Soldier's Medal
TypePersonal military decoration
Awarded forDistinguishing oneself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy
Presented byUnited States Department of the Army[1]
StatusCurrently awarded
Established2 July 1926
First awardedOctober 17, 1927
Service ribbon
Precedence
Next (higher)Distinguished Flying Cross
EquivalentNaval Service: Navy and Marine Corps Medal
Air and Space Forces: Airman's Medal
Coast Guard: Coast Guard Medal
Next (lower)Bronze Star 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.[2][3] The Soldier's Medal 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 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."[4]

History

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 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.[3] The medal was designed by sculptor Gaetano Cecere.[5]

The first Soldier's Medals were awarded on October 17, 1927, to John F. Burns and James P. Martin[6] for their heroism during a fire and to James K. Wilson[7] and Cleophas C. Burnett[8] for saving people from drowning.[9]

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 awarded to U.S. Air Force personnel by the Army since 26 September 1947.[10]

Criteria

The distinguishing criterion for awarding 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."[4] 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 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 the suspension and service ribbon of the medal.[3][4]

Appearance

The bronze 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 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).[3]

Notable recipients

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter presents the Soldier's Medal to Alek Skarlatos on September 17, 2015.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-01-11. Retrieved 2018-01-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ↑ Mooney, Charles C. and Layman, Martha E. (1944). "Organization of Military Aeronautics, 1907-1935 (Congressional and War Department Action)" (PDF). Air Force Historical Study No. 25. AFHRA (USAF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-27. Retrieved 14 Dec 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link), Appendix 5, p. 126.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Soldiers's Medal". The Institute of Heraldry: Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the ARMY. Archived from the original on 2014-12-11. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  4. 1 2 3 "Personnel-General Military Awards" (PDF). Department of the Army. 2015-06-25. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  5. ↑ Borch, Fred L. III (2013). "Distinguished Service Cross". Medals for Soldiers and Airmen: Awards and Decorations of the United States Army and Air Force. McFarland & Company. pp. 30–42. ISBN 9780786474127.
  6. ↑ "James P. Martin". Military Times. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  7. ↑ "James K. Wilson". Military Times. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Cleophas C. Burnett". Military Times. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  9. ↑ "'For Heroism....' The Soldier's Medal". United States Army. February 2, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  10. ↑ Smithsonian, Air and Space Museum. "Airman's Medal". Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  11. ↑ Newman, Aubrey S. (March 1976). "Obituary, Joseph Pringle Cleland". Assembly. West Point, New York: Association of Graduates, United States Military Academy. pp. 117–119 – via Google Books.
  12. ↑ "Omahan Led Luzon Attack". Omaha World-Herald. Omaha, NE. January 10, 1945. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Kramish, Arnold (15 December 1991). "They Were Heroes Too". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Kilma Lattin - Recipient". Military Times. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Henry Andrews Mucci". Military Times. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  16. ↑ DeYoung, Karen (2007). Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell. New York, NY: Vintage Books. pp. 80–81. ISBN 978-1-4000-7564-5 – via Google Books.
  17. ↑ Cooper, Helene (September 17, 2015). "A Hero's Welcome at the White House". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  18. ↑ Shane III, Leo (April 27, 2018). "Congressman awarded Soldier's Medal for heroism in last year's baseball team shooting". Army Times. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  19. ↑ Folkard, Claire (2003). Guinness World Records. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: Jim Pattison Group. p. 50. ISBN 9781892051172.
  20. ↑ "Soldier's Medal Citation, Samuel T. Williams". Hall of Valor. Tysons, VA: Military Times. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
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