Following one of my latest write ups on the Medal of Honor, I have decided to do a series on the Medals of Valor awarded to each branch of the US Military. The Medal of Honor is the highest decoration awarded by the US government. For a Marine to receive it, he/she must demonstrate valiant efforts in the time of battle against American enemy forces. There have been 3,467 medals awarded; however, nearly 2,000 of these were given during the Civil War and Indian War. This breaks down to only 1519 medals being awarded in wars since ~1865. There have been 19 double recipients of which 5 received two medals for the same act by different branches of the military.
I found some other Military Medals that I wasn’t as informed about until I started doing some research. These will be ordered from most decorated to being going downward.
The Navy Cross is the “second highest award for valor”* behind the Medal of Honor. It was designed by James Earle Fraser and approved by Congress in 1919 due in part to the United States participation in World War I. Since then, it has been awarded more than 6,300 times. The criteria of the award are:
- While engaged in action against an enemy of the United States.
- While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force.
- While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict in which the United States is not a belligerent party.*
Design: A cross pattée with four laurel leaves in the corners of the cross. The center features a ship while the reverse features crossing anchors with the letters USN (United States Navy). The ribbon is navy blue with a white stripe down the middle.
Silver Star Medal
The Silver Star is the third highest decoration in the US Military for valor. The Silver Star replaced the Citation Star on July 19, 1932** The Citation Star is shown in the very middle of the Silver Star to this day. Congress passed the Silver Star into law on August 7, 1942 for the Navy and December 15, 1942 for the Army. There are no definite records of the Silver Star in existence but it is estimated that between 100,000 and 150,000 Silver Stars have been awarded since inception. Note: Pilots are generally awarded the Silver Star following 5 or more confirmed kills. The criteria to be awarded must involve heroism that goes above and beyond in the following actions:
- In action against an enemy of the United States.
- While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force
- While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party**
Design: The Silver Star is in fact a gold star in appearance. In the middle is a silver star which is encased by laurel wreaths. The back of the star reads: “For Gallantry in Action” and the ribbon features cloth in the order of ultramarine blue, white, ultramarine blue, white, and Old Glory red.
Legion of Merit Medal
The Legion of Merit medal is given for exceptional bravery and conduct for outstanding service and achievement. Congress passed legislation for the Legion of Merit on July 20, 1942*** The main thing that separates the Legion of Merit from the previous Medals is the fact that it can be earned in times of peace and many foreigners have become recipients. The criteria to be awarded:
- In peacetime, service should be in the nature of a special requirement or of an extremely difficult duty performed in an unprecedented and clearly exceptional manner.
- The performance must have been such as to merit recognition of key individuals for service rendered in a clearly exceptional manner.
- For service not related to actual war the term “key individual” applies to a narrower range of positions that in time of war and requires evidence of significant achievement
Design: The design of the medal is different based on the ranking of the recipient. These recipients are ordered from most to least distinguished as:
- The Chief Commander Degree of the Legion of Merit Medal is, on a wreath of green laurel joined at the bottom by a gold bow-knot (rosette), a domed five-pointed white star bordered crimson, points reversed with v-shaped extremities tipped with a gold ball. In the center, a blue disk encircled by gold clouds, with 13 white stars arranged in the pattern that appears on the United States Coat of Arms. Between each join, within the wreath are crossed arrows pointing outwards. The overall width is 2 15/16 inches (75 mm). The words “United States of America” are engraved in the center of the reverse. A miniature of the decoration in gold on a horizontal gold bar is worn on the service ribbon.
- The Commander features the same exact design which hangs from a crimson ribbon and is connected by a golden laurel wreath.
- The Officer design features the same medal design yet is connected to a crimson ribbon via a simple golden hook with a gold replica mounted to the middle of the ribbon.
- The Legionnaire design is an replica of the officer design without the medal replica on the ribbon.***
Distinguished Flying Cross Medal
The Distinguished Flying Cross can be awarded to any member of the US Armed Forces yet must take place during aerial combat, following November 11, 1918. Before that date, armed forces members could receive the Distinguished Flying Cross when being nominated for Medals listed above in which the nominee did not receive them. The Flying Cross was passed in an act by congress on July 2, 1926 and its first recipient was Charles Lindbergh. Since then, it has been awarded to many famous recipients, including President George H. W. Bush, John McCain, and Clark Gable to name a few. The criteria for the award:
- Officer or enlisted member of the US Armed Forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by “heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918”.
- Display of heroism while working as instructors or students at flying schools****
Design: The Cross was designed by Elizabeth Will and Arthur DuBois and features a bronze cross pattée. Laying on top of the cross is 4 propellers and these sit on top of rays between the arms of the cross. It hangs from a ribbon that features a red strip in the middle, mirrored on the sides by a thin stripe of white, wide stripe of blue, thin strip of white, and a thin strip of blue.
Navy and Marine Corps Medal
The Navy And Marine Corps Medal is the second highest medal awarded for non-combat actions. It can be awarded the US Navy and Marine Corps soldiers. The most famous recipient of the award was John F. Kennedy for his actions in World War II. It was passed by Congress on August 7, 1942 during World War II. It is most often given for sea rescues where one’s life is risked. The formal requirements are:
- Service members who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguish themselves by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. Typically, it is awarded for actions involving the risk of one’s own life.”****
Design: The medal is made of a golden octagon design on which an eagle is standing on a warship anchor. Underneath the anchor is a globe and “HEROISM” inscribed.
Bronze Star
The Bronze Star can be awarded to members of any US Military Service for acts of bravery or merit. It was passed with Executive Order on February 4, 1944******. When the Bronze Star is awarded for bravery, it is the fourth-highest combat award of the U.S. Military and the ninth highest military award in both non-combat and combat awards in the order of precedence of U.S. military decorations. The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to those who meet specific requirements:
- Serving in capacity within or along with United States Army after December 6, 1941
- Distinguishing himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving aerial flight.
- The acts of heroism are of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Silver Star. The acts of merit or acts of valor must be less than that required for the Legion of Merit but must nevertheless have been meritorious and accomplished with distinction.
Design: Designed by Rudolf Freund, the medal features a bronze star with a smaller inscribed bronze star in the middle. The reverse side has the inscription of “Heroic of meritorious achievement” with a space for the name of the recipient of the medal to be engraved. It is hung by a red, white, and blue ribbon.
Air Medal
The Air Medal was established with Executive Order on May 11, 1942 by President Dwight D Eisenhower. It can be awarded for a single heroic act or to a full service of heroism. Requirements:
- Crew member or non-crew member who are required to participate in aerial flight on a regular and frequent basis.
- Combat duties require regular and frequent flying in other than a passenger status, or individuals who perform a particularly noteworthy act while performing the function of a crew member but who are not on flying status.**********
Design: A bronze “compass rose” with an inscribed soaring eagle that hangs from a blue and orange ribbon.
I’m going to do more research on few others I have heard about and get those up here shortly. So stay tuned for more information and if you’d like to hear about anything in particular please let me know!
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_cross
**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_star
***http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_of_merit
****http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_States)
*****http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_and_marine_corps_medal
******http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_star
*******http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Medal

Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist 



Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist 
Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist 
























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Submitted by: Joseph N. D’Amico

