Nicaraguan Campaign Medal is therefore considered as two separate decorations, commonly referred to as the First Nicaraguan Campaign Medal and the Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal.

First Nicaraguan Campaign Medal

The First Nicaraguan Campaign Medal was created to recognize those Navy and U.S. Marines who had participated in amphibious actions in Nicaragua between July 29 and November 14, 1912. The following naval commands, and all embarked United States Marines, were eligible for the First Nicaraguan Campaign Medal:

• USS Annapolis (gunboat)
• USS California (cruiser)
• USS Cleveland (cruiser)
• USS Colorado (cruiser)
• USS Denver (cruiser)
• USS Glacier (supply ship)
• USS Maryland (armored cruiser)
• USS Tacoma (cruiser)

The medal for the First Nicaraguan Campaign Medal displayed a volcano, rising from a lake, with the words “Nicaraguan Campaign” and the date 1912 on the edges of the medal. The medal, itself, was suspended from a red ribbon with two thick blue stripes. On the reverse of each medal was a Navy or Marine Corps crest, depending on which branch of service the recipient was a member.

The First Nicaraguan Campaign Medal was a one time only decoration and there were no devices or attachments authorized.

Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal

The Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal was created General Orders of the Navy Department and approved by Congress to recognize naval operations in Nicaragua between the dates of August 27, 1926 and January 2, 1933.

To be awarded the Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal, a service member must have either served on a United States ship, or as an embarked marine, in the waters or land territory of Nicaragua during the aforementioned dates.

The Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal appeared as a medal suspended from a red ribbon with several white stripes. The medal displayed a woman, armed with sword, defending two other figures with a cloak. The medal bore the words "Second Nicaraguan Campaign" with the dates “1926 – 1930” displayed on the medal’s edges (although the medal was authorized until 1933).

The Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal was considered a separate award from the first version of the medal and Navy regulations permitted the receipt and wear of both decorations, if so authorized. Admiral W.H.H. Sutherland , who had been in overall command of both Nicaraguan campaigns, was the first recipient of both versions of the Nicaraguan Campaign Medal.