Silver Star
The
Silver Star is the third highest
military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the
United States Armed Forces for
valor.
The Silver Star is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the
United States not justifying a higher award. It may be awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S Armed Forces, distinguishes him or herself by extraordinary heroism involving one of the following actions:
* In action against an enemy of the United States
* While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force
* While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party
The required gallantry, while of a lesser degree than that required for award of the
Distinguished Service Cross,
Navy Cross or
Air Force Cross, must nevertheless have been performed with marked distinction. Soldiers who received a citation for gallantry in action during
World War I may apply to have the citation converted to the Silver Star Medal.
The
Bronze Star Medal is another United States decoration which is awarded for both heroism and non-combat meritorious service. The Bronze Star medal is often issued to individuals who performed notable accomplishments, but not to the level required of the Silver Star. The
Valorous Unit Award is considered the unit level equalivent of a Silver Star.
The Silver Star is the successor decoration to the
Citation Star which was established by an act of the
U.S. Congress on
July 9,
1918. On
July 19,
1932, the
Secretary of War approved the Silver Star Medal to replace the Citation Star. The original Citation Star is incorporated into the center of the Silver Star Medal, and the ribbon for the Silver Star Medal is based closely on the
Certificate of Merit Medal.
Authorization for the Silver Star was placed into law by an Act of Congress for the
U.S. Navy on
August 7,
1942 and an Act of Congress for the
U.S. Army on
December 15,
1942. The primary reason for congressional authorization was the desire to award the medal to civilians as well as the Army. The current statutory authorization for the Silver Star Medal is Title 10 of the
United States Code (Section 3746).
The Silver Star is a gold star, 1½ inches (38 mm) in circumscribing diameter with a laurel wreath encircling rays from the center and a 3/16 inch (5 mm) diameter silver star superimposed in the center. The pendant is suspended from a rectangular shaped metal loop with rounded corners. The reverse has the inscription "
FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION." The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches (35 mm) wide and consists of the following stripes: 3/32 inch (2 mm) ultramarine blue 67118; 3/64 inch (1 mm) white 67101; 7/32 inch (6 mm) ultramarine blue; 7/32 inch (6 mm) white; 7/32 (6 mm) inch Old Glory red 67156 (center stripe); 7/32 inch (6 mm) white; 7/32 inch (6 mm) ultramarine blue; 3/64 inch (1 mm) white; and 3/32 inch (2 mm) ultramarine blue.
Additional decorations of the Silver Star are denoted in the
U.S. Army and
Air Force by
oak leaf clusters, while the Navy,
Coast Guard, and
Marine Corps issue
award stars.
In
1944, four nurses became the first female recipients of the Silver Star. 1st Lt. Mary Roberts, 2nd Lt. Elaine Roe, 2nd Lt. Virginia Rourke, and 2nd Lt. Ellen Ainsworth (posthumous) were cited for their bravery in successfully evacuating the 33rd Field Hospital at
Anzio,
Italy on
February 10. They remained the sole female recipients until
Leigh Ann Hester was awarded the Silver Star in
2005.
Other notable recipients include:
*
Silver Star - Criteria, Background, and Images*
Air Force Personnel Center information on the Silver Star
