The Silver Star Medal
The Silver Star is the third highest Valor Medal awarded in the U.S. Armed Forces.
It was awarded to my father and the crew of the plane "One Time" on 3-18-1943.
Dad fought in over 22 air battles during the course of his Army career.
Silver Star Criteria:
Awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States not justifying a higher award. It may be awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S Armed Forces, distinguishes him or herself by extraordinary heroism involving one of the following actions: in action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The required gallantry, while of a lesser degree than that required for award of the Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross or Air Force Cross, must nevertheless have been performed with marked distinction. Soldiers who received a citation for gallantry in action during World War I may apply to have the citation converted to the Silver Star Medal. The Silver Star Medal is the third highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Armed Forces.
Attachments: Bronze Oak Leaf Device, Silver Oak Leaf Device.
The Air Medal
"For Meritorious Achievement while Participating in Aerial Flight." Established 1942.
Over 440,000 awarded by 8th Air Force in WW2.
Criteria: Awarded to personnel who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Armed Forces of the United States, shall have distinguished himself/herself by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Awards may be made to recognize single acts of merit or heroism, or for meritorious service. The Air Medal is the fifth highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army Armed Forces.
The Victory Medal
Criteria: Awarded to any member of the United States military who served on active duty, or as a reservist, between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946.
The World War II Victory Medal was first issued as a ribbon, and was referred to simply as the “Victory Ribbon.” By 1946, a full medal had been established which was referred to as the World War II Victory Medal. There is no minimum service time limit for the issuance of the World War II Victory Medal, and the National Personnel Records Center has reported some cases of service members receiving the award for simply a few days of service. As the Second World War ended in August 1945, there are also cases of service members, who had enlisted in 1946, receiving the decoration without having been a veteran of World War II.
Army Good Conduct Medal
The Good Conduct Medal is one of the oldest military awards of the United States military.
The Navy Good Conduct Medal was first issued in 1869, followed by a Marine version in 1896. The Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal was issued in 1923 and the Army Good Conduct Medal in 1941. The Air Force was the last service to create a Good Conduct Medal in 1963. The USAF discontinued the Good Conduct Medal for a brief period from February 2006 to February 2009.
