Navy Distinguished Service Medal

Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a prestigious award presented by the United States Department of the Navy to recognize exceptional service and achievements by members of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The medal is equivalent to the Distinguished Service Medal (United States Army), Distinguished Service Medal (United States Air Force), and Distinguished Service Medal (United States Coast Guard), and is considered a high honor in the United States Armed Forces. Recipients of the medal have included notable figures such as Chester Nimitz, William Halsey Jr., and Ernest King, who all played significant roles in World War II. The medal is also related to other awards, including the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, which are presented for lesser achievements.

● History

The Navy Distinguished Service Medal was established by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919, and the first awards were presented to William Sims, William Fullam, and Henry Mayo, who were all prominent United States Navy officers during World War I. The medal was created to recognize exceptional service and achievements by members of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps, and has since been awarded to numerous individuals, including Fleet Admiral Curtis LeMay, General Alexander Vandegrift, and Admiral Arleigh Burke. The medal has also been awarded to notable figures such as Hyman Rickover, who played a significant role in the development of the United States Navy's nuclear submarine program, and Elmo Zumwalt, who served as Chief of Naval Operations during the Vietnam War. Other notable recipients include John McCain, John Kerry, and Bob Kerrey, who all served in the United States Senate and were awarded the medal for their service in the Vietnam War.

● Eligibility

The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is awarded to members of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility. Eligibility for the medal includes service as a flag officer, general officer, or senior enlisted rank in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps. The medal can also be awarded to members of other branches of the United States Armed Forces who have served with the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps in a position of great responsibility. Notable examples of eligible service include Commander of the Pacific Fleet, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Chief of Naval Operations, which have all been held by recipients of the medal, including Admiral Mike Mullen, General James Amos, and Admiral Gary Roughead. Other eligible positions include Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Secretary of the Navy, which have been held by notable figures such as General Wesley Clark, General Martin Dempsey, and Ray Mabus.

● Appearance

The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a gold medal with a blue enamel center, surrounded by a gold border with the words "United States Navy" inscribed on it. The medal is suspended from a blue ribbon with a gold stripe in the center, and is worn on the left side of the chest. The medal is also accompanied by a certificate and a lapel pin, which are presented to the recipient at the time of the award. The design of the medal was created by James Earle Fraser, a renowned sculptor and artist who also designed the Buffalo nickel and the United States Supreme Court building. The medal has undergone several design changes since its establishment, with the current design being introduced in 1959. Notable designers who have contributed to the medal's design include Sylvester Antoine Bridger, Lee Lawrie, and Paul Manship, who were all prominent artists and sculptors of their time.

● Notable Recipients

The Navy Distinguished Service Medal has been awarded to numerous notable individuals, including Admiral George Dewey, who was a prominent United States Navy officer during the Spanish-American War, and General Smedley Butler, who was a Marine Corps officer and recipient of the Medal of Honor. Other notable recipients include Admiral William Leahy, who served as Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy during World War II, and Admiral Husband Kimmel, who was the Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet at the time of the Attack on Pearl Harbor. The medal has also been awarded to notable figures such as John Lehman, who served as Secretary of the Navy during the Reagan administration, and Bobby Inman, who served as Director of the National Security Agency and Deputy Director of Central Intelligence. Other notable recipients include Oliver North, John Poindexter, and Robert McFarlane, who all played significant roles in the Iran-Contra affair.

● Awards and Decorations

The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a high-level award that is considered equivalent to the Distinguished Service Medal (United States Army), Distinguished Service Medal (United States Air Force), and Distinguished Service Medal (United States Coast Guard). The medal is ranked below the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross, but above the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. The medal is also related to other awards, including the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Joint Service Commendation Medal, which are presented for lesser achievements. Notable recipients of the medal have also been awarded other prestigious awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal, and the National Security Medal, which have been awarded to notable figures such as Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, and Henry Kissinger. Other notable awards that have been presented to recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal include the Nobel Peace Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, and the Medal of Freedom, which have been awarded to notable figures such as Jimmy Carter, Al Gore, and Malala Yousafzai.