Article on Silver Star Medals by Fred Borch with Totals Information

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Yes, this is indeed an older Article, but it does include some rough Award totals for the assorted Services.

 

      Best,     Dom P.

 

DATE:  11-05-2024

SOURCE:  "Military Trader.com"

AUTHOR: Fred L. Birch & Robert F. Dorr

 

 

©>>> "For Gallantry in Action ~ The Silver Star Medal"

 

BY:  FRED L. . BORCH & ROBERT F. DORR

DATE:  14 JULY 2008

 

@>>> The U.S. Silver Star is the 3rd highest Combat Gallantry Award in the United States' Military "Pyramid Of Honor"--only the Medal of Honor & the Distinguished Service Cross [ Army ], Navy Cross [ Navy, Marine Corps & Coast Guard ] & Air Force Cross [ Air Force ] outrank it. The Decoration has a unique history.

 

BY:  FRED L. BORCH & ROBERT F. DORR

DATE:  14 JULY 2008

 

The Silver Star is the 3rd highest combat gallantry award in the United States' Military "Pyramid of Honor"--only the Medal of Honor & the Distinguished Service Cross (Army), Navy Cross (Navy, Marine Corps & Coast Guard) & Air Force Cross (Air Force) outrank it. The decoration has a unique history. 

 

The Silver Star began as a small silver "Citation Star" in 1918 & then was transformed into a full-sized Medal in 1932. On January 12, 1918, while fighting raged in France between the Allies & the Central Powers, the Army announced the creation of a new Distinguished Service Cross & Distinguished Service Medal. This same announcement also stated that, in addition to the 2 new Medals, "other Citations for Gallantry in Action published in Orders issued from the Headquarters of a Force commanded by a General Officer will be indicated in each Case by a Silver Star 3/16's in diameter worn upon the ribband of the...corresponding Ribbon [of a Campaign Medal]. This was the origin of the Silver Star--although not quite what we think of today !

The Silver Star Medal emerged as a full-sized medal in 1932 after Gen. Douglas MacArthur, then Army Chief of Staff, directed that the Small Star be "hung" from a Pendant & a red, white & blue ribbon. In the Army & Air Force, additional Awards of the Silver Star are indicated by Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters; the Recipient of this Silver Star had twice been awarded the Medal for Gallantry in Action. 

 

Interestingly, Congress passed Legislation about 6 months later in July 1918, Authorizing both of these new Army Decorations under U.S. Law. As this new Legislation also included the same language about the Small Citation Silver Star, from a Legal perspective this new Federal Law superseded the Army's Regulatory attempt to create a Silver Star.

When the War Department implemented this new Federal Law in 1918, a Soldier was entitled to wear the Silver Citation Star if he or she had performed:

A }  Any individual Act of Combat Gallantry;
B } Recognized in a Citation;
C } Published in Orders issued by the headquarters of a force Commanded by a General Officer; &
D ) Who had not been awarded a higher Decoration for the same action.

Any Soldier who had received a Qualifying Citation in WWI simply attached the Small Star to the Ribbon of his WW1 Victory Medal. Because the Legislation was Retroactive, Soldiers Cited for Gallantry in earlier Armed Conflicts such as the Indian Wars, War with Spain, Boxer Rebellion, & Philippine Insurrection, also were Authorized to affix the Small Star to the corresponding Ribbons of the Campaign Medals for those Wars.

 

Unfortunately for the Army, many Soldiers & Veterans complained bitterly (from the beginning) about the size of the Citation Star. They insisted it was hard to see & did not adequately recognize the nature of Heroism in Combat. What these men wanted was a full-sized Medal for Gallantry. In response to this ever louder chorus, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, then Army Chief of Staff, directed that the Silver Citation Star be "hung" from a Pendant & a red, white & blue ribbon. On 16 July 1932, the Army announced that a new Silver Star Medal was available for issuance to those who were entitled to wear the Silver Citation Star.

 

NOT JUST AN ARMY MEDAL

The Silver Star remained an Army-only Decoration until WW2. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, however, the Navy realized that Sailors & Marines also deserved to be Eligible for this Gallantry Decoration. On 07 August 1942, Congress gave the Navy its own authority to Award "a Silver Star Medal of appropriate design & ribbon" to all Naval Personnel, Retroactive to 07 December 1941. Not surprisingly, the Navy Adopted the existing Silver Star & began Awarding it to Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen & Civilians in Naval Service who had performed Acts of Combat Heroism.

 

NUMBER AWARDED

After the Silver Star Medal was Created in 1932, the War Department calculated that about 5,800 Soldiers, Sailors & Marines--mostly Veterans of WW1--were Eligible to apply for the new medal, and several thousand were awarded between 1932 and 1940. For combat heroism in WWII, the Army Awarded about 73,600 Silver Stars. About 10,000 Silver Stars went to Soldiers for Gallantry in Action in Korea & roughly 21,600 for Vietnam. The Army also has awarded Silver Stars for El Salvador, Grenada, Panama, the Persian Gulf War, Somalia, Afghanistan, & Iraq.

As for the Navy, a small number of Sailors & Marines received Army Silver Stars for their Gallantry while serving in the American Expeditionary Force in WW1. After obtaining its own Authority to Award the Silver Star in 1942, The u.s. Navy awarded about 9,600 Silver Stars for gallantry in WW2. 

 

The 1st Navy Silver Star was a Posthumous Award to Clarence J. Ashenbrenner, a Shipfitter on the Cruiser USS Marblehead. Coast Guard personnel, served as part of the Navy during WW2, received a total of 64 Silver Stars.The Navy Awarded several hundred Silver Stars for the Korean War, with most going to Marines. The Navy has also awarded Silver Stars for Gallantry in Action in Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Somalia, Afghanistan & Iraq.

 

After becoming an independent Service in 1947, the Air Force had its own Authority to award the Silver Star, & made about 150 awards for Korea. Silver Stars have also been Awarded to Airmen for Heroism in Vietnam, Persian Gulf War, Bosnia, Afghanistan & Iraq.

The Record for the most Silver Stars belongs to recently Deceased Army Col. (Ret.) David Hackworth, who received a record 10 Decorations: 3 for Combat Gallantry in Korea & 7 for Heroism in Action in Vietnam

 

THE MEDAL

Today's Silver Star Decoration is a gilt 5-pointed Star, 1" in diameter. In the center of the Medal is the Original Silver Star, which is centered in a laurel wreath. The larger & smaller Stars symbolize the United States; the wreath is the symbol of achievement.

 

The Reverse of the Medal has the words "FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION." There is sufficient blank space to Engrave the Recipient's Name.

Since its transformation into a Full-Sized Decoration in 1932, thousands of Silver Stars Medals have been Awarded to Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen & Coast Guardsmen--& the Decoration will continue to be prized by all those who receive it.

 

@>>> END Of ARTICLE