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{{short description|United States Army heroism award}}
{{short description|United States Army heroism award}}
{{Infobox military award
{{Infobox award
|name=Soldier's Medal
|name=Soldier's Medal
|image=SoldMedal.gif
|image=SoldMedal.gif
|image_size=150px
|image_size=150px
|caption=
|caption=
|presenter=the [[Department of the Army]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://govdocs.rutgers.edu/mil/army/r600_8_22.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111110243/http://govdocs.rutgers.edu/mil/army/r600_8_22.pdf |archive-date=2018-01-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|presenter=[[United States Department of the Army]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://govdocs.rutgers.edu/mil/army/r600_8_22.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111110243/http://govdocs.rutgers.edu/mil/army/r600_8_22.pdf |archive-date=2018-01-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|type=Personal Military Decoration
|type=Personal military decoration
|eligibility=
|eligibility=
|awarded_for=Distinguishing oneself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy
|awarded_for=Distinguishing oneself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy
Line 18: Line 18:
|individual=
|individual=
|higher=[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]
|higher=[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]
|same=Navy & Marine Corps – [[Navy and Marine Corps Medal]]<br/>Air Force – [[Airman's Medal]]<br/> Coast Guard – [[Coast Guard Medal]]
|same=Naval Service: [[Navy and Marine Corps Medal]]<br/>Air and Space Forces: [[Airman's Medal]]<br/>Coast Guard: [[Coast Guard Medal]]
|lower=[[Bronze Star Medal]]
|lower=[[Bronze Star Medal]]
|image2=[[File:Soldier's Medal ribbon.svg|124px|border]]
|image2=[[File:Soldier's Medal ribbon.svg|124px|border]]
|caption2=[[Service ribbon]]
|caption2=[[Service ribbon]]
}}
}}
The '''Soldier's Medal''' is an [[Awards and decorations of the United States Army|individual decoration]] of the [[United States Army]]. It was introduced as Section 11 of the [[United States Army Air Corps|Air Corps Act]], passed by the [[Congress of the United States]] on July 2, 1926.<ref name="mooney">{{cite web |last=Mooney |first=Charles C. and Layman, Martha E. |year=1944 |url=http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-090602-051.pdf |title=Organization of Military Aeronautics, 1907-1935 (Congressional and War Department Action) |work=Air Force Historical Study No. 25 |publisher=AFHRA (USAF) |accessdate=14 Dec 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227081644/http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-090602-051.pdf |archivedate=2010-12-27 }}, Appendix 5, p. 126.</ref><ref name=Soldiersmedal>{{cite web |url=http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Catalog/Heraldry.aspx?HeraldryId=15250&CategoryId=3&grp=4&menu=Decorations%20and%20Medals&ps=24&p=0 |title=Soldiers's Medal |publisher=The Institute of Heraldry: Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the ARMY |accessdate=2013-12-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211125714/http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Catalog/Heraldry.aspx?HeraldryId=15250&CategoryId=3&grp=4&menu=Decorations%20and%20Medals&ps=24&p=0 |archivedate=2014-12-11 }}</ref> The criteria for the medal are: "The Soldier's Medal is awarded to any person of the [[United States Army|Armed Forces]] of the United States or of a friendly foreign nation who, while serving in any capacity with the Army of the United States, including Reserve Component soldiers not serving in a duty status at the time of the heroic act, distinguished himself or herself by heroism not involving conflict with an enemy."<ref name="ar600-8-22">{{cite web|url=http://www.apd.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/r600_8_22.pdf|title=Personnel-General Military Awards|publisher=Department of the Army|date=2015-06-25 |accessdate=2017-05-06}}</ref>
The '''Soldier's Medal''' is an [[Awards and decorations of the United States Army|individual decoration]] of the [[United States Army]]. It was introduced as Section 11 of the [[United States Army Air Corps|Air Corps Act]], passed by the [[Congress of the United States]] on July 2, 1926.<ref name="mooney">{{cite web |last=Mooney |first=Charles C. and Layman, Martha E. |year=1944 |url=http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-090602-051.pdf |title=Organization of Military Aeronautics, 1907-1935 (Congressional and War Department Action) |work=Air Force Historical Study No. 25 |publisher=AFHRA (USAF) |access-date=14 Dec 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227081644/http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-090602-051.pdf |archive-date=2010-12-27 }}, Appendix 5, p. 126.</ref><ref name=Soldiersmedal>{{cite web |url=http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Catalog/Heraldry.aspx?HeraldryId=15250&CategoryId=3&grp=4&menu=Decorations%20and%20Medals&ps=24&p=0 |title=Soldiers's Medal |publisher=The Institute of Heraldry: Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the ARMY |access-date=2013-12-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211125714/http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Catalog/Heraldry.aspx?HeraldryId=15250&CategoryId=3&grp=4&menu=Decorations%20and%20Medals&ps=24&p=0 |archive-date=2014-12-11 }}</ref> The Soldier's Medal is equivalent to the [[Navy and Marine Corps Medal]], the Air and Space Forces' [[Airman's Medal]], and the [[Coast Guard Medal]]. Prior to the creation of the Airman's Medal in 1960, airmen were awarded the Soldier's Medal.
The criteria for the medal are: "The Soldier's Medal is awarded to any person of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly foreign nation who, while serving in any capacity with the Army of the United States, including Reserve Component soldiers not serving in a duty status at the time of the heroic act, distinguished himself or herself by heroism not involving conflict with an enemy."<ref name="ar600-8-22">{{cite web|url=http://www.apd.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/r600_8_22.pdf|title=Personnel-General Military Awards|publisher=Department of the Army|date=2015-06-25 |access-date=2017-05-06}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
A need to recognize acts of heroism in 1922 resulted in the [[United States Department of War|War Department]]'s issuing orders for acts of bravery during peacetime. This led to an Act of Congress (Public Law 446-69th Congress, July 2, 1926 (44 Stat. 780)) which established the Soldier's Medal for acts of heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. The [[United States Secretary of War|Secretary of War]] directed that the [[Quartermaster General of the United States Army|Quartermaster General]] prepare and submit appropriate designs of the Soldier's Medal per letter signed by [[List of Adjutants General of the U.S. Army|The Adjutant General]] dated 11 August 1926.<ref name=Soldiersmedal />
A need to recognize acts of heroism in 1922 resulted in the [[United States Department of War|War Department]]'s issuing orders for acts of bravery during peacetime. This led to an Act of Congress (Public Law 446-69th Congress, July 2, 1926 (44 Stat. 780)) which established the Soldier's Medal for acts of heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. The [[United States Secretary of War|Secretary of War]] directed that the [[Quartermaster General of the United States Army|Quartermaster General]] prepare and submit appropriate designs of the Soldier's Medal per letter signed by the [[List of Adjutants General of the U.S. Army|Adjutant General]] dated 11 August 1926.<ref name=Soldiersmedal /> The medal was designed by sculptor [[Gaetano Cecere]].<ref>{{cite book|title = Medals for Soldiers and Airmen: Awards and Decorations of the United States Army and Air Force|first = Fred L. III|last = Borch|authorlink = Fred Borch|publisher = McFarland & Company |year = 2013|isbn = 9780786474127|chapter = Distinguished Service Cross|chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=9Hv6St9HxmYC&pg=PA30|pages = 30–42}}</ref>


The first Soldier's Medals were awarded on October 17, 1927 to John F. Burns and James P. Martin<ref>{{cite news|title=James P. Martin|url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=30283|accessdate=October 8, 2015|work=[[Military Times]]}}</ref> for their heroism during a fire and to James K. Wilson<ref>{{cite news|title=James K. Wilson|url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=30481|accessdate=October 8, 2015|work=[[Military Times]]}}</ref> and Cleophas C. Burnett<ref>{{cite news|title=Cleophas C. Burnett|url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=30062|accessdate=8 October 2015|work=[[Military Times]]}}</ref> for saving people from drowning.<ref>{{cite news|title="For Heroism...." The Soldier's Medal|url=http://www.army.mil/article/33873/_quot_For_Heroism_____quot__The_Soldier__039_s_Medal/|accessdate=October 8, 2015|publisher=United States Army|date=February 2, 2010}}</ref>
The first Soldier's Medals were awarded on October 17, 1927, to John F. Burns and James P. Martin<ref>{{cite news|title=James P. Martin |url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=30283 |access-date=October 8, 2015|work=[[Military Times]]}}</ref> for their heroism during a fire and to James K. Wilson<ref>{{cite news |title=James K. Wilson |url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=30481 |work=[[Military Times]] |access-date=October 8, 2015}}</ref> and Cleophas C. Burnett<ref>{{cite news|title=Cleophas C. Burnett|url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=30062 |work=[[Military Times]] |access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref> for saving people from drowning.<ref>{{cite news|title='For Heroism....' The Soldier's Medal |url=http://www.army.mil/article/33873/_quot_For_Heroism_____quot__The_Soldier__039_s_Medal/ |publisher=United States Army |date=February 2, 2010 |access-date=October 8, 2015}}</ref>


The period of time when the most Soldier's Medals were awarded was World War II (at least hundreds were awarded).
The period of time when the most Soldier's Medals were awarded was World War II (at least hundreds were awarded).


The Soldier's Medal is considered to be equivalent to the [[Navy and Marine Corps Medal]], [[Coast Guard Medal]], and [[Airman's Medal]] which was authorized on 10 August 1956 to replace the Soldier's Medal awarded to U.S. Air Force personnel by the Army since 26 September 1947.<ref> Smithsonian, Air and Space Museum. Airman's Medal.[https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/medal-airmans-medal-united-states-air-force Retrieved May 6, 2017] </ref>
Prior to the establishment of the [[Airman's Medal]], which was authorized on 10 August 1956 and created in 1960, the Soldier's Medal awarded to U.S. Air Force personnel by the Army since 26 September 1947.<ref>Smithsonian, Air and Space Museum. [https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/medal-airmans-medal-united-states-air-force "Airman's Medal"]. Retrieved May 6, 2017.</ref>


==Criteria==
==Criteria==
The distinguishing criterion for awarding the Soldier's Medal, per Army Regulation 600-8-22, para 3-14, is "The performance must have involved personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life under conditions not involving conflict with an armed enemy. Awards will not be made solely on the basis of having saved a life."<ref name="ar600-8-22" /> It is the highest honor a soldier can receive for an act of valor in a non-combat situation, held to be equal to or greater than the level which would have justified an award of the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (USA)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] had the act occurred in combat. Any enlisted American servicemember who is eligible for retirement pay will receive an increase of 10 percent in retirement pay, if the level of valor was equal to that which would earn the [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]]. Additional awards of the medal are denoted by [[oak leaf clusters]] worn on the suspension and [[service ribbon]] of the medal.<ref name=Soldiersmedal /><ref name="ar600-8-22" />
The distinguishing criterion for awarding the Soldier's Medal, per Army Regulation 600-8-22, para 3-14, is "The performance must have involved personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life under conditions not involving conflict with an armed enemy. Awards will not be made solely on the basis of having saved a life."<ref name="ar600-8-22" /> It is the highest honor a soldier can receive for an act of valor in a non-combat situation, held to be equal to or greater than the level which would have justified an award of the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (USA)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] had the act occurred in combat. Any enlisted American servicemember who is eligible for retirement pay will receive an increase of 10 percent in retirement pay if the level of valor was equal to that which would earn the [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]]. Additional awards of the medal are denoted by [[oak leaf clusters]] worn on the suspension and [[service ribbon]] of the medal.<ref name=Soldiersmedal /><ref name="ar600-8-22" />


==Appearance==
==Appearance==
The bronze medal is issued as a 1 3/8 inch wide Bronze octagon with an eagle displayed, standing on a fasces, between two groups of stars of six and seven, above the group of six a spray of leaves. On the reverse is a shield paly of 13 pieces, on the chief the letters "US," supported by sprays of laurel and oak, around the upper edge the inscription "SOLDIER'S MEDAL" and across the face the words "FOR VALOR." In the base is a panel for the name of the recipient to be engraved. The medal is suspended from the ribbon by a rectangular-shaped metal loop with corners rounded.
The Soldier's Medal is issued as a 1 3/8 inch wide Bronze octagon with an eagle displayed, standing on a fasces, between two groups of stars of six and seven, above the group of six a spray of leaves. On the reverse is a shield paly of 13 pieces, on the chief the letters "US," supported by sprays of laurel and oak, around the upper edge the inscription "SOLDIER'S MEDAL" and across the face the words "FOR VALOR." In the base is a panel for the name of the recipient to be engraved. The medal is suspended from the ribbon by a rectangular-shaped metal loop with corners rounded.


The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 3/8 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118 on each side and the center containing 13 White and Red stripes of equal width (7 White 67101 and 6 Old Glory Red 67156).<ref name=Soldiersmedal />
The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 3/8 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118 on each side and the center containing 13 White and Red stripes of equal width (7 White 67101 and 6 Old Glory Red 67156).<ref name=Soldiersmedal />
Line 45: Line 47:
[[File:Ash Carter and Alek Skarlatos.jpg|thumb|U.S. Secretary of Defense [[Ash Carter]] presents the Soldier's Medal to [[Alek Skarlatos]] on September 17, 2015.]]
[[File:Ash Carter and Alek Skarlatos.jpg|thumb|U.S. Secretary of Defense [[Ash Carter]] presents the Soldier's Medal to [[Alek Skarlatos]] on September 17, 2015.]]
* [[Marty Allen]], USAAF, was awarded the Soldier's Medal for bravery during a plane fire.
* [[Marty Allen]], USAAF, was awarded the Soldier's Medal for bravery during a plane fire.
⚫
* [[Aaron Bank]], a United States Army officer who founded the [[United States Army Special Forces]] (commonly known as the Green Berets).
* [[Joseph P. Cleland]], for rescuing a drowning aviator off [[Bougainville Island]] in 1943.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Newman |first=Aubrey S. |date=March 1976 |title=Obituary, Joseph Pringle Cleland |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-UN6daR8BlEC&pg=RA3-PA118 |magazine=Assembly |location=West Point, New York |publisher=Association of Graduates, United States Military Academy |pages=117–119 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=January 10, 1945 |title=Omahan Led Luzon Attack |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-world-herald-luzon/125515769/ |work=[[Omaha World-Herald]] |location=Omaha, NE |page=1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
* [[Wayne A. Downing]], was a US Army retired four-star General who has held command of the [[75th Ranger Regiment]], [[United States Army Special Operations Command]], [[Joint Special Operations Command]] and [[United States Special Operations Command]].
* [[Edith Ellen Greenwood]] of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps (ANC) during World War II for saving fifteen patients.
* [[Edith Ellen Greenwood]] of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps (ANC) during World War II for saving fifteen patients.
* [[John D. Hoffman]] for bravery in saving others after an explosion at a [[Manhattan Project]] plant.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |first=Arnold |last=Kramish |author-link=Arnold Kramish |date=15 December 1991 |title=They Were Heroes Too |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1991/12/15/they-were-heroes-too/4d8b3356-b0c8-4f3c-be44-b3e8d7fcc90e/ |access-date=December 9, 2016}}</ref>
* [[John D. Hoffman]] for bravery in saving others after an explosion at a [[Manhattan Project]] plant.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |first=Arnold |last=Kramish |author-link=Arnold Kramish |date=15 December 1991 |title=They Were Heroes Too |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1991/12/15/they-were-heroes-too/4d8b3356-b0c8-4f3c-be44-b3e8d7fcc90e/ |access-date=December 9, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Otto Kerner Jr.]], US Army, was awarded the Soldier's Medal for rescuing a drowning soldier off the coast of [[Sicily]].
* [[Otto Kerner Jr.]], US Army, was awarded the Soldier's Medal for rescuing a drowning soldier off the coast of [[Sicily]].
* [[Henry Mucci]], US Army, was awarded the Soldier's Medal for rescuing a soldier in danger of drowning in 1943.<ref>{{cite news|title=Henry Andrews Mucci |url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=22480|accessdate=October 8, 2015|work=[[Military Times]]}}</ref>
* [[Kilma S. Lattin]], US Army, and former Executive Tribal Council Member of the [[Pala Band of Mission Indians]] was awarded the Soldier's Medal for Valor for rescuing a woman engulfed in flames. He repeatedly sustained injuries while using his body to extinguish the fire, and saved the woman’s life.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kilma Lattin - Recipient |url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/109225|access-date=August 28, 2021|work=[[Military Times]]}}</ref>
* [[Henry Mucci]], US Army, was awarded the Soldier's Medal for rescuing a soldier in danger of drowning in 1943.<ref>{{cite news|title=Henry Andrews Mucci |url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=22480|access-date=October 8, 2015|work=[[Military Times]]}}</ref>
* [[Colin Powell]], who, during his second tour of duty in the [[Vietnam War]], was injured in a helicopter crash and, despite his wounds, rescued two comrades from the burning wreckage.
* [[Colin Powell]], who was injured in a [[Vietnam War]] helicopter crash and rescued three comrades from the burning wreckage, including his division commander [[Charles M. Gettys]], division chief of staff [[Jack L. Treadwell]], and Gettys's [[aide-de-camp]], Ron Tumelson.<ref>{{cite book |last=DeYoung |first=Karen |author-link=Karen DeYoung |date=2007 |title=Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R_8S6b9n5i0C&pg=PA81 |location=New York, NY |publisher=Vintage Books |pages=80–81 |isbn=978-1-4000-7564-5 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>
* [[Alek Skarlatos]] was awarded the Soldier's Medal after thwarting a [[2015 Thalys train attack|terrorist attack on a train in France]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cooper|first1=Helene |title=A Hero’s Welcome at the White House|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/18/us/a-heros-welcome-at-the-white-house.html|accessdate=October 8, 2015|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 17, 2015}}</ref>
* [[Alek Skarlatos]] was awarded the Soldier's Medal after thwarting a [[2015 Thalys train attack|terrorist attack on a train in France]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cooper|first1=Helene |title=A Hero's Welcome at the White House|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/18/us/a-heros-welcome-at-the-white-house.html|access-date=October 8, 2015|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 17, 2015}}</ref>
⚫
* [[Hugh Thompson Jr.]], [[Lawrence Colburn]], and [[Glenn Andreotta]] were awarded the Soldier's Medal for their intervention in the [[My Lai Massacre]] (1968), which included threatening to fire on their own comrades if they did not stop the killings.
⚫
* [[Brad Wenstrup]], an Ohio congressman, an Army Reserve colonel, and Iraq war veteran, was awarded with the Soldier’s Medal for his actions during the 2017 shooting at a congressional baseball team practice.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.armytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2018/04/27/congressman-awarded-soldiers-medal-for-heroism-in-last-years-baseball-team-shooting/|title=Congressman awarded Soldier’s Medal for heroism in last year’s baseball team shooting|first=Leo |last=Shane III|date=April 27, 2018|work=[[Army Times]]|accessdate=August 25, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Christopher Speer]], a former member of the [[United States Army Special Forces]] and [[Delta Force]]. Awarded the Soldier's Medal for risking his life to save two Afghan children who were trapped in a minefield on July 21, 2002. Two weeks later he died at [[Ramstein Air Base]] from a head injury sustained from a grenade in Afghanistan.
* [[Christopher Speer]], a former member of the [[United States Army Special Forces]] and [[Delta Force]]. Awarded the Soldier's Medal for risking his life to save two Afghan children who were trapped in a minefield on July 21, 2002. Two weeks later he died at [[Ramstein Air Base]] from a head injury sustained from a grenade in Afghanistan.
⚫
* [[Hugh Thompson Jr.]], [[Lawrence Colburn]], and [[Glenn Andreotta]] were awarded the Soldier's Medal for their intervention in the [[My Lai Massacre]] (1968), which included threatening to fire on their own comrades if they did not stop the killings.
⚫
* [[Aaron Bank]], a United States Army officer who founded the [[United States Army Special Forces]], commonly known as the "Green Berets".
⚫
* [[Brad Wenstrup]], an Ohio congressman, an Army Reserve colonel, and Iraq war veteran, was awarded the Soldier’s Medal for his actions during the 2017 shooting at a congressional baseball team practice.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.armytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2018/04/27/congressman-awarded-soldiers-medal-for-heroism-in-last-years-baseball-team-shooting/|title=Congressman awarded Soldier's Medal for heroism in last year's baseball team shooting|first=Leo |last=Shane III|date=April 27, 2018|work=[[Army Times]]|access-date=August 25, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Samuel Tankersley Williams]], for supervising the evacuation of the transport ship [[USS Susan B. Anthony (AP-72)|''Susan B. Anthony'']] after it struck a mine off the coast of France during [[Operation Overlord]] in June 1944.<ref>{{cite book |last=Folkard |first=Claire |date=2003 |title=Guinness World Records |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cM9X6BKWyt4C&q=%22guinness%22+%22world+records%22+%222,689%22+%22susan+b.+anthony%22 |location=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |publisher=Jim Pattison Group |page=50|isbn=9781892051172 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/6931#70103 |title=Soldier's Medal Citation, Samuel T. Williams |website=Hall of Valor |publisher=Military Times |location=Tysons, VA |access-date=May 31, 2023}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
{{See also|Category:Recipients of the Soldier's Medal}}
{{See also|Category:Recipients of the Soldier's Medal}}
* [[Awards and decorations of the United States military]]
* [[Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces]]
* [[Awards and decorations of the United States Army]]
* [[Awards and decorations of the United States Army]]
* [[List of military decorations]]
* [[List of military decorations]]

Latest revision as of 23:31, 12 June 2024

Soldier's Medal
TypePersonal military decoration
Awarded forDistinguishing oneself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy
Presented byUnited States Department of the Army[1]
StatusCurrently awarded
Established2 July 1926
First awardedOctober 17, 1927
Service ribbon
Precedence
Next (higher)Distinguished Flying Cross
EquivalentNaval Service: Navy and Marine Corps Medal
Air and Space Forces: Airman's Medal
Coast Guard: Coast Guard Medal
Next (lower)Bronze Star Medal

The Soldier's Medal is an individual decoration of the United States Army. It was introduced as Section 11 of the Air Corps Act, passed by the Congress of the United States on July 2, 1926.[2][3] The Soldier's Medal is equivalent to the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the Air and Space Forces' Airman's Medal, and the Coast Guard Medal. Prior to the creation of the Airman's Medal in 1960, airmen were awarded the Soldier's Medal.

The criteria for the medal are: "The Soldier's Medal is awarded to any person of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly foreign nation who, while serving in any capacity with the Army of the United States, including Reserve Component soldiers not serving in a duty status at the time of the heroic act, distinguished himself or herself by heroism not involving conflict with an enemy."[4]

History[edit]

A need to recognize acts of heroism in 1922 resulted in the War Department's issuing orders for acts of bravery during peacetime. This led to an Act of Congress (Public Law 446-69th Congress, July 2, 1926 (44 Stat. 780)) which established the Soldier's Medal for acts of heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. The Secretary of War directed that the Quartermaster General prepare and submit appropriate designs of the Soldier's Medal per letter signed by the Adjutant General dated 11 August 1926.[3] The medal was designed by sculptor Gaetano Cecere.[5]

The first Soldier's Medals were awarded on October 17, 1927, to John F. Burns and James P. Martin[6] for their heroism during a fire and to James K. Wilson[7] and Cleophas C. Burnett[8] for saving people from drowning.[9]

The period of time when the most Soldier's Medals were awarded was World War II (at least hundreds were awarded).

Prior to the establishment of the Airman's Medal, which was authorized on 10 August 1956 and created in 1960, the Soldier's Medal awarded to U.S. Air Force personnel by the Army since 26 September 1947.[10]

Criteria[edit]

The distinguishing criterion for awarding the Soldier's Medal, per Army Regulation 600-8-22, para 3-14, is "The performance must have involved personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life under conditions not involving conflict with an armed enemy. Awards will not be made solely on the basis of having saved a life."[4] It is the highest honor a soldier can receive for an act of valor in a non-combat situation, held to be equal to or greater than the level which would have justified an award of the Distinguished Flying Cross had the act occurred in combat. Any enlisted American servicemember who is eligible for retirement pay will receive an increase of 10 percent in retirement pay if the level of valor was equal to that which would earn the Distinguished Service Cross. Additional awards of the medal are denoted by oak leaf clusters worn on the suspension and service ribbon of the medal.[3][4]

Appearance[edit]

The Soldier's Medal is issued as a 1 3/8 inch wide Bronze octagon with an eagle displayed, standing on a fasces, between two groups of stars of six and seven, above the group of six a spray of leaves. On the reverse is a shield paly of 13 pieces, on the chief the letters "US," supported by sprays of laurel and oak, around the upper edge the inscription "SOLDIER'S MEDAL" and across the face the words "FOR VALOR." In the base is a panel for the name of the recipient to be engraved. The medal is suspended from the ribbon by a rectangular-shaped metal loop with corners rounded.

The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 3/8 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118 on each side and the center containing 13 White and Red stripes of equal width (7 White 67101 and 6 Old Glory Red 67156).[3]

Notable recipients[edit]

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter presents the Soldier's Medal to Alek Skarlatos on September 17, 2015.

See also[edit]

See also: Category:Recipients of the Soldier's Medal

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-01-11. Retrieved 2018-01-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ Mooney, Charles C. and Layman, Martha E. (1944). "Organization of Military Aeronautics, 1907-1935 (Congressional and War Department Action)" (PDF). Air Force Historical Study No. 25. AFHRA (USAF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-27. Retrieved 14 Dec 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link), Appendix 5, p. 126.
  3. ^ a b c d "Soldiers's Medal". The Institute of Heraldry: Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the ARMY. Archived from the original on 2014-12-11. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  4. ^ a b c "Personnel-General Military Awards" (PDF). Department of the Army. 2015-06-25. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  5. ^ Borch, Fred L. III (2013). "Distinguished Service Cross". Medals for Soldiers and Airmen: Awards and Decorations of the United States Army and Air Force. McFarland & Company. pp. 30–42. ISBN 9780786474127.
  6. ^ "James P. Martin". Military Times. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  7. ^ "James K. Wilson". Military Times. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  8. ^ "Cleophas C. Burnett". Military Times. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  9. ^ "'For Heroism....' The Soldier's Medal". United States Army. February 2, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  10. ^ Smithsonian, Air and Space Museum. "Airman's Medal". Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  11. ^ Newman, Aubrey S. (March 1976). "Obituary, Joseph Pringle Cleland". Assembly. West Point, New York: Association of Graduates, United States Military Academy. pp. 117–119 – via Google Books.
  12. ^ "Omahan Led Luzon Attack". Omaha World-Herald. Omaha, NE. January 10, 1945. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Kramish, Arnold (15 December 1991). "They Were Heroes Too". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  14. ^ "Kilma Lattin - Recipient". Military Times. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  15. ^ "Henry Andrews Mucci". Military Times. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  16. ^ DeYoung, Karen (2007). Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell. New York, NY: Vintage Books. pp. 80–81. ISBN 978-1-4000-7564-5 – via Google Books.
  17. ^ Cooper, Helene (September 17, 2015). "A Hero's Welcome at the White House". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  18. ^ Shane III, Leo (April 27, 2018). "Congressman awarded Soldier's Medal for heroism in last year's baseball team shooting". Army Times. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  19. ^ Folkard, Claire (2003). Guinness World Records. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: Jim Pattison Group. p. 50. ISBN 9781892051172.
  20. ^ "Soldier's Medal Citation, Samuel T. Williams". Hall of Valor. Tysons, VA: Military Times. Retrieved May 31, 2023.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Soldier's Medal.
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