The EAME Campaign Medal was established per Executive Order 9265, dated 6 November 1942, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and announced in War Department Bulletin 56, 1942. The criteria was initially announced in Department of the Army (DA) Circular 84, dated 25 March 1948, and subsequently published in Army Regulation 600-65, dated 22 September 1948.
The ribbon design was approved by the Secretary of War in December 1942. The brown represents the sands of Africa and the green represents the green fields of Europe. The center blue, white, and red stripes are taken from the American Defense Service Medal ribbon and refers to the continuance of American Defense after Pearl Harbor. Green, white and red are the Italian colors and the white and black colors represent Germany.
The medal was designed by Mr. Thomas Hudson Jones, based on General Eisenhowers request that the medal include an invasion scene. The reverse side was designed by Mr. A. A. Weinman and is the same design as used on the reverse of the Asiatic-Pacific and American Campaign Medals. The medal design was submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts on 17 September 1946 and the first sample was completed in July 1947. General Eisenhower was presented the first medal on 24 July 1947.
A bronze star is worn on the ribbon to indicate participation in designated campaigns. The designated campaigns for the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater are:
- Egypt-Libya 11 Jun 42 - 12 Feb 43
- Air Offensive, Europe 4 Jul 42 - 5 Jun 44
- Algeria-French Morocco 8-11 Nov 42
- Tunisia 12 Nov 42 - 13 May 43
- Sicily 14 May 43 - 17 Aug 43
- Naples-Foggia 18 Aug 43 - 21 Jan 44
- Anzio 22 Jan 44 - 24 May 44
- Rome-Arno 22 Jan 44 - 9 Sep 44
- Normandy 6 Jun 44 - 24 Jul 44
- Northern France 25 Jul 44 - 14 Sep 44
- Southern France 15 Aug 44 - 14 Sep 44
- Northern Apennines 10 Sep 44 - 4 Apr 45
- Rhineland 15 Sep 44 - 21 Mar 45
- Ardennes-Alsace 16 Dec 44 - 25 Jan 45
- Central Europe 22 Mar 45 - 11 May 45
- Po Valley 5 Apr 45 - 8 May 45
- * Antisubmarine 7 Dec 41 - 2 Sep 45
- * Ground Combat 7 Dec 41 - 2 Sep 45
- * Air Combat: 7 Dec 41 - 2 Sep 45
* These campaigns are not displayed as streamers on the Army flag.
A bronze arrowhead is worn on the ribbon to indicate participation in a combat parachute jump, combat glider landing, or amphibious assault landing within the EAME Theater.