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The MacArthur Service Medal — for the 200th and 515th Coast Artillery

New Mexico issues a state service medal to members of the 200th and 515th Coast Artillery who were New Mexico residents at entry into service and served under General MacArthur in the WWII Pacific theatre. These were the New Mexico National Guard units on Bataan; a great many of the men did not come home, and those who did were prisoners of war for years. The medal carries no money. Families may pursue it, and given the dates this is now almost entirely a benefit claimed by descendants.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

New Mexico issues a state service medal to members of the 200th and 515th Coast Artillery who were New Mexico residents at entry into service and served under General MacArthur in the WWII Pacific theatre. These were the New Mexico National Guard units on Bataan; a great many of the men did not come home, and those who did were prisoners of war for years. The medal carries no money. Families may pursue it, and given the dates this is now almost entirely a benefit claimed by descendants.

What it's worth: A state-issued service medal

  • For members of the 200TH AND 515TH COAST ARTILLERY.
  • The member must have been a NEW MEXICO RESIDENT AT ENTRY INTO SERVICE.
  • Service under General MacArthur in the WWII PACIFIC THEATRE.
  • It is RECOGNITION AND CARRIES NO MONETARY VALUE.
  • Given the dates, this is now almost entirely claimed by descendants.
  • Issued by the Department of Veterans Services.

Who is entitled to it

  • You are in one of the groups who can pursue this.
  • New Mexico issues it.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

How to claim it

  1. 1Contact the Department of Veterans Services and ask for the MacArthur Service Medal by name.
  2. 2Have what service records the family holds — unit, dates and the New Mexico address at entry into service.
  3. 3If records are lost, ask DVS what it can verify; these units are well documented in state archives.
  4. 4Descendants should apply. The medal is issued posthumously.
  5. 5Ask about the New Mexico Bataan records and memorials at the same time, if the family wants the wider history.
Form
Request to the Department of Veterans Services
File with
New Mexico Department of Veterans Services
No renewal
Once granted it does not need renewing.
Worth knowingThe 200th and 515th were the New Mexico Guard units on Bataan. If your family is from New Mexico and someone served in the Pacific in 1941 and 1942, this is worth asking about.

Sources

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