Silver Star
Awarded by United States Military
Type	Medal
Awarded for	"Gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States"
Status	Currently awarded
Statistics
First awarded	1932
Last awarded	Currently awarded
Precedence
Next (higher)	Distinguished Service Medals: Defense, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard
Next (lower)	Defense Superior Service Medal
Silver Star ribbon

The Silver Star is the third highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces. The United States Armed Forces are the overall unified military forces of the United States The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security This article concerns the United States Army Distinguished Service Medal The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919 The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is a decoration of the United States Coast Guard which was created in August 1949 by order of the United States Congress The Defense Superior Service Medal of the United States is a senior decoration of the Department of Defense. Awards and decorations of the United States military are Military decorations which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed The United States Armed Forces are the overall unified military forces of the United States It is also the third highest award given for valor (in the face of the enemy).

General information

The Silver Star is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States not justifying a higher award. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the It may be awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U. S Armed Forces, distinguishes himself 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 Silver Star differs from the Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross or Air Force Cross, in that it requires a lesser degree of gallantry and need not be earned while in a position of great responsibility. The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, awarded for extreme The Navy Cross is the second highest medal that can be awarded by the Department of the Navy and the second highest award given for valor. The Air Force Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Air Force. Soldiers who received a citation for gallantry in action during World War I were eligible to apply to have the citation converted to the Silver Star Medal. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All

The Bronze Star is another United States decoration which may be awarded for heroism, but unlike the Silver Star may also be awarded for meritorious service while engaged in combat operations. The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration which may be awarded for bravery acts of merit or meritorious service When awarded for valor, the Bronze Star Medal comes with the Valor device. The Valor device, also known as a combat distinguishing device, V-device, "V" device, and Combat V, is an award of the The Bronze Star Medal is often issued to individuals who performed notable accomplishments, but not to the level required of the Silver Star Medal.

The Valorous Unit Award is considered the unit level equivalent of a Silver Star Medal. The Valorous Unit Award is a decoration which is awarded to units of the United States Army which display extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy of the

History

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. The Citation Star was an award of the United States Army which was first established by the United States Congress on July 9, 1918 The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses Events 455 - Roman military commander Avitus is proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common On July 19, 1932, the Secretary of War approved the Silver Star Medal to replace the Citation Star. Events 711 - Muslim forces under Tariq ibn Ziyad defeat the Visigoths led by their king Roderic. Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington 's administration 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. The Certificate of Merit Medal was a military decoration of the United States Army that was issued between the years of 1905 to 1918

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. Events 322 BC - Battle of Crannon between Athens and Macedon following the death of Alexander the Great. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 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 United States Code ( USC) is a compilation and Codification of the general and permanent federal Law of the United States.

Appearance

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 1³⁄₈ inches (35 mm) wide and consists of the following stripes: ⁷⁄₃₂ (6 mm) inch Old Glory red 67156 (center stripe); proceeding outward in pairs 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. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. An oak leaf cluster or oakleaves is a common device which is placed on U An award star is a decoration issued by the United States military in lieu of multiple awards of the same award for example a second and subsequent Legion of Merit

Notable recipients

In 1944, four nurses serving in World War II 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. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Events 1355 - The St Scholastica's Day riot breaks out in Oxford, England, leaving 63 scholars and perhaps 30 locals dead They remained the sole female recipients until Leigh Ann Hester was awarded the Silver Star in 2005 for gallantry during an insurgent ambush on a convoy in Iraq. Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester (born January 12 1982) of the 617th Military Police Company, a National Guard unit out of Three nurses serving in World War I were posthumously awarded the Silver Star in 2007. Army Spc. Monica Lin Brown, the first woman serving in Afghanistan to be chosen for this honor, was awarded the Silver Star in March 2008 ^[1]. Specialist Monica Lin Brown (born May 24 1988 Lake Jackson, Texas) a medic in the 782nd Brigade Support Battalion 4th Other notable recipients include:

Legal

Any false verbal, written or physical claim to the Silver Star, by an individual to whom it has not been awarded, is a federal felony offense punishable by up to a year in jail and up to a $10,000 fine. 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General Ronald Robert Fogleman (born January 1942 was Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. PFC Guy Louis Gabaldon ( March 22, 1926 &ndash August 31, 2006) was a United States Marine who was credited with capturing (or persuading Lieutenant General Hobart Raymond Gay ( May 16, 1894, Rockport Illinois - August 19, 1983, El Paso Texas) was John Joyce ("Jack" Gilligan (born March 22, 1921) is a Democratic politician from the U David L Grange is a retired United States Army Brigadier General, son of retired Lieutenant General David E John Campbell Greenway ( July 6, 1872 – January 19, 1926) was an American mining steel and railroad executive a man of many trades in many For other people with similar names see Wild Bill William J "Wild Bill" Guarnere (born 28 April, 1922 David Haskell Hackworth ( November 11, 1930 &ndash May 4, 2005) known affectionately as " Hack " was a retired United Alexander Meigs Haig Jr (born December 2 1924 is a retired four-star General in the United States Army who served as the U Thomas Dudley Harmon ( September 28, 1919 - March 15, 1990) was a star player in United States College football, a sports Raymond Harvey (1 March 1920 &ndash 18 November 1996 was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army who served during World War II and the Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Norman Hathcock II ( May 20, 1942 &ndash February 23, 1999) was a United States Marine Corps Sterling Hayden ( March 26, 1916 – May 23, 1986) was an American Actor and Author. Vice Admiral Diego E Hernandez (born c1930 is a retired United States Navy officer Clifford B Hicks is an American writer and magazine editor best known for his children's books chronicling the adventures of Alvin Fernald Daniel J Hill (born 1938 in Oak Park Illinois joined the United States Army at the age of 15 by lying about his age Colonel Daniel J Miller was born in Stony Point New York. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces during WWII and was a navigator in a B-24 Liberator Lucius Roy Holbrook ( April 30, 1875 &ndash October 19, 1952) was a Major General who commanded of the United States Army Gordon Pai'ea Chung-Hoon, ( Honolulu Hawaii, July 10, 1910 - July 24 1979) was an admiral in the United States Navy, who Captain Joe Ronnie Hooper (August 8 1938&ndashMay 6 1979 was a Vietnam veteran whose combat decorations surpassed those of Lt Clifton James (born May 29, 1921) is an American Actor. Biography Personal life James was born George Clifton General James Logan Jones Jr USMC (born December 19 1943 is the former Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR (2003-2006 and the Commander of the General Charles Chandler Krulak (born March 4 1942 served as the 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps from July 1 1995 to June 30 1999 Benjamin Lear (May 12 1879 – November 2 1966 was a United States Army General John Clifford Hodges Lee ( August 1, 1887 &ndash August 30, 1958) was a U Homer Laurence Litzenberg (January 8 1903-June 27 1963 was a decorated Lieutenant General in the United States Marine Corps, serving in Haiti General MacArthur redirects here for other meanings see General MacArthur (disambiguation. François Marie Louis de Maigret, Count de Maigret & de Neau Baron de Stockem Count of the Holy Roman Empire ( December 2, 1914 - June 13, Peyton Conway March (born December 27, 1864 in Easton Pennsylvania - April 13, 1955) was an American soldier and Army Chief Richard "Dick" Marcinko (born November 21, 1940 in Lansford Pennsylvania) is a former United States Navy SEAL and George Catlett Marshall Jr (December 31 1880 &ndash October 16 1959 was an American military leader Chief of Staff of the Army, Secretary of Richard Jaquelin Marshall ( June 16 1895, Markham Virginia August 03 1973) was a Major General in the US Army Sidney Sanders McMath (June 14 1912 October 4 2003 was a decorated U Merrill Anthony "Tony" McPeak (born January 9, 1936) is a former Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. Master at Arms Second Class Michael Anthony Monsoor ( April 5, 1981 &ndash September 29, 2006) was a U Cliff Montgomery ( September 17, 1910 – April 21, 2005) was the captain of the Columbia University Lions College football Also see Audie Murphy legacy. Audie Leon Murphy (June 20 1926 – May 28 Bismarck Myrick (b 1940 in Portsmouth Virginia) is a former U Oliver Laurence North (born October 7 1943 in San Antonio Texas) is an American best known for his involvement in the Iran-Contra Affair. Donal Neil "Mike" O'Callaghan ( September 10, 1929 March 5, 2004) was the governor of the U For the 19th century Scottish jurist/politician see George Patton Lord Glenalmond. George Smith Patton (formerly George Patton IV) ( December 24, 1923 in Boston Massachusetts - June 27, 2004 in South Basil L Plumley (born 1920 in West Virginia is most famous for his actions as a Sergeant-Major of the US Army's 1st Battalion 7th Cavalry Regiment Harvey Possinger is one of the most highly decorated veterans of World War II. Charles Edward Potter ( October 30, 1916 – November 23, 1979) was a U Thomas George “Tommy” Prince, MM ( October 25, 1915 &ndash November 25, 1977) was one of Canada 's most decorated Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller (June 26 1898 &ndash October 11 1971 was an officer in the United States Marine Corps and is the most Major Stephen C Reich ( May 22 1971 - June 28 2005) was an American Minor league baseball player and soldier who was killed Karl Wendell Richter ( October 4, 1942 &ndash July 28, 1967) was an officer in the United States Air Force and an accomplished fighter Master Sergeant Pedro Rodriguez ( January 3, 1912 &ndash October 19, 1999) earned two Silver Stars within a seven day period during Lieutenant Colonel Robert "Rosie" Rosenthal ( June 11[[ 917]] - April 20 2007) was a highly-decorated pilot in the Eighth Air Force A hero in the ring and outside of it the life of one of the world's greatest boxers Barney Ross born Dov-Ber Rasofsky (December 23 1909&ndashJanuary 17 1967 is a drama of epic proportion Richard Glenn "Dick" Rutan (born July 1 1938 is an Aviator who piloted the Voyager aircraft around the world non-stop with the assistance of Jeana Roger Whitton Simpson (1898–1964 was a rear admiral of the United States Navy, who distinguished himself during World War II. General H Norman Schwarzkopf (also known as '''"Stormin' Norman"''' and '''"The Bear"''') (b Oliver Prince Smith (October 26 1893- December 25 1977 was a General in the United States Marine Corps and a highly decorated combat veteran of World War II John Stebbins (born 1965 was an American soldier who fought in the Battle of Mogadishu. Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale (December 23 1923&ndashJuly 5 2005 was one of the most highly decorated officers in the history of the United States Navy George Levick Street III (July 27 1913 – February 26 2000 was a Submariner in the United States Navy. Samuel Sturgis Jr ( July 16, 1897 - July 5, 1964) was an American soldier Richard Kerens Sutherland ( November 27, 1893 &ndash June 25, 1966) was a Lieutenant General of the US Army and General Patrick Daniel Tillman ( November 6, 1976   – April 22, 2004) was an American football player who left his professional sports Michel Thomas ( February 3, 1914 &ndash January 8, 2005) was a polyglot linguist language teacher and decorated war veteran William F Train II ( January 23, 1908 - November 27, 2006) was a United States Army lieutenant general and veteran of World War Lieutenant General Paul K Van Riper is a retired officer of the United States Marine Corps. Captain Humbert Roque "Rocky" Versace (July 2 1937&ndashSeptember 26 1965 was a United States Army officer of Puerto Rican - Italian Donald Ralph Walters ( September 16, 1969 &ndash March 23, 2003) was a United States Army Quartermaster Corps Sergeant John Thomas Walton (born October 8 1946 in Newport Arkansas, died June 27, 2005 in Jackson Wyoming) was a decorated SGM William "Billy" Waugh (US Army-Ret (born December 1929 is a highly decorated American Special Forces soldier and Central Intelligence Agency James Henry "Jim" Webb Jr (born February 9 1946 is the Junior Senator from Virginia. Charles Elwood "Chuck" Yeager (born February 13 1923 is a retired Brigadier-General in the United States Air Force and a noted Test pilot. Major-General Allan Elton Younger DSO OBE, ( Tony Younger) (born 4 May 1919) is a British Soldier Major Douglas Alexander Zembiec, ( April 14 1973 - May 11 2007) the "Lion of Fallujah " and also referred to as the "Unapologetic ^[2]

Notes

References

• Silver Star. The Institute of Heraldry, United States Army. Retrieved on 2007-12-15. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of
• Facts Sheets: Silver Star. Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved on 2007-12-15. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of

External links

• United States Armed Forces Awards, Decorations, Campaign & Service Medals. The Institute of Heraldry, United States Army. Retrieved on 2007-12-15. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of

• Awards and Decorations. Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved on 2007-12-15. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of