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Silver Star Medal

Silver Star
Silver Star medal.png
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 ribbon.svg
Silver Star Service Ribbon

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" (316 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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