Awards of
World War IIThe United States Navy Distinguished Service Medal is the second-highest award given to officers in the Navy and Marine Corps.
Materials
Gilt-plated bronze.
Artist
Paul Manship.
Award recipient
Officers of the US Navy and Marine Corps.
Reasons for awarding
The medal is awarded for exceptionally distinguished service in the Marine Corps or Navy. USA.
The award was established on February 4, 1919, by an act of the U.S. Congress. The first Navy Distinguished Service Medal was awarded posthumously in March of that year to General Charles Dwiner.
With the entry of the United States into World War I, the lack of military decorations in the award system arose. Essentially, the only award available was the Medal of Honor, but firstly, this award, by its statute, requires exceptional heroism above and beyond the call of duty, and soldiers needed to be rewarded for less significant achievements as well. Secondly, the award's value needed to be preserved.
In February 1919, the US Congress established two new awards: the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and the Navy Cross. At the time of its establishment, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal ranked higher in the award system than the Navy Cross. This situation changed only in 1942, when the ranking of the two awards was reversed.
The US Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a circle 33 mm in diameter. In the center of the circle is a sea eagle holding arrows in one talon and an olive branch in the other. The eagle is surrounded by a purple ring bearing the inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" at the top, "NAVAL" at the bottom, and stylized clockwise sea waves along the outer edge of the medallion. The reverse of the award features a trident surrounded by a wreath of laurel leaves, like the obverse. The central portion is framed by two purple enamel rings bearing the inscription "FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE," the second ring featuring waves. Above the medallion is a five-pointed star with rays radiating from beneath it, and an anchor in the center of the star. The U.S. Navy Distinguished Service Medal is attached to a purple ribbon with a yellow stripe down the center by a ring.