thedrifter
12-26-06, 07:39 PM
January 01, 2007
The Lore of the Corps
Original Silver Star awarded by the Army
By Robert F. Dorr and Fred L. Borch
Special to the Times
The Marine version of the Silver Star, the third-highest combat heroism award, was introduced during World War II.
Congress created the Silver Star decoration for the Army in 1918, when it authorized a small silver “citation star” for combat heroism. Soldiers who had been cited for gallantry in action in “published orders from headquarters of a general officer” were permitted to wear the star on the appropriate campaign ribbon.
During World War I, approximately 30,000 Marines were sent overseas to join Army Gen. John Pershing’s American Expeditionary Force. A few leathernecks who served alongside the Army’s 2nd Division were cited for gallantry under fire.
The Army awarded silver citation stars for heroism to these Marines.
The small size of the citation star — it was only three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter — made it unpopular with recipients. Some argued for a full-size medal for gallantry.
In 1932, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, then the Army chief of staff, directed that the silver citation star be hung from a pendant and a red, white and blue ribbon. This redesign allowed the silver citation star to be transformed into a full-size medal without creating a new medal. Marines who had previously been awarded the small silver citation star were issued the full-size Army Silver Star, which they wore with their other Marine decorations and medals.
When the U.S. entered World War II in 1941, the Silver Star was still issued only by the Army; the Navy lacked authority to award it. Recognizing that Marines and sailors were deemed eligible for the decoration, the Navy requested that it be given authority to award the Silver Star.
On Aug. 7, 1942, Congress enacted legislation authorizing the Navy to award “a silver star medal of appropriate design and ribbon” to naval personnel, retroactive to Dec. 6, 1941. The Navy then decided to adopt the existing Silver Star and began awarding it to sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and civilians in naval service who demonstrated heroism in combat.
The Navy awarded about 3,900 Silver Stars to Marines during World War II, while more than 73,000 were awarded to soldiers and airmen during the war.
Since World War II, Marines have received Silver Stars for gallantry in countries including China, Korea, Vietnam, Panama, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Today’s Silver Star medal is a gilt five-pointed star, 1½-inches in diameter. In the center of the medal is the original small silver star, which is centered in a laurel wreath.
The larger and smaller stars symbolize the U.S., and the wreath symbolizes achievement.
The reverse of the medal has the words “For Gallantry in Action,” and there is blank space to engrave the recipient’s name.
Robert F. Dorr, an Air Force veteran, lives in Oakton, Va. He can be reached at robert.f.dorr@cox.net. Fred L. Borch retired from the Army after 25 years and is working as the regimental historian for the Army JAG Corps. He can be reached at borchfj@aol.com.
Ellie
The Lore of the Corps
Original Silver Star awarded by the Army
By Robert F. Dorr and Fred L. Borch
Special to the Times
The Marine version of the Silver Star, the third-highest combat heroism award, was introduced during World War II.
Congress created the Silver Star decoration for the Army in 1918, when it authorized a small silver “citation star” for combat heroism. Soldiers who had been cited for gallantry in action in “published orders from headquarters of a general officer” were permitted to wear the star on the appropriate campaign ribbon.
During World War I, approximately 30,000 Marines were sent overseas to join Army Gen. John Pershing’s American Expeditionary Force. A few leathernecks who served alongside the Army’s 2nd Division were cited for gallantry under fire.
The Army awarded silver citation stars for heroism to these Marines.
The small size of the citation star — it was only three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter — made it unpopular with recipients. Some argued for a full-size medal for gallantry.
In 1932, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, then the Army chief of staff, directed that the silver citation star be hung from a pendant and a red, white and blue ribbon. This redesign allowed the silver citation star to be transformed into a full-size medal without creating a new medal. Marines who had previously been awarded the small silver citation star were issued the full-size Army Silver Star, which they wore with their other Marine decorations and medals.
When the U.S. entered World War II in 1941, the Silver Star was still issued only by the Army; the Navy lacked authority to award it. Recognizing that Marines and sailors were deemed eligible for the decoration, the Navy requested that it be given authority to award the Silver Star.
On Aug. 7, 1942, Congress enacted legislation authorizing the Navy to award “a silver star medal of appropriate design and ribbon” to naval personnel, retroactive to Dec. 6, 1941. The Navy then decided to adopt the existing Silver Star and began awarding it to sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and civilians in naval service who demonstrated heroism in combat.
The Navy awarded about 3,900 Silver Stars to Marines during World War II, while more than 73,000 were awarded to soldiers and airmen during the war.
Since World War II, Marines have received Silver Stars for gallantry in countries including China, Korea, Vietnam, Panama, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Today’s Silver Star medal is a gilt five-pointed star, 1½-inches in diameter. In the center of the medal is the original small silver star, which is centered in a laurel wreath.
The larger and smaller stars symbolize the U.S., and the wreath symbolizes achievement.
The reverse of the medal has the words “For Gallantry in Action,” and there is blank space to engrave the recipient’s name.
Robert F. Dorr, an Air Force veteran, lives in Oakton, Va. He can be reached at robert.f.dorr@cox.net. Fred L. Borch retired from the Army after 25 years and is working as the regimental historian for the Army JAG Corps. He can be reached at borchfj@aol.com.
Ellie