Medal for Humane Action

Medal for Humane Action is a military service medal established by an act of the United States Congress in 1949. It was created to recognize the service of members of the United States Armed Forces and select civilians who contributed directly to the Berlin Airlift for at least 120 days. The award commemorates the massive humanitarian and logistical operation that sustained the citizens of West Berlin during the Soviet blockade from 1948 to 1949.

History and background

The medal was authorized by Public law 86th Congress on July 20, 1949, to honor participants in one of the first major crises of the Cold War. Following World War II, the city of Berlin was divided into occupation zones controlled by the United States, United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union. In June 1948, the Soviet Union initiated the Berlin Blockade, cutting off all land and water routes to the western sectors of the city. In response, the Western Allies organized the Berlin Airlift, known as Operation Vittles by the United States Air Force and Operation Plainfare by the Royal Air Force. Over the following fifteen months, aircraft like the C-54 Skymaster and C-47 Skytrain delivered millions of tons of vital supplies, including food, coal, and medicine, to Tempelhof Airport, Gatow Airfield, and later Tegel Airport. The successful operation, a pivotal victory for the Western Bloc, concluded in September 1949, leading to the creation of this distinctive award.

Design and symbolism

The medal's design, created by the United States Army Institute of Heraldry, is a bronze disc. The obverse features a C-54 Skymaster aircraft flying above the Berlin Bear, the heraldic symbol of the city, which is shown breaking a chain. This central image is encircled by the inscription "MEDAL FOR HUMANE ACTION" and "TO SUPPLY NECESSITIES OF LIFE TO THE PEOPLE OF BERLIN GERMANY". The reverse depicts the Greek goddess Nike with a German eagle perched on her arm, symbolizing the peaceful triumph of the airlift. The ribbon is composed of thirteen alternating stripes of blue and white, representing the skies over Berlin and the purity of the humanitarian mission, flanked by thin bands of black and red, the colors of the Flag of Germany.

Criteria and eligibility

Eligibility for the medal was strictly defined by the duration and location of service. It was awarded to any member of the United States Armed Forces or to United States civilians who were accredited participants and served for at least 120 days between June 26, 1948, and September 30, 1949, within the geographical area of the airlift. This area was defined as the airspace over Germany and the nations used as corridors, including airfields in West Germany and supply bases like those in Wiesbaden and Rhein-Main Air Base. Service time could be cumulative, and posthumous awards were permitted. The awarding authority was the United States Department of the Air Force, which also issued the medal to eligible personnel from the United States Army, United States Navy, and United States Marine Corps.

Notable recipients

While awarded to approximately 120,000 individuals, the medal was bestowed upon several prominent military and political figures. Notable recipients include General Curtis LeMay, who served as commander of the United States Air Forces in Europe during the airlift, and Lieutenant General William H. Tunner, the operational chief of Operation Vittles. Other recipients were pilots like Gail Halvorsen, the "Candy Bomber" who famously dropped candy via handkerchief parachutes to Berlin children. Civilian recipients included employees of the Civil Air Transport and other contracted organizations. The medal was also awarded posthumously, including to personnel who died in accidents during the dangerous airlift operations.

Display and wear

The Medal for Humane Action is considered a service medal and is worn after the Army of Occupation Medal and before the National Defense Service Medal on a military uniform. A 3⁄16 inch bronze service star is authorized for wear on the ribbon to denote participation in a designated combat mission during the airlift, though such missions were rare. The medal was never officially declared obsolete, but it is considered inactive as no awards have been made since the eligibility period closed. Miniature medals, lapel buttons, and ribbon bars are authorized for wear on appropriate civilian and military dress. According to regulations, the medal is displayed with other authorized awards in order of precedence as outlined by the respective service branches of the United States Department of Defense.

Category:Orders, decorations, and medals of the United States Category:Awards established in 1949 Category:Military awards and decorations of the Cold War