Misplaced Pages

#423576

27-607: The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is the equivalent of the Army's Soldier's Medal , the Air and Space Forces' Airman's Medal , and the Coast Guard Medal . As the senior non-combat award for heroism, this award hinges on the actual level of personal "life threatening" risk experienced by the awardee. For heroic performance to rise to this level it must be clearly established that the act involved very specific life-threatening risk to

54-668: A fouled anchor over a globe. The word Heroism is inscribed below the globe. The ribbon of the medal is three equal stripes of navy blue, old gold, and apple red. Soldier%27s Medal The Soldier's Medal is an individual decoration of the United States Army . It was introduced as Section 11 of the Air Corps Act , passed by the Congress of the United States on July 2, 1926. The Soldier's Medal

81-568: A fire and to James K. Wilson and Cleophas C. Burnett for saving people from drowning. The period of time when the most Soldier's Medals were awarded was World War II (at least hundreds were awarded). Prior to the establishment of the Airman's Medal , which was authorized on 10 August 1956 and created in 1960, the Soldier's Medal was awarded to U.S. Air Force personnel by the Army since 26 September 1947. The distinguishing criterion for awarding

108-566: Is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces . The medal was established on July 2, 1926, and is currently awarded to any persons who, after April 6, 1917, distinguish themselves by single acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Both heroism and extraordinary achievement are entirely distinctive, involving operations that are not routine. The medal may be awarded to friendly foreign military members in ranks equivalent to

135-575: Is equivalent to the Navy and Marine Corps Medal , the Air and Space Forces' Airman's Medal , and the Coast Guard Medal . Prior to the creation of the Airman's Medal in 1960, airmen were awarded the Soldier's Medal. The criteria for the medal are: "The Soldier's Medal is awarded to any person of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly foreign nation who, while serving in any capacity with

162-854: The "C" Device for meritorious service or achievement under combat conditions. In July 2014, the United States Senate passed the Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act . The act was sponsored by Senator Barbara Boxer , to designate the Distinguished Flying Cross Memorial at March Field Air Museum adjacent to March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California , as a national memorial to recognize members of United States Armed Forces who have distinguished themselves by heroism in aerial flight. The act

189-475: The "V" device. On January 7, 2016, a Secretary of Defense memorandum standardized the use of the "V" device as a valor-only device across the services. The Department of Defense published "DOD Manuals 1348.33, Volumes 1-4, DOD Military Decorations and Awards" which unified the criteria for awards. DOD 1348.33. "Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards" authorizes use of the "V" Device with the DFC for combat valor and

216-517: The Army of the United States, including Reserve Component soldiers not serving in a duty status at the time of the heroic act, distinguished himself or herself by heroism not involving conflict with an enemy." A need to recognize acts of heroism in 1922 resulted in the War Department 's issuing orders for acts of bravery during peacetime. This led to an Act of Congress (Public Law 446-69th Congress, July 2, 1926 (44 Stat. 780)) which established

243-562: The Atlantic Ocean earlier that year. The only Distinguished Flying Cross for World War I service was posthumously awarded on June 14, 2017, when 95th Aero Squadron Commander and Army Captain James Ely Miller was recognized for his actions on March 9, 1918, which made him the first American aviator serving with an American unit to die in that war. During World War II, the medal's award criteria varied widely depending on

270-561: The Distinguished Flying Cross are shown with bronze or silver Oak Leaf Clusters for the Army, Air Force, and Space Force, and gold and silver 5 ⁄ 16 Inch Stars for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. The Army, Air Force, Space Force, Navy, and Marine Corps may authorize the "V" device for wear on the DFC to denote valor in combat. The services can also award the DFC for extraordinary achievement without

297-682: The Medal of Honor for their historic flight to the North Pole on May 9, 1926. Numerous recipients of the medal earned greater fame in other occupations; a number of astronauts, actors, and politicians have been Distinguished Flying Cross recipients, including President George H. W. Bush . The DFC may be retroactively awarded to recognize notable accomplishments made at any time after the beginning of American participation in World War I . On February 23, 1929, Congress passed special legislation to allow

SECTION 10

#1732780534424

324-596: The Soldier's Medal for acts of heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. The Secretary of War directed that the Quartermaster General prepare and submit appropriate designs of the Soldier's Medal per letter signed by the Adjutant General dated 11 August 1926. The medal was designed by sculptor Gaetano Cecere . The first Soldier's Medals were awarded on October 17, 1927, to John F. Burns and James P. Martin for their heroism during

351-417: The Soldier's Medal, per Army Regulation 600-8-22, para 3-14, is "The performance must have involved personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life under conditions not involving conflict with an armed enemy. Awards will not be made solely on the basis of having saved a life." It is the highest honor a soldier can receive for an act of valor in a non-combat situation, held to be equal to or greater than

378-647: The U.S. paygrade of O-6 and below in combat or support operations. The first award of the Distinguished Flying Cross was made by President Calvin Coolidge on May 2, 1927, to ten aviators of the U.S. Army Air Corps who had participated in the Army Pan American Flight which took place from December 21, 1926, to May 2, 1927. Two of the airmen died in a mid-air collision trying to land at Buenos Aires on February 26, 1927, and received their awards posthumously. The award had only been authorized by Congress

405-607: The award of the DFC to the Wright brothers for their December 17, 1903, flight. Other civilians who have received the award include Wiley Post , Jacqueline Cochran , Roscoe Turner , Amelia Earhart , Glenn H. Curtiss , and Eugene Ely . Eventually, it was limited to military personnel by an Executive Order. Amelia Earhart became the first woman to receive the DFC on July 29, 1932, when it was presented to her by Vice President Charles Curtis in Los Angeles for her solo flight across

432-488: The award to be given to any person who distinguishes themselves "by heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight" while serving in any capacity with the Air Corps. The Distinguished Flying Cross was designed by Elizabeth Will and Arthur E. DuBois. The medal is a bronze cross pattee , on whose obverse is superimposed a four-bladed propeller , 1 11/16 inches in width. Five rays extend from

459-586: The awardee. During the mid-20th century, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal has been awarded instead of the Silver or Gold Lifesaving Medal , for sea rescues involving risk to life. This is due primarily to the creation of a variety of additional military decorations that are often considered more prestigious than the Lifesaving Medal. Additional awards of the medal are denoted by gold or silver 5 ⁄ 16 inch stars . The Navy and Marine Corps Medal

486-509: The face the words "FOR VALOR." In the base is a panel for the name of the recipient to be engraved. The medal is suspended from the ribbon by a rectangular-shaped metal loop with corners rounded. The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 3/8 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118 on each side and the center containing 13 White and Red stripes of equal width (7 White 67101 and 6 Old Glory Red 67156). Distinguished Flying Cross (USA) The Distinguished Flying Cross ( DFC )

513-566: The level which would have justified an award of the Distinguished Flying Cross had the act occurred in combat. Any enlisted American servicemember who is eligible for retirement pay will receive an increase of 10 percent in retirement pay if the level of valor was equal to that which would earn the Distinguished Service Cross . Additional awards of the medal are denoted by oak leaf clusters worn on

540-630: The medal being awarded. For example, George McGovern received one for the successful completion of a bombing mission in which his aircraft lost an engine and then was landed safely. On December 28, 1944, Aleda Lutz became the first military woman to receive the DFC, which she received posthumously. The Distinguished Flying Cross was authorized by Section 12 of the United States Army Air Corps Act enacted by Congress on July 2, 1926, as amended by Executive Order 7786 on January 8, 1938 and USC 10, 9279. This act provided for

567-750: The previous year and no medals had yet been struck, so the Pan American airmen initially received only certificates. Among the ten airmen were Major Herbert Dargue , Captains Ira C. Eaker and Muir S. Fairchild , and First Lieutenant Ennis C. Whitehead . Charles Lindbergh received the first presentation of the actual medal about a month later from Coolidge during the Washington, D.C., homecoming reception on June 11, 1927, from his trans-Atlantic flight. The medal had hurriedly been struck and readied just for that occasion. The 1927 War Department General Order (G.O. 8) authorizing Lindbergh's DFC states that it

SECTION 20

#1732780534424

594-589: The reentrant angles, forming a one-inch square. The reverse is blank; it is suitable for engraving the recipient's name and rank. The cross is suspended from a rectangular bar. The suspension and service ribbon of the medal is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 3/32 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118; 9/64 inch White 67101; 11/32 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118; 3/64 inch White 67101; center stripe 3/32 inch Old Glory Red 67156; 3/64 inch White 67101; 11/32 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118; 9/64 inch White 67101; 3/32 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118. Additional awards of

621-439: The suspension and service ribbon of the medal. The Soldier's Medal is issued as a 1 3/8 inch wide Bronze octagon with an eagle displayed, standing on a fasces, between two groups of stars of six and seven, above the group of six a spray of leaves. On the reverse is a shield paly of 13 pieces, on the chief the letters "US," supported by sprays of laurel and oak, around the upper edge the inscription "SOLDIER'S MEDAL" and across

648-536: The theater of operations, aerial combat that was engaged in, and the missions that were accomplished. In the Pacific, commissioned officers were often awarded the DFC, while enlisted men were given the Air Medal . In Europe, some crews received it for their overall performance through a tour of duty. The criteria used were however not consistent between commands or over time. Individual achievement could also result in

675-721: Was awarded by the president, while the General Order (G.O. 6) for the Pan American Flyers' DFC citation notes that the War Department awarded it "by direction of the President." The first Distinguished Flying Cross to be awarded to a Naval aviator was received by Commander Richard E. Byrd , USN for his trans-Atlantic flight from June 29 to July 1, 1927, from New York City to the coast of France. Byrd and his pilot Machinist Floyd Bennett had already received

702-493: Was first bestowed during World War II . However, the medal was awarded retroactively for actions that predated its establishment, "to any person to whom the Secretary of the Navy, before August 7, 1942, awarded a letter of commendation for heroism, and who applies for that medal, regardless of the date of the act of heroism." The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is an octagonal bronze medal. The obverse depicts an eagle holding

729-470: Was signed into law by President Barack Obama on July 25, 2014. This is not a complete list, as it does not include individuals who are known only for receiving the DFC. Note: the rank indicated is the highest ever held by the person. Note: Although astronaut Neil Armstrong 's achievements as an aviator and an astronaut more than exceeded the requirements for the DFC, he was a civilian for his entire career with NASA, requiring an act of Congress to award

#423576