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141-655: The Coast Guard Cross is equivalent to the Army's Distinguished Service Cross , Naval Service's Navy Cross , and Air and Space Forces' Air Force Cross . In the past, during times of war, the U.S. Coast Guard has operated as part of the Department of the Navy. According to law under 14 U.S.C.   § 103 , "personnel of the Coast Guard shall be eligible to receive gratuities, medals, and other insignia of honor on

282-696: A Distinguished Service Cross in World War I. During World War II , just over 5,000 awards were made. Army Air Forces Lieutenant Colonel John C. Meyer , Major General James A. Van Fleet , and Master Sergeant Llewellyn Chilson were three-time recipients. Jeannette Guyot and Virginia Hall were the only two women to receive the award. A number of recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross in earlier conflicts were again honored in World War II. Chester Hirschfelder , who as

423-669: A First Lieutenant with the 102nd Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, went on to represent the state of Tennessee in the United States House of Representatives for a total of 17 terms. Twenty one African American soldiers from the 370th Infantry Regiment received the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for action in both the Meuse–Argonne and Oise–Aisne campaigns. In the immediate aftermath of World War I, 62 awards were made for actions in North Russia and Siberia during

564-525: A Lieutenant General, Major Bruce Crandall , and two other members of their unit. The actions of all four were later portrayed in the film " We Were Soldiers ", based on Hal Moore's book on the battle. Crandall's Distinguished Service Cross was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor, which was presented to him in February 2007. Six Distinguished Service Crosses were awarded to Son Tay raiders , participants in

705-425: A Medal of Honor Flag to be presented to each person to whom a Medal of Honor is awarded. In the case of a posthumous award, the flag will be presented to whomever the Medal of Honor is presented to, which in most cases will be the primary next of kin of the deceased awardee. The flag was based on a concept by retired U.S. Army Special Forces First Sergeant Bill Kendall of Jefferson, Iowa , who in 2001, designed

846-571: A Medal of Honor), it would be processed by the Air Force despite the fact that the Air Force did not yet exist as a separate service. Nineteen service members have been awarded the Medal of Honor twice. The first double Medal of Honor recipient was Thomas Custer (brother of George Armstrong Custer ) for two separate actions that took place several days apart during the American Civil War. Five "double recipients" were awarded both

987-619: A battalion commander in the 1st Infantry Division, preceded General Rogers as SACEUR, and became Secretary of State in the Reagan Administration. Former West Point football All-American, then Captain Bill Carpenter , "The Lonesome End", received the award in 1966, and would go on to retire as a major general. First Lieutenant Norman A. Mordue received the Distinguished Service Cross for valor in May 1967 while serving with

1128-534: A captain with the 5th Machine Gun Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division , had received his first Distinguished Service Cross in 1918, received two more in 1944 as a colonel commanding the 9th Infantry Regiment of that same division. 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. A handful of men who had received

1269-469: A crown of laurel and oak on a green background. Centered on the star, an annulet of 34 stars is a representation of the head of the Statue of Liberty . The star is suspended from a bar inscribed with the word VALOR above an adaptation of Jupiter's thunderbolt from the Department of the Air Force's seal. The pendant is made of gilding metal. The connecting bar, hinge, and pin are made of bronze. The finish on

1410-502: A decoration to recognize and honor distinguished naval service. On December 9, 1861, Iowa Senator James W. Grimes , Chairman on the Committee on Naval Affairs, introduced bill S. 82. The bill included a provision authorizing 200 "medals of honor," "to be bestowed upon such petty officers , seamen , landsmen , and marines as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other seaman-like qualities during

1551-422: A fashion. Nineteen individuals, all now deceased, were double Medal of Honor recipients. In July 2014, DoD instructions were changed to read, "A separate MOH is presented to an individual for each succeeding act that justified award," removing the authorization for the "V" device. On October 23, 2002, Pub. L.   107–248 (text) (PDF) was enacted, modifying 36 U.S.C.   § 903 , authorizing

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1692-530: A flag to honor Medal of Honor recipient Army Air Forces Captain Darrell Lindsey , a B-26 pilot from Jefferson who was killed in action during World War II. Kendall's design of a light blue field emblazoned with 13 white five-pointed stars was nearly identical to that of Sarah LeClerc's of the Institute of Heraldry . LeClerc's gold-fringed flag, ultimately accepted as the official flag, does not include

1833-405: A green laurel wreath and suspended from a gold bar inscribed VALOR , surmounted by an eagle. In the center of the star, Minerva 's head surrounded by the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA . On each ray of the star is a green oak leaf. On the reverse is a bar engraved THE CONGRESS TO with a space for engraving the name of the recipient." The pendant and suspension bar are made of gilding metal, with

1974-529: A lawsuit, the Department of the Navy requested an amendment to expressly allow noncombat awards of the Medal of Honor. When the amendment passed, the Department of the Navy returned to using only the original 1862 inverted 5-point star design and retired the Tiffany Cross. In 1944, the suspension ribbons for both versions were replaced with the now-familiar neck ribbon. When the Air and Space Force's version

2115-522: A lieutenant with the 1st Cavalry Division , Benjamin F. Wilson , a master sergeant with the 7th Infantry Division , Lewis Millett , a captain with the 27th Infantry Regiment and Air Force fighter ace George A. Davis Jr. , each earned both the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross in Korea. Colonel Arthur Champeny , previously decorated for bravery at Saint-Mihiel in September 1918 and

2256-414: A light blue colored moiré silk neck ribbon that is 1 + 3 ⁄ 16  in (30 mm) in width and 21 + 3 ⁄ 4  in (550 mm) in length. The center of the ribbon displays thirteen white stars in the form of three chevron . Both the top and middle chevrons are made up of 5 stars, with the bottom chevron made of 3 stars. The medal itself differs by branch: The Medal of Honor

2397-565: A reddish tint." On March 3, 1863, Congress made the Army Medal of Honor a permanent decoration by passing legislation permitting the award to such soldiers "as have most distinguished or who may hereafter most distinguish themselves in action." The same legislation also authorized the medal for officers of the Army. On March 25, the Secretary of War presented the first Medals of Honor to six U.S. Army volunteers in his office. In 1896,

2538-470: A review in 1917, and a number of Navy medals were also revoked before the turn of the century—none of these are included in this total except for those that were subsequently restored. In 1990, Congress designated March 25 as Medal of Honor Day . In 1861, early in the American Civil War , a proposal for a battlefield decoration for valor was submitted to Lieutenant General Winfield Scott ,

2679-457: A second Distinguished Service Cross in Vietnam. Both DePuy and Cavazos would later rise to full general. Besides Hollingsworth and Tackaberry, eleven other soldiers earned two Distinguished Service Crosses in Vietnam. Two, John R. Deane Jr. and Barry R. McCaffrey , later rose to full general, and a third, Henry E. Emerson , retired as a lieutenant general. McCaffrey also served as Director of

2820-411: A second time at Santa Maria Infante, Italy in May 1944, received a third Distinguished Service Cross in September 1950. Fighter pilot William T. Whisner , recipient of two Distinguished Service Crosses in World War II, was awarded a third in Korea. Ten World War II recipients received a second Distinguished Service Cross in Korea. Among these were John T. Corley , whose first Distinguished Service Cross

2961-525: A shield emblazoned with the shield from the coat of arms of the United States. She repulses Discord, represented by snakes (originally, she was repulsing the snakes of secession ). The medal is suspended from the flukes of an anchor. It is made of solid red brass, oxidized and buffed. The Air and Space Forces version is described as "within a wreath of green laurel, a gold five-pointed star, one point down, tipped with trefoils and each point containing

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3102-547: A statute, and the restoration violated not only the period law during the Civil War, but also the law requiring revocation in 1916, and modern law in 1977. As a reaction to Walker's restoration, a relative of Cody's requested the same action from the Army's board for correction, and it reinstated the medals for Cody and four other civilian scouts on June 12, 1989. Subsequent litigation over the Garlin Conner award, which

3243-472: A waiver be passed by Congress. A separate Coast Guard Medal of Honor was authorized in 1963 but was not designed or awarded. A separate design for a version of the medal for the Department of the Air Force was authorized in 1956, designed on April 14, 1965, and first awarded in January 1967. Previously, airmen of the U.S. Air Force received the Army's version of the medal. There are three versions of

3384-457: Is 2 1/4 inches high and 1 3/4 inches wide. Surmounting the cross is an integral suspension ring which takes the form of a rope with crossed oars. Between the arms of the cross are anchors . On the obverse , in the center of the cross is a shield similar to that found in the Great Seal of the United States . The stripes of the shield are alternating red and white colored enamel , while

3525-626: Is distinct from the Distinguished Service Medal , which is awarded to Army soldiers in recognition of exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in a duty of great responsibility. The Distinguished Service Cross is only awarded for actions in combat, while the Distinguished Service Medal has no such restriction. A cross of bronze , 2 inches (5.1 cm) high and 1 + 13 ⁄ 16 inches (46 mm) wide with an eagle on

3666-608: Is normally awarded by the president of the United States (the commander in chief of the armed forces) and is presented "in the name of the United States Congress ." It is often colloquially (but technically incorrectly) referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor . There are three distinct variants of the medal: one for the Department of the Army , awarded to soldiers; one for branches of

3807-526: Is one of only two United States military awards suspended from a neck ribbon. The other is the Commander's Degree of the Legion of Merit , and is usually awarded to individuals serving foreign governments. In 2011, Department of Defense instructions in regard to the Medal of Honor were amended to read "for each succeeding act that would otherwise justify award of the Medal of Honor, the individual receiving

3948-627: Is the oldest continuously issued combat decoration of the United States Armed Forces. The president typically presents the Medal of Honor at a formal ceremony intended to represent the gratitude of the American people, with posthumous presentations made to the primary next of kin. As of September 2023, there have been 3,536 Medals of Honor awarded, with over 40% awarded for actions during the American Civil War . A total of 911 Army medals were revoked after Congress authorized

4089-757: The 101st Airborne Division in the Battle of the Bulge and later rose to major general. Olinto M. Barsanti went on to command the 101st Airborne in Vietnam. Guy S. Meloy went on to command the 82nd Airborne. 1st Lt. Joseph G. Clemons Jr. for his actions during the Pork Chop Hill , he would later command the 198th Infantry Brigade in the Vietnam War and Master Sergeant Juan E. Negrón on 1951, from 65th Infantry Regiment (United States) , upgraded to Medal of Honor on 2014 by President Barack Obama Among

4230-412: The 103rd Aero Squadron each received five. Another 94th aviator, Major Reed McKinley Chambers , was awarded four Distinguished Service Crosses. Three aviators received three Distinguished Service Crosses – First Lieutenant Murray K. Guthrie of the 13th Aero Squadron , First Lieutenant Ralph A. O'Neill of the 147th Aero Squadron, and Glen A. Preston , an aerial observation pilot with

4371-599: The 1st Infantry Division . A handful, mostly United States Army Air Service aviators, were decorated three or more times. Captain 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, while flying with the 94th Aero Squadron . Fellow aviators Captain Douglas Campbell , also of the 94th, and First Lieutenant Frank O'Driscoll "Monk" Hunter of

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4512-521: The 2nd Infantry Division ), John L. Throckmorton and John H. "Iron Mike" Michaelis (who had commanded the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment in Normandy). Welborn G. Dolvin , decorated as a lieutenant colonel with the 25th Infantry Division , rose to lieutenant general. MG Ned D. Moore , who earned a Distinguished Service Cross as a colonel in August 1950, had previously served as Chief of Staff of

4653-519: The 442nd Regimental Combat Team (442nd RCT) who served in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. One of these Medal of Honor recipients was Senator Daniel Inouye , a former U.S. Army officer in the 442nd RCT. In 2005, President George W. Bush presented the Medal of Honor to Tibor Rubin , a Hungarian -born American Jew who was a Holocaust survivor of World War II and enlisted U.S. infantryman and prisoner of war in

4794-422: The 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment , U.S. 101st Airborne Division , Richard Winters , received a Distinguished Service Cross for his role in the assault on Brecourt Manor on D-Day ; a member of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment , U.S. 101st Airborne Division , Harrison C. Summers received a Distinguished Service Cross for his role on the assault to capture a building complex nearby designated "WXYZ" on

4935-455: The 95th Aero Squadron received the Distinguished Service Cross as a first lieutenant. Colonel John H. Parker , the commander of the 102nd Infantry Regiment, 26th Division , was the only ground soldier in World War I to receive four Distinguished Service Crosses. First Lieutenant Oscar B. Nelson of the 168th Infantry Regiment, 42nd Division , was honored three times, the third award being posthumous. Several men who had previously received

5076-609: The 99th Aero Squadron . Among other prominent aviators were Brigadier General Billy Mitchell , the Chief of Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force; Second Lieutenant Frank Luke of the 27th Aero Squadron, who was honored with the Medal of Honor and two Distinguished Service Crosses; and Sumner Sewall of the 95th Aero Squadron, recipient of two Distinguished Service Crosses, who served as Governor of Maine from 1941 to 1945. Edward Peck Curtis , also of

5217-658: The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal and Coast Guard Medal . These awards were intended to parallel the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Medal , being awarded under the same criteria to Coast Guardsmen when not serving as a part of the Department of the Navy. This began the creation of a separate system of awards and decorations for the U.S. Coast Guard when not operating under

5358-663: The Commanding General of the United States Army , by Lieutenant Colonel Edward D. Townsend , an assistant adjutant at the Department of War and Scott's chief of staff. Scott, however, was strongly against the American republic's awarding medals for valor, a European monarchical tradition. After Scott retired in October 1861, however, Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles adopted the idea of

5499-474: The Department of the Navy , awarded to sailors, marines, and coast guardsmen; and one for military branches of the Department of the Air Force , awarded to airmen and guardians. The Medal of Honor was introduced for the Naval Service in 1861, soon followed by the Army's version in 1862. The Air Force used the Army's version until they received their own distinctive version in 1965. The Medal of Honor

5640-610: The Korean War , whom many believed to have been overlooked because of his religion . On April 11, 2013, President Obama presented the Medal of Honor posthumously to Army chaplain Captain Emil Kapaun for his actions as a prisoner of war during the Korean War. This follows other awards to Army Sergeant Leslie H. Sabo, Jr. for conspicuous gallantry in action on May 10, 1970, near Se San , Cambodia , during

5781-759: The Navy Cross and the Army Distinguished Service Cross in Korea: Homer Litzenberg , Raymond Murray , and Marine Corps legend Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller . "Chesty" Puller had previously earned four Navy Crosses in Nicaragua and World War II, while Murray was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in the 1st Marine Division's historic breakout from the Chosin Reservoir area to

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5922-891: The Russian Civil War . Also, approximately 132 retroactive awards were made for actions in previous conflicts, including the Indian Wars , the Spanish–American War , the Philippine Insurrection , the Boxer Rebellion , and the Mexican border conflicts. Fifteen soldiers previously awarded Certificates of Merit for non-combat gallantry between 1899 and 1917 were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Prominent among post-World War I Distinguished Service Cross recipients for acts before that war

6063-617: The United States Mint from a sculpture by Gaetano Cecere , who went on to design the Soldier's Medal . It was decided that minor changes were needed to make the medal more attractive. In light of the urgency in supplying the decorations to General Pershing, the first one hundred medals were struck from the original design. They were sent on the understanding that replacements in the second design (also numbered from 1 to 100) would be provided once they were available. Embury made

6204-510: The chief is enameled blue with white five-pointed stars. The shield is surrounded by a wreath of twenty-six enameled green leaves. The reverse is identical to the obverse, except the center does not have a shield. In the center is the inscription FOR arched above and VALOR arched below. The cross is suspended from a 1 3/8 inch ribbon of navy blue . In the center is a 5/32 inch stripe of scarlet , flanked by 1/16 inch stripes of ultramarine blue , bordered in white. The Coast Guard Cross

6345-602: The "Youngest Most Decorated Officer of the Vietnam War", received the Distinguished Service Cross recipient while leading a long range reconnaissance patrol of the 1st Infantry Division, and later became a prominent advocate for veterans. Among Distinguished Service Cross recipients for valor in the early battles in Vietnam were four members of the 1st Cavalry Division decorated for valor in the Battle of Ia Drang Valley in November 1965 – Lt. Col. Hal Moore who later became

6486-599: The 14 foreign recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross in the Korean War was Sinasi Sukan (Şinasi Sükan), a captain with 3rd Brigade Turkish Army who has lost his leg during Vegas War, Kenneth Muir , a major with the 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders , British Army, who also posthumously received the Victoria Cross . Other foreign recipients came from the Belgian, British, French, Greek, Philippine, South Korean and Turkish armies. Soldiers serving with

6627-414: The 1st Brigade, 1st Division, and Major General Charles Pelot Summerall , decorated as commanding general of the 1st Division, who both went on to serve as Chief of Staff of the United States Army . Private Sam Ervin of the 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, went on to serve as a United States Senator from the state of North Carolina . Major Dwight F. Davis , decorated as Assistant Chief of Staff of

6768-578: The 1st Cavalry Division. He was appointed to the U.S. federal bench in 1998 and in 2006 became the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. Eldon Bargewell , decorated in 1971 as a staff sergeant with MACV-SOG , was later commissioned and as of early 2006 was a major general on the staff of Multi-National Force Iraq and the only Vietnam-era DSC recipient still on active duty. David Christian , described as

6909-547: The 1st Infantry Division. He was the subject of the narrative " The General Goes Zapping Charlie Cong ". Thomas H. Tackaberry , who received his first Distinguished Service Cross in Korea, received a second in September 1966 as a battalion commander with the 1st Cavalry Division and a third in September 1969 as commander of the 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. Both later rose to lieutenant general. One World War II recipient, William E. DePuy , and two Korean War recipients, Richard E. Cavazos and Ralph Puckett Jr., received

7050-558: The 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, son of the former president, and Brigadier General (later General of the Army) Douglas MacArthur of the 42nd Division. Other recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross in World War I who went on to acclaim in World War II include George S. Patton Jr. and Carl Spaatz . Among other prominent recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross during World War I were Brigadier General John L. Hines , decorated as commanding general of

7191-406: The 3rd Machine-Gun Battalion, 1st Division , Colonel William J. "Wild Bill" Donovan of the 165th Infantry Regiment, 42nd Division , and Second Lieutenant Samuel I. Parker of the 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division. Two recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross during World War I went on to earn the Medal of Honor in World War II – Major (later Brigadier General) Theodore Roosevelt Jr. of

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7332-854: The 69th Infantry Brigade, 35th Division , founded the Davis Cup international tennis competition and served as United States Secretary of War in the Coolidge Administration. Father John B. DeValles , chaplain (first lieutenant), known as the Angel of the Trenches for administering to the needs of both Allied and German soldiers. He founded the first Portuguese parochial school at the Espirito Santo Church in Fall River, Massachusetts . B. Caroll Reece , decorated as

7473-549: The 864 medals awarded to members of the 27th Maine regiment; 29 servicemen who served as Abraham Lincoln's funeral guard; six civilians, including Mary Edwards Walker and Buffalo Bill Cody; and 12 others. Walker's medal was restored by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in 1977, an action that is often attributed to President Jimmy Carter in error. Cody and four other civilian scouts who rendered distinguished service in action, and who were therefore considered by

7614-495: The Army " Gillespie " version introduced a smaller redesigned star and the ribbon was changed to the light blue pattern with white stars seen today. The 1904 Army version also introduced a bar with the word "Valor" above the star. In 1913, the Naval version adopted the same ribbon pattern. After World War I, the Department of the Navy decided to separate the Medal of Honor into two versions, one for combat and one for non-combat. This

7755-410: The Army (or in the Air Force, before 1960), distinguishes 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

7896-464: The Army Air Forces, Richard I. Bong , Horace S. Carswell Jr. and Thomas B. McGuire Jr. ; and from the Navy, John D. Bulkeley and Samuel D. Dealey (who also received four Navy Crosses ). One World War II Distinguished Service Cross recipient, Raymond Harvey , would earn the Medal of Honor in the Korean War. General Paul W. Tibbets , commander of the 509th Composite Group (509 CG) ,

8037-450: The Army's and Navy's Medal of Honor for the same action, with all five of these occurrences taking place during World War I. This was a consequence of the marine recipients serving under Army command, which had been reviewed by the Army's judge advocate general. According to the judge advocate general, the marines were "a party 'of the Army'" since they were detached for service under the Army by presidential directive, and thus were subject to

8178-439: The Army's decoration statutes for that time period. No modern recipients have more than one medal because of laws passed for the Army in 1918, and for the Navy in 1919, which stipulated that "no more than one medal of honor . . . shall be issued to any one person," although subsequent awards were authorized by issuance of bars or other devices in lieu of the medal itself. The prohibition on double awards did not technically apply to

8319-886: The Chief of Staff of the Army, William O. Darby , one of the fathers of the U.S. Army Rangers , and Robert T. Frederick , commander of the U.S-Canadian 1st Special Service Force . Six men of the 82nd Airborne Division received two Distinguished Service Crosses: Charles Billingslea , James M. Gavin , Arthur F. Gorham , Matthew B. Ridgway , Reuben Henry Tucker III and Benjamin H. Vandervoort . Several fighter pilots also received two Distinguished Service Crosses, including Donald Blakeslee , Paul P. Douglas Jr. , William E. Dyess , Dominic "Don" Gentile , Gerald R. Johnson , Charles "Mac" MacDonald , James B. Morehead , Jay T. "Cock" Robbins , David C. Schilling , Jesús A. Villamor , William T. Whisner Jr. and Ray S. Wetmore . Bomber pilot Richard H. Carmichael also received two Distinguished Service Crosses. The commander of Easy Company of

8460-402: The Civil War to the Vietnam War. In addition, five recipients whose names were included on the Army's medal revocations in 1917 had their awards restored. A 1993 study commissioned by the U.S. Army investigated "racial disparity" in the awarding of medals. At the time, no Medals of Honor had been awarded to U.S. soldiers of African descent who served in World War II. After an exhaustive review,

8601-506: The Coast Guard Cross, to any person who distinguishes themselves by extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of the Medal of Honor, while serving in any capacity with the Coast Guard, when the Coast Guard is not operating under the Department of the Navy, under one of the following conditions: The Coast Guard Cross is a four armed cross urdeé. It is made of red brass with a 24 karat gold plated matte finish. The pendant

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8742-516: The Department of the Navy. In 1963, Public Law 88-77 even allowed for the award of the Medal of Honor to a Coast Guardsman who met the award's criteria, without specifically being under the orders of the Navy. On 15 October 2010, Public Law 111-281 was passed establishing the Coast Guard Cross under 14 U.S.C.   § 2735 . The statute allows the President of the United States to award

8883-522: The Distinguished Service Cross at Belleau Wood as Sergeant Major of the Sixth Marine Regiment. Besides Rickenbacker, several men received both the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross during World War I. Navy recipients were John Henry Balch , a U.S. Navy Pharmacist's Mate, and Joel T. Boone , a U.S. Navy Lieutenant (Medical Corps), both attached to the Sixth Marine Regiment. Army recipients were Private Daniel R. Edwards of

9024-604: The Distinguished Service Cross in 1969 as a sniper with the 9th Infantry Division , is credited with 109 confirmed kills, the most among U.S. snipers. Dennis Tomcik , a first lieutenant with the 47th Infantry Regiment , was twice awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for two separate actions in 1968 in the Kien Hoa Province. Among other notable Vietnam War Distinguished Service Cross recipients were several who later rose to full general. Among these, besides DePuy and Cavazos, were Paul F. Gorman , who later commanded

9165-421: The Distinguished Service Cross in World War I received a second in World War II. Among these were George S. Patton Jr., whose second Distinguished Service Cross came as commanding general of the Seventh Army in Sicily, and Fred L. Walker, commander of the U.S. 36th Infantry Division in the breakout from Anzio and advance on Rome. Lieutenant General Robert L. Eichelberger , whose first Distinguished Service Cross

9306-438: The George S. Rob Centre at Park University, the review is still ongoing but has already identified some 200 medals for potential upgrade. During the Civil War, Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton promised a Medal of Honor to every man in the 27th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment who extended his enlistment beyond his separation date. The Battle of Gettysburg was imminent, and 311 men of the regiment volunteered to serve until

9447-439: The Greek Expeditionary Force received 6 Distinguished Service Crosses in total during the Korean War. There were just over 1,000 awards in the Vietnam War , almost 400 of which were posthumous. Patrick Brady , a helicopter pilot with the 44th Medical Brigade, and Robert L. Howard , a Special Forces NCO, received both the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross in Vietnam. Major General Keith L. Ware , who had earned

9588-498: The Joint Chiefs of Staff, retiring in 1985. Frederick C. Weyand was decorated in 1967 as commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division. He would serve as Chief of Staff of the Army from 1974 to 1976. Bernard W. Rogers , decorated in March 1967 as assistant division commander of the 1st Infantry Division, succeeded General Weyand as Chief of Staff of the Army and subsequently became NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR). Alexander M. Haig Jr. , also decorated in March 1967 as

9729-403: The Korean War and the Vietnam War. Three were still living at the time of the ceremony. In 2010 and again in 2014, Congress directed the Department of Defense to "survey military leaders . . . to the lowest level of command to determine if there is a trend of downgrading awards . . . for medals related to acts of valor and gallantry," and also to "review the Medal of Honor process to ensure that

9870-433: The Medal of Honor in World War II and who was killed in action in September 1968, received a posthumous Distinguished Service Cross. James F. Hollingsworth , who received a Distinguished Service Cross in April 1945 as commander of 2nd Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, received a second award in November 1966 as assistant division commander of the 1st Infantry Division, and a third in March 1967 as acting division commander of

10011-470: The Medal of Honor in the Philippine Insurrection , was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross as chief of staff of the 89th Division . First Lieutenant James B. McConnell , also decorated with the Medal of Honor for actions in the Philippines as a private with the 33rd Infantry, received the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously as a first lieutenant with the 4th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division . Marine Corps Colonel Hiram I. Bearss , recipient of

10152-576: The Medal of Honor in the Philippines, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross while attached to the 102nd Infantry Regiment, 26th Division . Marine Gunner Henry L. Hulbert , also a recipient of the Navy Medal of Honor in the Philippines, received the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery while serving with the 5th Marine Regiment during the Battle of Belleau Wood . Spanish–American War Medal of Honor recipient John H. Quick also received

10293-470: The Medal of Honor received the Distinguished Service Cross in World War I. Most notable of these was Marine Corps legend, Sergeant Major Daniel Daly , who was twice decorated with the Medal of Honor, and who received the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism as First Sergeant of the 73rd Company, Sixth Marine Regiment, during the Battle of Belleau Wood in June 1918. Colonel Charles E. Kilbourne , who received

10434-426: The Medal of Honor that was awarded. The 1917 Medal of Honor Board revoked 911 awards, but only 910 names from the Army's Medal of Honor list, including awards to Mary Edwards Walker, William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody and the first of two awards issued February 10, 1887, to George W. Mindil, who retained his award issued October 25, 1893. None of the 910 impacted recipients were ordered to return their medals, although on

10575-421: The Medal of Honor, one for each of the military departments of the Department of Defense (DoD): the Department of the Army, Department of the Navy (including the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard), and Department of the Air Force (Air and Space Forces). Members of the Coast Guard, part of the Department of Homeland Security , are eligible to receive the Naval version. Each medal is constructed differently, and

10716-669: The Medal of Honor. Policy for awards, approving authority, supply, and issue of decorations is contained in AR 600-8-22. 10 U.S.C.   § 3991 provides for a 10% increase in retired pay for enlisted personnel who have been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and retired with more than 20 years of service. During World War I , 6,309 awards of the Distinguished Service Cross were made to 6,185 recipients. Several dozen Army soldiers, as well as eight marines and two French Army officers, received two Distinguished Service Crosses. The first awards were made on March 18, 1918, to 3 soldiers of

10857-445: The Medal of Honor. The first and most common is recommendation within three years and approval within five years through the chain of command of the service member. The second method, which normally applies outside of the statute of limitations, is when a recommendation is referred to a military service by a member of the U.S. Congress, generally at the request of a constituent under 10 U.S.C.   § 1130 . In both cases, if

10998-437: The Medal of Honor. The only other such pairing is Theodore Roosevelt (awarded in 2001) and Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. Notably, one member in each pair was strongly influenced by political considerations; Douglas MacArthur's medal was approved for service (rather than gallantry) in violation of both law and policy that prohibited such action, and Theodore Roosevelt's medal was approved after members of Congress successfully lobbied

11139-512: The Medals of Honor have been awarded posthumously. The four specific statutory sections authorizing the medal, as last amended on January 1, 2021, are as follows: The President may award, and present in the name of Congress, a medal of honor of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who while a member of the [Army] [naval service] [Air Force] [Coast Guard], distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at

11280-524: The Medals of Honor of Buffalo Bill and four other civilian scouts in 1989. While the governing statute for the Army's Medal of Honor ( 10 U.S.C.   § 6241 ), beginning in 1918, explicitly stated that a recipient must be "an officer or enlisted man of the Army," "distinguish himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty," and perform an act of valor "in action involving actual conflict with an enemy," exceptions have been made: Note that

11421-600: The November 1970 attempt to rescue U.S. POWs in North Vietnam. Among the recipients were Special Forces soldiers Richard J. "Dick" Meadows and Arthur D. "Bull" Simons . After the Vietnam War, the Distinguished Service Cross has been awarded multiple times. As of December 2018 , it has been awarded 16 times for actions during Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan . As of March 2013 , the Distinguished Service Cross has been awarded 13 times for actions during Operation Iraqi Freedom . Master Sergeant David R. Halbruner

11562-580: The Office of National Drug Control Policy during the Clinton Administration. Colonel David H. Hackworth , who also received ten Silver Stars in Korea and Vietnam, later rose to prominence as a military affairs journalist. George S. Patton IV , son of a two-time Distinguished Service Cross recipient, received two Distinguished Service Crosses in 1968 as commander of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Sergeant Adelbert Waldron III, twice awarded

11703-418: The Philippines. Future Governor of American Samoa Otto Dowling received the cross for displaying bravery while responding to a fire at Lake Denmark Powder Depot , which he commanded at the time. Among the recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross for Siberia and North Russia were Robert L. Eichelberger , who would earn a second medal in World War II, and Sidney C. Graves , who had previously received

11844-447: The Secretary of the Army to reverse a prior determination that "Theodore Roosevelt's bravery in battle did not rise to the level that would justify the Medal of Honor and, indeed, it did not rise to the level of men who fought in that engagement." Seven pairs of brothers have received the Medal of Honor: Two other notable pairs of related recipients include two uncle and nephew recipients. Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher (rear admiral at

11985-623: The Spanish–American War when he was a 1st lieutenant. March's successor, General of the Armies John J. Pershing , received a Distinguished Service Cross in 1941 for bravery during the Philippine Insurrection. Second Lieutenant Gordon Johnston and Corporal Arthur M. Ferguson , both Medal of Honor recipients for the Philippine Insurrection, were also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for other acts of bravery in

12126-629: The U.S. Southern Command; Robert C. Kingston , the first commander-in-chief of U.S. Central Command; James J. Lindsay , who later commanded the U.S. Special Operations Command; Timothy J. Grogan , who later served as the deputy chief of staff for doctrine at the Army's Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe; and Louis C. Menetrey , who wore three hats as Commander, United Nations Command, R.O.K./U.S. Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea. John W. Vessey Jr., decorated for valor during Operation Junction City in March 1967, rose to become Chairman of

12267-506: The United States is not a belligerent party. The act or acts of heroism must have been so notable and have involved risk of life so extraordinary as to set the individual apart from their comrades. The following are authorized components of the Distinguished Service Cross: Additional awards of the Army Distinguished Service Cross are denoted with oak leaf clusters . The Distinguished Service Cross

12408-486: The Vietnam War and to Army Private First Class Henry Svehla and Army Private First Class Anthony T. Kahoʻohanohano for their heroic actions during the Korean War. As a result of a congressionally mandated review to ensure brave acts were not overlooked due to prejudice or discrimination, on March 18, 2014, President Obama upgraded Distinguished Service Crosses to Medals of Honor for 24 Hispanic, Jewish and black individuals—the "Valor 24"—for their actions in World War II,

12549-459: The attorney general of the United States for an advisory opinion on the matter. Byrd himself apparently disliked the Tiffany Cross, and eventually requested the alternate version of the medal from President Herbert Hoover in 1930. The Tiffany Cross itself was not popular among recipients—one author reflected that it was "the most short-lived, legally contentious, and unpopular version of the Medal of Honor in American history." In 1942, in response to

12690-608: The battle was resolved. The remaining men returned to Maine, and with the Union victory at Gettysburg the 311 volunteers soon followed. They arrived back in Maine in time to be discharged with the men who had returned earlier. Since there seemed to be no official list of the 311 volunteers, the War Department exacerbated the situation by forwarding 864 medals to the commanding officer of the regiment. The commanding officer only issued

12831-502: The board to have fully earned their medals, also had their medals restored by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in 1989. The report issued by the Medal of Honor review board in 1917 was reviewed by the Judge Advocate General , who also advised that the War Department should not seek the return of the revoked medals from the recipients identified by the board. In the case of recipients who continued to wear

12972-411: The center and a scroll below the eagle bearing the inscription " FOR VALOR ". On the reverse side, the center of the cross is circled by a wreath with a space for engraving the name of the recipient. The service ribbon is 1 + 3 ⁄ 8 inches (35 mm) wide and consists of the following stripes: The Distinguished Service Cross is awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with

13113-604: The chairman of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia, introduced a resolution (equivalent to a bill) for a Medal of Honor for the Army. The resolution (equivalent to a modern Act of Congress) was approved by Congress and signed into law on July 12, 1862. This measure provided for awarding a medal of honor "to such non-commissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other soldier-like qualities during

13254-522: The components are made from gilding metals and red brass alloys with some gold plating, enamel, and bronze pieces. The United States Congress considered a bill in 2004 which would require the Medal of Honor to be made with 90% gold, the same composition as the lesser-known Congressional Gold Medal , but the measure was dropped. The Army's version is described by the Institute of Heraldry as "a gold five-pointed star, each point tipped with trefoils, 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 inches [3.8 cm] wide, surrounded by

13395-687: The criteria for the Medal of Honor . The Army Distinguished Service Cross is equivalent to the Naval Services' Navy Cross , the Air and Space Forces' Air Force Cross , and the Coast Guard Cross . Prior to the creation of the Air Force Cross in 1960, airmen were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. The Distinguished Service Cross was first awarded during World War I . In addition, a number of awards were bestowed for actions which took place before World War I. In many cases,

13536-412: The double recipients of WWI because they received Medals of Honor from different services, which meant the same medals were not duplicated and had independent statutory authority. Later, in 1927, President Coolidge issued an executive order that forbade issuing more than one federal decoration for the same action, a policy that continues through the present time. The statutory bar on issuing multiple medals

13677-520: The enemy, distinguish[es] himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty." Despite the "actual conflict" guidelines, the Tiffany Cross was awarded to Navy CDR (later RADM) Richard E. Byrd and Floyd Bennett for their flight to the North Pole in 1926. The decision was controversial within the Navy's Bureau of Navigation (which handled personnel administration), and officials considered asking

13818-442: The eye, jump rings, and suspension ring made of red brass . The finish on the pendant and suspension bar is hard enameled, gold plated, and rose gold plated, with polished highlights. The Naval version is described as "a five-pointed bronze star, tipped with trefoils containing a crown of laurel and oak. In the center is Minerva, personifying the United States, standing with her left hand resting on fasces and her right hand holding

13959-521: The field order map. During World War II, twelve soldiers, three airmen, and two sailors received both the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross: from the Army, Bernard P. Bell , Maurice L. "Footsie" Britt , Herbert H. Burr , Leonard A. Funk , Gerry H. Kisters , James M. Logan , George L. Mabry Jr. , Douglas MacArthur , Audie L. Murphy , Junior J. Spurrier , Jack L. Treadwell and Jonathan M. Wainwright ; from

14100-508: The first Hispanic-American four-star general. Korean War Distinguished Service Cross recipient Ralph Puckett Jr. would also receive a second Distinguished Service Cross in Vietnam in command of a battalion of the 101st Airborne Division . Thomas Tackaberry would earn a Distinguished Service Cross in 1952 as a company commander and two more in Vietnam. U.S. Air Force ace Ralph Parr earned a Distinguished Service Cross in 1953 in Korea and an Air Force Cross in Vietnam. Three marines earned both

14241-402: The form of an "M." It is placed first in the top position in the order of precedence and is worn for situations other than full-dress military uniform. The lapel button is a 1 ⁄ 2 -inch (13 mm), six-sided light blue bowknot rosette with thirteen white stars and may be worn on appropriate civilian clothing on the left lapel. Since 1944, the Medal of Honor has been attached to

14382-512: The inclusion of one, or more, Oak Leaf Clusters signifies each additional Distinguished Service Cross awarded to that recipient. Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor ( MOH ) is the United States Armed Forces ' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers , sailors , marines , airmen , guardians , and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. The medal

14523-490: The medal was awarded to soldiers who had received a Certificate of Merit for gallantry; at the time, this certificate was the only other honor for gallantry the Army could present to combatants in lieu of a Medal of Honor. Others were furnished in belated recognition of actions which occurred in the Philippine–American War , during the Boxer Rebellion , and Pancho Villa Expedition . The Distinguished Service Cross

14664-642: The medals to the volunteers who stayed behind and retained the others on the grounds that, if he returned the remainder to the War Department, the War Department would try to reissue the medals. In 1916, a board of five Army generals on the retired list convened under act of law to review every Army Medal of Honor awarded. The board was to report on any Medals of Honor awarded or issued "for any cause other than distinguished conduct by an officer or enlisted man in action involving actual conflict with an enemy." The board, led by Nelson A. Miles , identified 911 awards for causes other than distinguished conduct. This included

14805-491: The modifications with the plaster model for the second (and current) version made by John R. Sinnock , who also sculpted various other medals, including the Purple Heart . Army Regulation (AR) 670–1, governing the wear and appearance of army uniforms and insignia, and its associated guide specify that the Distinguished Service Cross appears second in the order of precedence of U.S. military decorations, preceded only by

14946-509: The nomination process, valor requirements, and timeliness of the process do not unfairly penalize service members." This ultimately resulted in a review of all post 9/11 valor awards, several of which resulted in Medals of Honor. Another historical review for World War I medals that may have been tainted by discrimination was authorized in the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act. Conducted under

15087-468: The number of Air Force recipients does not count recipients from its pre-September 19, 1947, Army-related predecessor organizations . Nevertheless, the Air Force's transfer agreement gave it retroactive jurisdiction over military awards to the date the Air Corps was authorized by statute: Jul. 2, 1926. Thus, were a decoration submitted retroactively for an aviator's actions on or after that date (including

15228-430: The pendant and suspension bar is hard enameled, gold plated, and rose gold plated, with buffed relief. The Medal of Honor has evolved in appearance over time. The upside-down star design of the Naval version's pendant adopted in early 1862 has not changed since its inception. The Army's 1862 version followed and was identical to the Naval version except an eagle perched atop cannons was used instead of an anchor to connect

15369-459: The pendant to the suspension ribbon. The medals featured a female allegory of the Union, with a shield in her right hand that she used to fend off a crouching attacker and serpents. In her left hand, she held a fasces . There are 34 stars surrounding the scene, representing the number of states in the union at the time. In 1896, the Army version changed the ribbon's design and colors due to misuse and imitation by nonmilitary organizations. In 1904,

15510-407: The present insurrection." By mid-November the Department of War contracted with Philadelphia silversmith William Wilson and Son, who had been responsible for the Navy's design, to prepare 2,000 medals for the Army ($ 2.00 each) to be struck at the mint. The Army's version had "The Congress to" written on the back of the medal. Both versions were made of copper and coated with bronze, which "gave them

15651-638: The present war...." On December 21, the bill was passed and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln . Secretary Welles directed the Philadelphia Mint to design the new military decoration. On May 15, 1862, the United States Department of the Navy ordered 175 medals ($ 1.85 each) from the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia with "Personal Valor" inscribed on the back of each one. On February 15, 1862, Senator Henry Wilson ,

15792-472: The proposal is outside the time limits for the recommendation, approval to waive the time limit requires a special Act of Congress . The Medal of Honor is presented by the President on behalf of, and in the name of, the Congress. Since 1980, nearly all Medal of Honor recipients—or in the case of posthumous awards, the next of kin—have been personally decorated by the president. Since 1941, more than half of

15933-590: The question of whether the recipients could continue to wear their medals, the Judge Advocate General advised the Medal of Honor Board that the Army was not obligated to police the matter. Walker continued to wear her medal until her death. Although some sources claim that President Jimmy Carter formally restored her medal posthumously in 1977, this action was actually taken unilaterally by the Army's Board for Correction of Military Records. The Army Board for Correction of Military Records also restored

16074-448: The report of the Medal of Honor Review Board, established by Congress in 1916, 911 recipients were stricken from the Army's Medal of Honor list because the medal had been awarded inappropriately. Among them were William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody and Mary Edwards Walker . In 1977, the Army's board for correction of military records unilaterally restored Walker's medal at the request of a relative. The board had no authority to overturn

16215-535: The ribbon of the Army's version of the Medal of Honor was redesigned with all stripes being vertical. Again, in 1904 the planchet of the Army's version of the Medal of Honor was redesigned by General George Lewis Gillespie . The purpose of the redesign was to help distinguish the Medal of Honor from other medals, particularly the membership insignia issued by the Grand Army of the Republic . In 1917, based on

16356-430: The risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. The Medal of Honor confers special privileges on its recipients: Medal of Honor recipients may apply in writing to the headquarters of the service branch of the medal awarded for a replacement or display Medal of Honor, ribbon, and appurtenance (Medal of Honor flag) without charge. Primary next of kin may also do the same and have any questions answered in regard to

16497-535: The same basis as personnel in the naval service or serving in any capacity with the Navy." This allows the award of the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism while engaged in combat or armed action. During World War II , six Coast Guardsmen, four officers and two enlisted, were awarded the Navy Cross. On 4 August 1949, Public Law 63-535 was passed, bringing into force 14 U.S.C.   § 2736 and 14 U.S.C.   § 2739 . This law established

16638-580: The sea at Hamhung, and two days later took part in the action which earned him his second Navy Cross. Murray had earned his first Navy Cross on Saipan during World War II. Other notable Korean War recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross include Harold K. Johnson , later Chief of Staff of the Army, and Herbert B. Powell , later Ambassador to New Zealand (1963–67). Along with Gen. Johnson, at least five other Korean War Distinguished Service Cross recipients later rose to four-star rank: Paul L. Freeman Jr. , Clark L. Ruffner (decorated in 1951 as commander of

16779-703: The secretary of war to the president in a letter dated December 28, 1917. The act of Congress establishing this award (193-65th Congress), dated July 9, 1918, is contained in 10 U.S.C.   § 3742 . The establishment of the Distinguished Service Cross was promulgated in War Department General Order No. 6, dated January 12, 1918. The first style of the Distinguished Service Cross was designed by Captain Aymar E. Embury II , Engineers Officer Reserve Corps, and World War I artist Lieutenant J. Andre Smith . The first medals were struck by

16920-464: The study recommended that ten Distinguished Service Cross recipients be awarded the Medal of Honor. On January 13, 1997, President Bill Clinton presented the Medal of Honor to seven of these World War II veterans, six of them posthumously and one to former Second Lieutenant Vernon Baker . In 1998, a similar study of Asian Americans resulted in Clinton presenting 22 Medals of Honor in 2000. This

17061-403: The subsequent award is authorized to wear an additional Medal of Honor ribbon and/or a 'V' device on the Medal of Honor suspension ribbon" (the "V" device is a 1 ⁄ 4 -inch-high (6.4 mm) bronze miniature letter "V" with serifs that denotes valor). The Medal of Honor was the only decoration authorized to use the "V" device (none were ever issued) to designate subsequent awards in such

17202-476: The time of award) and his nephew, Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher (lieutenant at the time of award), both awarded for actions during the United States occupation of Veracruz . Guy W. S. Castle for actions during the United States occupation of Veracruz , and his nephew Frederick Walker Castle for actions during World War II . Since 1979, 86 late Medal of Honor awards have been presented for actions from

17343-458: The traditional depiction of Minerva in part due to a desire to distinguish itself from the Army, including the Institute of Heraldry that traditionally designs awards, but which falls under the Army. On May 2, 1896, Congress authorized a "ribbon to be worn with the medal and [a] rosette or knot to be worn in lieu of the medal." The service ribbon is light blue with five white stars in

17484-420: The words "Medal of Honor" as written on Kendall's flag. The color of the field and the 13 white stars, arranged in the form of a three-bar chevron , consisting of two chevrons of five stars and one chevron of three stars, emulate the suspension ribbon of the Medal of Honor. The flag has no defined proportions. The first Medal of Honor Flag recipient was U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith , whose flag

17625-465: Was John J. Kelly , on October 3, 1918; the last individual to receive two Medals of Honor for two different actions was Smedley Butler , in 1914 and 1915. None of the double awardees earned two distinct medals under modern Medal of Honor criteria, although the WWI awardees qualified under substantially modern statutes. Arthur MacArthur, Jr. and Douglas MacArthur are the first father and son to be awarded

17766-462: Was General J. Franklin Bell , Chief of Staff of the Army from 1906 to 1910. A recipient of the Medal of Honor during the Philippine Insurrection, in 1925 he was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for bravery in the Spanish–American War in 1898. In 1920, General Peyton C. March , then serving as Chief of Staff of the Army, was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for bravery in the Philippines during

17907-414: Was an attempt to circumvent the requirement enacted in 1919 that recipients participate "in action involving actual conflict with the enemy," which would have foreclosed non-combat awards. By treating the 1919 Medal of Honor as a separate award from its Civil War counterpart, this allowed the Department of the Navy to claim that it was not literally in violation of the 1919 law. The original upside-down star

18048-650: Was awarded for valor in Siberia in 1919, received a second for valor in New Guinea in the Buna campaign of 1942–43. A little over fifty soldiers (and one sailor) received two Distinguished Service Crosses in World War II. The sailor was John D. Bulkeley , who also received the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross and was one of the most highly decorated Americans of World War II. Among Army recipients of two Distinguished Service Crosses were Creighton W. Abrams Jr. , later

18189-456: Was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross after he removed his body armor to reach to a pair of wounded teammates and render medical aid to them, while under fire, on 24 June 2006. Colonel James H. Coffman Jr. , 1st Iraqi Special Police Commando Brigade, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for defending a police station in Mosul from an insurgent attack on 14 November 2004. Note that

18330-585: Was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General Spaatz for piloting the Enola Gay , the B-29 Superfortress plane which dropped the first nuclear bomb on Hiroshima . In the Korean War , there were just over 800 awards, of which over 300 were posthumous . Robert R. Martin , colonel with the 24th Infantry Division was a first recipient in the Korean war. Lloyd L. "Scooter" Burke ,

18471-534: Was awarded the medal for his actions during the 2012 Benghazi attack ; there has also been only one award for actions during the 2015 Bamako hotel attack . Major Mark E. Mitchell , 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group , was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his leading his team against a numerically superior enemy force to free an American held captive at Qala-i-Jang Fortress, Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan between 25 and 28 November 2001. MSgt Brendan W. O'Connor , 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group ,

18612-626: Was designated as the non-combat version and a new pattern of the medal pendant, in cross form, was designed by the Tiffany Company in 1919. Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels selected Tiffany after snubbing the Commission of Fine Arts, which had submitted drawings that Daniels criticized as "un-American". The so-called Tiffany Cross was to be presented to a sailor or marine who "in action involving actual conflict with

18753-644: Was designed by the United States Army Institute of Heraldry . Distinguished Service Cross (United States) The Distinguished Service Cross ( DSC ) is the United States Army 's second highest military decoration for soldiers who display extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree that they are above those required for all other U.S. combat decorations, but which do not meet

18894-463: Was designed in 1965, it incorporated similar elements and design from the Army version. At the Department of the Air Force leadership's insistence, the new medal depicted the Statue of Liberty's image in place of Minerva on the medal and changed the connecting device from an eagle to Jupiter's thunderbolt flanked with wings as found on the Department of the Air Force's seal. The Air Force diverged from

19035-443: Was earned in 1944 as commanding general of XX Corps and whose second was earned in 1950 as commanding general of Eighth Army . Nine men received two Distinguished Service Crosses in Korea. Among these was Edward Almond , the commanding general of X Corps. Korean War Distinguished Service Cross recipient First Lieutenant Richard E. Cavazos would earn a second Distinguished Service Cross in Vietnam and rise to full general, becoming

19176-491: Was earned in North Africa in March 1943 with the 1st Infantry Division and whose second was earned in August 1950 with the 25th Infantry Division , Hobart R. Gay , whose first Distinguished Service Cross was earned in 1944 as Chief of Staff of George S. Patton 's Third Army and whose second was earned in 1950 as commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division , and Walton Walker , whose first Distinguished Service Cross

19317-519: Was established by President Woodrow Wilson on January 2, 1918. General John J. Pershing , commander-in-chief of the expeditionary forces in France, had recommended that recognition other than the Medal of Honor be authorized for the United States Army for valorous service rendered in like manner to that awarded by the European armies. The request for the establishment of the medal was forwarded from

19458-527: Was finally repealed in the FY2014 defense bill, at the request of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, meaning that recipients can now be issued more than one medal rather than simply receiving a device for subsequent awards. However, it is still true that no more than one medal may be issued for the same action. To date, the maximum number of Medals of Honor earned by any service member has been two. The last living individual to be awarded two Medals of Honor

19599-583: Was following a historical review conducted by a team of historians headed by Jim McNaughton at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, located in the Presidio of Monterey, California. The review ultimately forwarded at least 47 cases of Distinguished Services Crosses for potential upgrade, as well as one Silver Star. Twenty of the resulting medals went to U.S. soldiers of Japanese descent of

19740-539: Was presented posthumously. President George W. Bush presented the Medal of Honor and Flag to the family of Smith during the award ceremony for him in the White House on April 4, 2005. A special Medal of Honor Flag presentation ceremony was held for over 60 living Medal of Honor recipients on board the USS ; Constitution in September 2006. There are two distinct protocols for recommending and adjudicating

19881-484: Was recommended by the Army's board for correction of military records in 2015, established that the correction boards lack the authority to unilaterally award Medals of Honor. In Conner's case, the board merely recommended the medal, which was then referred to the Senior Army Decorations Board, and ultimately to the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of Defense, and the President, who requested

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