Navy Distinguished Service Medal
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 separate much newer version recognizes US Department of Defense personnel contributions. These US military ribbons 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 the award of one of these outstanding military medals of America.
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 Navy 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.
Navy Distinguished Service Medals are normally only bestowed to senior Navy Flag and Marine Corps General Officers. These Navy medals are 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 general order of precedence that has been established for the display of all military ribbons and medals. Additional awards of these military medals are denoted by Gold Award Stars.
