MyMilitaryMedals.com Blog
Defense Superior Service Medal
March 31st 2010 - 3:44 pm
On February 6, 1976 President Ford issued an Executive Order creating the Defense Superior Service Medal. These military decorations are presented by the Department of Defense as a senior award to members of the U.S. military for superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility. These military medals are generally awarded to flag and general officer grades in the name of the Secretary of Defense. The Defense Superior Service Medal is worn just below the Silver Star and just above the Legion of Merit in the order of precedence for military ribbons and medals. These military awards use the same design as the Defense Distinguished Service Medals, but are finished in silver instead of gold. The Defense Superior Service Medal can be worn as traditional full size military medals and mini medals, military ribbons and lapel pins. Like most military medals, it is available as traditional slide-on, full size military medals or mini-medals, slide-on military ribbons, and the sleek, new thin military medals, mini-medals and ribbons.
Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
March 28th 2010 - 11:45 am
The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal was authorized by Congress in August of 1949. Congress recognized different types and degrees of heroism and meritorious service and included provisions for award criteria. Separate versions of the Distinguished Service Medal exist for each branch of service and a fifth version recognizes US Department of Defense personnel contributions. Until the Coast Guard got its own version, their personnel were awarded the Navy version of the Distinguished Service Medal. These military medals were to be awarded by the President to persons who distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility in time of war or in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United States. Exceptional performance of normal duty will not alone justify award of these military decorations. The term "duty of a great responsibility" applies to a narrower range of positions when the US is not at war, than in time of war, and requires evidence of conspicuously significant achievement. However, justification for these military ribbons and medals may accrue by virtue of exceptionally meritorious service in a succession of high positions of great importance. Under exceptional circumstances, and with the express approval of the President, these military medals are occasionally awarded for wartime services to persons who are not members of the US Armed Forces. Until 2003, the bestowing authority of the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal was the United States Secretary of Transportation. In 2003 the Coast Guard was transferred to the Department of Homeland Security, and they now authorize the presentation of these military medals. Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medals are normally only bestowed to senior or flag officers, such as the Commandant of the Coast Guard. However, in 1998, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Rick Trent became the first enlisted member to receive the medal. These military medals are worn below the Army, Navy, Air Force and Defense Department versions of the Distinguished Service Cross and above the Silver Stars awarded by each branch of service, in the order of precedence for all military ribbons and medals. Additional awards of these military medals are denoted by Gold Award Stars. These military awards are generally available as traditional full size military medals and mini medals, military ribbons and lapel pins. They are available as traditional slide-on, full size military medals or mini-medals, slide-on military ribbons, and the newer thin military medals, mini-medals and ribbons which are greatly valued for their sleeker appearance.
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
March 27th 2010 - 1:37 pm
The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was authorized by Congress in 1960. Congress recognized different types and degrees of heroism and meritorious service and included provisions for award criteria. Separate versions of the Distinguished Service Medal exist for each branch of service and a fifth version recognizes US Department of Defense personnel contributions. Until 1960, Air Force personnel were awarded the Army version of the Distinguished Service Medal. These military medals were to be awarded by the President to persons who distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility in time of war or in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United States. Exceptional performance of normal duty will not alone justify award of these military decorations. The term "duty of a great responsibility" applies to a narrower range of positions when the US is not at war, than in time of war, and requires evidence of conspicuously significant achievement. However, justification for these military ribbons and medals may accrue by virtue of exceptionally meritorious service in a succession of high positions of great importance. Under exceptional circumstances, and with the express approval of the President, these military medals are occasionally awarded for wartime services to persons who are not members of the US Armed Forces. Air Force Distinguished Service Medals are normally only bestowed to senior to officers who hold at least the rank of Major General. However, as is customary for most military decorations, the requirements for the Distinguished Service Medal are interpreted more liberally when awarded upon retirement. As a result, it is the typical decoration for a retiring Brigadier General, and in recent years it has also been awarded to the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force upon retirement. These military medals are worn below the Army medals, Navy, Coast Guard and Defense Department versions of the Distinguished Service Cross and above the Silver Stars awarded by each branch of service, in the order of precedence for all military ribbons and medals. Additional awards of these military medals are denoted by Oak Leaf Clusters. These military awards are generally available as traditional full size military medals and mini medals, military ribbons and lapel pins. They are available as traditional slide-on, full size military medals or mini-medals, slide-on military ribbons, and the newer thin military medals, mini-medals and ribbons which are greatly valued for their sleeker appearance.
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
March 26th 2010 - 7:31 pm
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal was authorized by Presidential Order and confirmed by Congress in 1919. Congress recognized different types and degrees of heroism and meritorious service and included provisions for award criteria. Separate versions of the Distinguished Service Medal exist for each branch of service and a fifth version recognizes US Department of Defense personnel contributions. These military medals were to be awarded by the President to persons who distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility in time of war or in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United States. Exceptional performance of normal duty will not alone justify award of these military decorations. The Navy version of the Distinguished Service Medal is also awarded to Marine Corps personnel. The term "duty of a great responsibility" applies to a narrower range of positions when the US is not at war, than in time of war, and requires evidence of conspicuously significant achievement. However, justification for these military ribbons and medals may accrue by virtue of exceptionally meritorious service in a succession of high positions of great importance. Under exceptional circumstances, and with the express approval of the President, these military decorations are occasionally awarded for wartime services to persons who are not members of the US Armed Forces. Navy Distinguished Service Medals are normally only bestowed to senior Navy Flag and Marine Corps General Officers. The decoration is rarely awarded to enlisted personnel, and then only to those who hold extremely senior enlisted positions such as the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. The Navy Distinguished Service Medal was originally senior to the Navy Cross, until August 1943 when the precedence of the two decorations was reversed. These military medals are worn below the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and Defense Department versions of the Distinguished Service Cross and above the Silver Stars awarded by each branch of service, in the order of precedence for all military ribbons and medals. Additional awards of these military medals are denoted by Gold Award Stars. These military awards are generally available as traditional full size military medals and mini medals, military ribbons and lapel pins. They are available as traditional slide-on, full size military medals or mini-medals, slide-on military ribbons, and the newer thin military medals, mini-medals and ribbons which are greatly valued for their sleeker appearance.
Army Distinguished Service Medal
March 25th 2010 - 9:20 am
The Army Distinguished Service Medal was authorized by Presidential Order and confirmed by Congress in July of 1918. Congress recognized different types and degrees of heroism and meritorious service and included provisions for award criteria. Separate versions of the Distinguished Service Medal exist for each branch of service and a fifth version recognizes US Department of Defense personnel contributions. These military medals were to be awarded by the President to persons who distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility in time of war or in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United States. Exceptional performance of normal duty will not alone justify award of these military decorations. The Army version of the Distinguished Service Medal is typically referred to simply as the "Distinguished Service Medal" while the other branches of service use the service name as a prefix. The term "duty of a great responsibility" applies to a narrower range of positions when the US is not at war, than in time of war, and requires evidence of conspicuously significant achievement. However, justification of these military awards may accrue by virtue of exceptionally meritorious service in a succession of high positions of great importance. Under exceptional circumstances, and with the express approval of the President, these military ribbons and medals are occasionally awarded for wartime services to persons who are not members of the US Armed Forces. The Army Distinguished Service Medal is worn below the Army, Navy and Air Force versions of the Distinguished Service Cross and above the Silver Stars awarded by each branch of service, in the order of precedence for all military ribbons and medals. Additional awards of these military medals are denoted by Oak Leaf Clusters. These military awards are generally available as traditional full size military medals and mini medals, military ribbons and lapel pins. They are available as traditional slide-on, full size military medals or mini-medals, slide-on military ribbons, and the newer thin military medals, mini-medals and ribbons which are greatly valued for their sleeker appearance.
Army Distinguished Service Cross
March 22nd 2010 - 12:33 pm
The Army Distinguished Service Cross was created by President Woodrow Wilson at the beginning of 1918 at the request of General Pershing, Commander-In-Chief of the Expeditionary Forces France. These military medals are the second highest award issued by the US Army and they are presented to Army personnel who, while serving in any capacity with the Army, distinguish themselves by extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of a Medal of Honor; while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing/foreign force; or 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. The act or acts of heroism leading to these military awards must have been so notable and have involved risk of life so extraordinary as to set these individuals apart from their comrades. During World War I, 6,309 awards of the Distinguished Service Cross were made to 6,185 recipients. Eddie Rickenbacker, the top U.S. ace of the war, was awarded a record eight Distinguished Service Crosses, one of which was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor. Two recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross during World War I went on to earn the Medal of Honor in World War II - Major Theodore Roosevelt Jr., son of the former President, and Douglas MacArthur. During World War II, just over 5,000 awards were made. A number of recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross in earlier conflicts were again honored in World War II. Three recipients of two Distinguished Service Crosses in World War I - Douglas MacArthur, Hanford MacNider, and Harry H. Semmes - received their third in World War II, and George S. Patton, Jr., won his second Distinguished Service Cross. In the Korean War, there were just over 800 awards, of which over 300 were posthumous. Ten World War II recipients received a second Distinguished Service Cross in Korea. There were just over 1,000 awards in the Vietnam War, almost 400 of which were posthumous. One World War II recipient, William DePuy, and two Korean War recipients, Richard E. Cavazos and Ralph Puckett, Jr., received a second Distinguished Service Cross in Vietnam. Since Vietnam, as of May 2009, 19 Distinguished Service Crosses have been awarded - five during Operation Enduring Freedom and thirteen in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Army regulations provide for a 10% increase in retired pay for enlisted personnel who have retired with more than 20 years of service if they have been awarded the Army Distinguished Service Cross. These military medals are worn below the Medal of Honor, and above the Distinguished Service Medals of all branches in the order of precedence for all US military ribbons and medals. Multiple awards are denoted by Oak Leaf Clusters. These military awards are generally available as traditional full size military medals and mini medals, military ribbons and lapel pins. Like most military medals, it is available as traditional slide-on, full size military medals or mini-medals, slide-on military ribbons, and thin military medals, mini-medals and ribbons.
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
March 17th 2010 - 7:48 pm
The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal was created by George H.W. Bush in January of 1993, but was not issued until December of that same year. These military medals honor active duty, reserve and National Guard military personnel who perform substantial volunteer service to the local community above and beyond the duties required as a member of the United States Armed Forces. This volunteer service must contribute in a sustained and direct way towards the well-being of the civilian community and must produce tangible results which reflect favorably on the military service and the US Department of Defense. Volunteering for Emergency Services, Habitat for Humanity, and other such community enhancing services are examples of the wide variety of efforts that would be considered for eligibility for receiving these military ribbons. There is no minimum time requirement for earning the MOVS medal, but generally the volunteer service must exceed three years, or 100 hours of service time. The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal has no official citation attached, but most Commanders present personal letters commending the recipients of these military awards. Multiple awards of these military medals are denoted by Service Stars. These military awards can be worn as traditional full size military medals and mini medals, military ribbons and lapel pins. Like most military medals, it is available as traditional slide-on, full size military medals or mini-medals, slide-on military ribbons, and thin military medals, mini-medals and ribbons.
Vietnam Civil Actions Medal
March 8th 2010 - 6:34 pm
The Vietnam Civil Actions Medal was established in 1964 by the government of South Vietnam. These military medals were mid-level civil service awards presented to any member of the Vietnamese military who performed outstanding civic service to the state or who participated in civil service actions of significant benefit. These military ribbons were awarded in two classes, with the first class intended for commissioned officers and the second for enlisted personnel. It was not possible to upgrade one class of these military awards into another or to wear both classes simultaneously. A unit award of the Vietnam Civil Actions Medal also existed, known as the Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation. These unit awards were also referred to as the Civil Actions Unit Awards with Palm or as the Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation with Civil Actions Colors. The unit awards of the Vietnam Civil Actions Medal were presented to all members of a military command who had participated in civic actions with such a degree that would normally warrant the presentation of the Vietnam Civil Actions Medal. The unit award was presented as a military ribbon for the Vietnam Civil Actions Medal (First Class), enclosed in a Gold Frame with a centered Bronze Palm. Regulations did permit the simultaneous presentation and display of both the full sized medal and the unit award, since the two awards were considered separate decorations. The Vietnam Civil Actions Medal was one of the more commonly bestowed Vietnam medals presented to the forces of foreign militaries. In the US armed forces participating in the Vietnam War, the Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation was most often awarded to units of the Army and Marine Corps which had participated in local police actions to suppress civil unrest in certain areas of South Vietnam. The Vietnam Civil Actions Medal is authorized for wear below the Vietnam Gallantry Cross and above the UN Korean Service Medal in the order of precedence for all military medals and ribbons for US service personnel. Nowadays, the Vietnam Civil Actions Medal is an obsolete decoration since the awarding nation, the Republic of Vietnam, no longer exists. The decoration is only available through private dealers of military insignia, who offer it as traditional full size military medals and mini medals, military ribbons and lapel pins. Like most military medals, it is available as traditional slide-on, full size military medals or mini-medals, slide-on military ribbons, and thin military medals, mini-medals and ribbons.
