Silver Star Medal
| Silver Star | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Awarded by United States Armed Forces | |
| Type | Military medal (Decoration) |
| Awarded for | "Gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States" |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Statistics | |
| First awarded | 1932 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Army – Army Distinguished Service Medal Navy and Marine Corps – Navy Distinguished Service Medal Air Force - Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard - Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal, Uniformed Public Health Service - Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal |
| Next (lower) | Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Air Force – Defense Superior Service Medal Coast Guard - Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Achievement Medal |
 Silver Star Service Ribbon |
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The Silver Star, officially the Silver Star Medal, is the United States military's third-highest decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.
The Silver Star is the successor award to the "Citation Star" ( 3⁄16 silver star) which was established by an Act of Congress on July 9, 1918 during World War I. On July 19, 1932, the Secretary of War approved the conversion of the "Citation Star" to the Silver Star Medal with the original "Citation Star" incorporated into the center of the medal.
Authorization for the Silver Star Medal was placed into law by an Act of Congress for the U.S. Navy on August 7, 1942 and an Act of Congress for the U.S. Army on December 15, 1942. The current statutory authorization for the medal is Title 10 of the United States Code, 10 U.S.C. § 3746 for the U.S. Army, 10 U.S.C. § 8746 for the U.S. Air Force, and 10 U.S.C. § 6244 for the U.S. Navy.
The U.S. Army and Air Force award the medal as the "Silver Star". The U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard continue to award the medal as the "Silver Star Medal".
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