American Awards and Decorations - A Brief History
AMERICAN AWARDS - A Brief History
America, fiercely against many European military traditions, did not have a formal system for any awards or decorations for decades after its forming. In fact, they were so anti-European, that the US Navy didn’t have the rank of admiral until the Civil War (nearly 100 years after the country’s founding) because it was too Imperial.
There were two Revolutionary War-era awards however. Both were awarded in exceptionally small numbers (three awards each) and neither were awarded beyond the end of the war.
The oldest, and first, American award was the Fidelity Medallion. It was awarded to the soldiers who captured British Major John Andre. Andre was famously the British point of contact for Benedict Arnold (a disaffected American general who turned traitor and gave Britain intelligence in exchange for a British generalcy). Only three men of the New York Militia received the award and it was never bestowed again.
Often referred to (incorrectly) as America’s oldest decoration is George Washington’s Badge of Military Merit. Also only ever awarded to three men, it was a badge made in the shape of a heart. The heart’s color was purple. Though never officially abolished, it was never awarded after 1783. The current Purple Heart award was modeled on the Badge of Military Merit and is the official successor decoration.
Interestingly, as well as the limited numbers both awards were given in, both were also only given to enlisted or non-commissioned men. This was in stark contrast to the awards and decorations of European armies in which only successful, high ranking officers would be so honored.
After the Revolutionary War the only system in routine use by the American military to reward performance were brevet promotions, only to officers. Brevet rank is an honorary, titular advancement to a higher rank without the pay and duties of the rank. A high honor for an officer, they were often bestowed for exemplary battlefield leadership or performance. Some officers were brevetted multiple times, particularly towards the end of the Civil War. For example, after Congress allowed brevet ranks to be given to officers of the United States Volunteers (USV), Ranald S. Mackenzie held the substantive rank of captain in the Regular Army, was a brevet brigadier general in the Regular Army, a substantive brigadier general in the USV, and a brevet major general in the USV.
From 1776, the US Congress (initially the Continental Congresses, later the Congress formed by the Constitution) awarded a series of awards, often to military members. Unlike other awards and decorations, they are awarded by an act of Congress rather than by any individual.
The Thanks of Congress is a series of resolutions passed by both houses of Congress to recognize acts, deeds, or meritorious service. Awarded mostly to military officers it was awarded throughout America's early conflicts and heavily awarded during the Civil War. It was awarded at least until 1914, but in very small numbers after the Civil War, as the awards and decorations system was being fleshed out.
The Thanks of Congress was often accompanied by a gold medal to mark the occasion. This became the Congressional Gold Medal, which is still awarded today. This is the highest civil award bestowed by Congress. Until the Civil War, it was exclusively to military officers, include George Washington, the first recipient.
These congressional awards were expanded to include the Congressional Silver Medal as a second-level award and the Congressional Bronze Medal as the third-level. Though civil awards, they have been given to military personnel, though in diminishing numbers as the military awards system expanded. Of these three medals, the silver is rarely awarded and the bronze has only been given in very limited numbers.
During the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) a Certificate of Merit was created by the Army to recognize soldiers who performed gallantly. The same legislation also allowed brevet promotions for non-commissioned officers and privates.
The Certificate of Merit was discontinued after the war, but was later brought back.
It was not until the start of the Civil War in 1861 that the Medal of Honor was instituted, first as a Navy award and then an Army version in 1862. This is the oldest continuously awarded personal decoration of the US military.
As initially created, the Medal of Honor (MoH) was awarded only to enlisted members of the US Navy, US Marine Corps, and US Army. In 1863 the award criteria was expanded to include officers. The MoH was to recognize those who “shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other soldier-like qualities during the present insurrection.”
Throughout the Civil War, the Medal of Honor was the only military award for gallantry, though brevet rank was often given for bravery under fire as well. Battlefield leadership and meritorious service were recognized with brevet promotions.
After the Civil War, the US military retained the Medal of Honor as the only official decoration. The Army added the Certificate of Merit back into the system in 1876, since it had never officially been deauthorized by Congress.
By 1892, guidance from the Adjutant General was that the Medal of Honor was to recognize battlefield bravery while the Certificate of Merit would recognize meritorious service. Both could be awarded in peace or war time and there are examples of exemplary bravery (particularly in the US Navy) during peacetime being recognized with a MoH. These regulations remained until after World War I. By WWII the MoH was (and remains) strictly a combat bravery decoration. The Certificate of Merit became the Certificate of Merit Medal in 1905.
World War I and the years after it saw some of the biggest changes to the American awards and decorations system. The scale of the conflict saw a need for a more nuanced and tiered system of awards. Brevet promotions were done away with, and performance would be recognized with appropriate medals.
The first change was a Wound Ribbon that the Army issued to those wounded in combat. Starting 6 Sept 1917 and only issued until 12 October 1917, the ribbon was replaced in 1918 with the Wound Chevron. This was a gold metallic thread chevron (point down) worn on the lower edge of the soldier’s right sleeve. It is very similar in appearance to the overseas service chevrons worn on the left sleeve in the same position.
Combat bravery during WWI was still recognized at the highest level with a Medal of Honor. In 1918, the Distinguished Service Cross (for the Army) and the Navy Cross were added as second-level awards for gallantry in action. The third-level award for combat bravery was the Silver Citation Star, which was a small silver star attached to the WWI Victory Medal.
The Silver Citation Star is the same physical silver star that would replace five bronze stars on later campaign and service medals. The WWI Victory Medal was the only award authorized silver citation stars, and there was no provision for condensing five or more bronze stars (to recognize campaign participation) into a silver star as with subsequent campaign and service medals.
The Distinguished Service Medals were created in 1918 for the Army and 1919 for the Navy to recognize exceptionally meritorious service from a position of high responsibility. The DSM replaced the Certificate of Merit Medal. Persons who had received the older award could exchange it for a DSM, though in 1934 Congress allowed people to exchange their Certificate of Merit Medal (or one already converted to a DSM) for a Distinguished Service Cross.
During the 1920’s, the Soldier’s Medal was created for non-combat individual bravery. Later, in 1942, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal was created for the same purpose for those in the naval arms. The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) was created in 1926 (retroactive to 1918) to recognize “heroism or extraordinary achievement” in aerial flight.
The interbellum years also saw some additions and changes. The Purple Heart Medal was created in 1932, replacing earlier Wound Chevrons and the Army Wound Ribbon. Personnel who had received either of the latter could petition to have the award converted to a Purple Heart. The Purple Heart remains an award for those who are injured by enemy action during combat.
Also in 1932, the silver citation star was changed to its own medal. The Silver Star medal became the US’s third-level combat bravery award. Personnel who had received a citation star could petition to have it converted to a Silver Star.
In the late 30’s, the Medal of Honor, which had on occasion been awarded for non-combat (and even non-wartime) bravery had its award criteria restricted only to wartime bravery in action.
The Second World War saw some more additions to the American awards and decorations system, again reflecting the scale of the conflict and the numbers of men and women involved. The Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Medal, and Commendation Medals were created during World War II.
The Legion of Merit is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements, most often to those of very senior rank. The Bronze Star was to serve as the fourth-level combat bravery decoration (behind the Silver Star), when awarded with “V” valor device, or as a meritorious service award when in a combat environment, awarded without a “V”. The Air Medal serves as the second-level aerial bravery award, for acts not rising to the level befitting a Distinguished Flying Cross (though aircrew can receive any of the other combat bravery awards as well).
During World War II the “modern” system of awards was largely taking shape. With the exception of the Air Force and Coast Guard creating their own versions of some of these medals, most individual awards given today would be recognizable to a soldier from the Second World War. The largest awards added in the latter half of the 20th Century would be the Meritorious Service Medal (ranking above a Commendation Medal) and the Achievement Medal (ranking below a Commendation Medal). There are also several Department of Defense-level awards that largely mirror their service-specific counterparts, but are awarded by the DoD for those operating in joint environments.
This table can help to understand how things have shifted over the years.
As one looks at medals awarded in the past, as I often do on my blog, you’ll come across awards for things that at the time rated high awards, but in succeeding conflicts might rate a lower award. This happened because at the time, there was no lesser award. For example, prior to WWI, any act of uncommon bravery (on the field of battle or off) was often rewarded with a Medal of Honor. Once additional awards had been created, the acts needed for awards such as the MoH increasingly rose.
America, fiercely against many European military traditions, did not have a formal system for any awards or decorations for decades after its forming. In fact, they were so anti-European, that the US Navy didn’t have the rank of admiral until the Civil War (nearly 100 years after the country’s founding) because it was too Imperial.
There were two Revolutionary War-era awards however. Both were awarded in exceptionally small numbers (three awards each) and neither were awarded beyond the end of the war.
The oldest, and first, American award was the Fidelity Medallion. It was awarded to the soldiers who captured British Major John Andre. Andre was famously the British point of contact for Benedict Arnold (a disaffected American general who turned traitor and gave Britain intelligence in exchange for a British generalcy). Only three men of the New York Militia received the award and it was never bestowed again.
Often referred to (incorrectly) as America’s oldest decoration is George Washington’s Badge of Military Merit. Also only ever awarded to three men, it was a badge made in the shape of a heart. The heart’s color was purple. Though never officially abolished, it was never awarded after 1783. The current Purple Heart award was modeled on the Badge of Military Merit and is the official successor decoration.
Interestingly, as well as the limited numbers both awards were given in, both were also only given to enlisted or non-commissioned men. This was in stark contrast to the awards and decorations of European armies in which only successful, high ranking officers would be so honored.
After the Revolutionary War the only system in routine use by the American military to reward performance were brevet promotions, only to officers. Brevet rank is an honorary, titular advancement to a higher rank without the pay and duties of the rank. A high honor for an officer, they were often bestowed for exemplary battlefield leadership or performance. Some officers were brevetted multiple times, particularly towards the end of the Civil War. For example, after Congress allowed brevet ranks to be given to officers of the United States Volunteers (USV), Ranald S. Mackenzie held the substantive rank of captain in the Regular Army, was a brevet brigadier general in the Regular Army, a substantive brigadier general in the USV, and a brevet major general in the USV.
From 1776, the US Congress (initially the Continental Congresses, later the Congress formed by the Constitution) awarded a series of awards, often to military members. Unlike other awards and decorations, they are awarded by an act of Congress rather than by any individual.
The Thanks of Congress is a series of resolutions passed by both houses of Congress to recognize acts, deeds, or meritorious service. Awarded mostly to military officers it was awarded throughout America's early conflicts and heavily awarded during the Civil War. It was awarded at least until 1914, but in very small numbers after the Civil War, as the awards and decorations system was being fleshed out.
The Thanks of Congress was often accompanied by a gold medal to mark the occasion. This became the Congressional Gold Medal, which is still awarded today. This is the highest civil award bestowed by Congress. Until the Civil War, it was exclusively to military officers, include George Washington, the first recipient.
These congressional awards were expanded to include the Congressional Silver Medal as a second-level award and the Congressional Bronze Medal as the third-level. Though civil awards, they have been given to military personnel, though in diminishing numbers as the military awards system expanded. Of these three medals, the silver is rarely awarded and the bronze has only been given in very limited numbers.
During the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) a Certificate of Merit was created by the Army to recognize soldiers who performed gallantly. The same legislation also allowed brevet promotions for non-commissioned officers and privates.
The Certificate of Merit was discontinued after the war, but was later brought back.
It was not until the start of the Civil War in 1861 that the Medal of Honor was instituted, first as a Navy award and then an Army version in 1862. This is the oldest continuously awarded personal decoration of the US military.
As initially created, the Medal of Honor (MoH) was awarded only to enlisted members of the US Navy, US Marine Corps, and US Army. In 1863 the award criteria was expanded to include officers. The MoH was to recognize those who “shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other soldier-like qualities during the present insurrection.”
Throughout the Civil War, the Medal of Honor was the only military award for gallantry, though brevet rank was often given for bravery under fire as well. Battlefield leadership and meritorious service were recognized with brevet promotions.
After the Civil War, the US military retained the Medal of Honor as the only official decoration. The Army added the Certificate of Merit back into the system in 1876, since it had never officially been deauthorized by Congress.
By 1892, guidance from the Adjutant General was that the Medal of Honor was to recognize battlefield bravery while the Certificate of Merit would recognize meritorious service. Both could be awarded in peace or war time and there are examples of exemplary bravery (particularly in the US Navy) during peacetime being recognized with a MoH. These regulations remained until after World War I. By WWII the MoH was (and remains) strictly a combat bravery decoration. The Certificate of Merit became the Certificate of Merit Medal in 1905.
World War I and the years after it saw some of the biggest changes to the American awards and decorations system. The scale of the conflict saw a need for a more nuanced and tiered system of awards. Brevet promotions were done away with, and performance would be recognized with appropriate medals.
The first change was a Wound Ribbon that the Army issued to those wounded in combat. Starting 6 Sept 1917 and only issued until 12 October 1917, the ribbon was replaced in 1918 with the Wound Chevron. This was a gold metallic thread chevron (point down) worn on the lower edge of the soldier’s right sleeve. It is very similar in appearance to the overseas service chevrons worn on the left sleeve in the same position.
Combat bravery during WWI was still recognized at the highest level with a Medal of Honor. In 1918, the Distinguished Service Cross (for the Army) and the Navy Cross were added as second-level awards for gallantry in action. The third-level award for combat bravery was the Silver Citation Star, which was a small silver star attached to the WWI Victory Medal.
The Silver Citation Star is the same physical silver star that would replace five bronze stars on later campaign and service medals. The WWI Victory Medal was the only award authorized silver citation stars, and there was no provision for condensing five or more bronze stars (to recognize campaign participation) into a silver star as with subsequent campaign and service medals.
The Distinguished Service Medals were created in 1918 for the Army and 1919 for the Navy to recognize exceptionally meritorious service from a position of high responsibility. The DSM replaced the Certificate of Merit Medal. Persons who had received the older award could exchange it for a DSM, though in 1934 Congress allowed people to exchange their Certificate of Merit Medal (or one already converted to a DSM) for a Distinguished Service Cross.
During the 1920’s, the Soldier’s Medal was created for non-combat individual bravery. Later, in 1942, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal was created for the same purpose for those in the naval arms. The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) was created in 1926 (retroactive to 1918) to recognize “heroism or extraordinary achievement” in aerial flight.
The interbellum years also saw some additions and changes. The Purple Heart Medal was created in 1932, replacing earlier Wound Chevrons and the Army Wound Ribbon. Personnel who had received either of the latter could petition to have the award converted to a Purple Heart. The Purple Heart remains an award for those who are injured by enemy action during combat.
Also in 1932, the silver citation star was changed to its own medal. The Silver Star medal became the US’s third-level combat bravery award. Personnel who had received a citation star could petition to have it converted to a Silver Star.
In the late 30’s, the Medal of Honor, which had on occasion been awarded for non-combat (and even non-wartime) bravery had its award criteria restricted only to wartime bravery in action.
The Second World War saw some more additions to the American awards and decorations system, again reflecting the scale of the conflict and the numbers of men and women involved. The Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Medal, and Commendation Medals were created during World War II.
The Legion of Merit is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements, most often to those of very senior rank. The Bronze Star was to serve as the fourth-level combat bravery decoration (behind the Silver Star), when awarded with “V” valor device, or as a meritorious service award when in a combat environment, awarded without a “V”. The Air Medal serves as the second-level aerial bravery award, for acts not rising to the level befitting a Distinguished Flying Cross (though aircrew can receive any of the other combat bravery awards as well).
During World War II the “modern” system of awards was largely taking shape. With the exception of the Air Force and Coast Guard creating their own versions of some of these medals, most individual awards given today would be recognizable to a soldier from the Second World War. The largest awards added in the latter half of the 20th Century would be the Meritorious Service Medal (ranking above a Commendation Medal) and the Achievement Medal (ranking below a Commendation Medal). There are also several Department of Defense-level awards that largely mirror their service-specific counterparts, but are awarded by the DoD for those operating in joint environments.
This table can help to understand how things have shifted over the years.
As one looks at medals awarded in the past, as I often do on my blog, you’ll come across awards for things that at the time rated high awards, but in succeeding conflicts might rate a lower award. This happened because at the time, there was no lesser award. For example, prior to WWI, any act of uncommon bravery (on the field of battle or off) was often rewarded with a Medal of Honor. Once additional awards had been created, the acts needed for awards such as the MoH increasingly rose.
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