RECORD OF

MEDALS OF HONOR

ISSUED TO THE

OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN
OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY
MARINE CORPS
AND COAST GUARD

1862-1923

WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1924

ADDITIONAL COPIES
OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE PROCURED FROM
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AT
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ROLL OF HONOR

BEING A RECORD OF THE MEDALS OF HONOR ISSUED TO THE OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN OF THE NAVY, MARINE CORPS, AND COAST GUARD, UNDER AUTHORITY OF THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR DEEDS OF GALLANTRY AND HEROISM IN TIMES OF WAR AND PEACE

¶ This record of the personnel who have shed luster upon the service by upholding the honor of the flag in storm and battle, by their devotion to the country and to each other, and by their unselfishness in risking their own lives to save others, is especially commended to the rising generation of American seamen, that they may emulate the deeds of their heroic predecessors, and maintain that high standard of gallantry which has always characterized the personnel of the United States naval service.

PUBLISHED BY THE BUREAU OF NAVIGATION
NAVY DEPARTMENT
SEPTEMBER 1, 1924

W. R. SHOEMAKER
Chief of Bureau

MEDAL OF HONOR.

The original medal of honor was designed during the Civil War by A. C. Paquet. The medal proper, a bronze five-pointed star bearing a star-rimmed medallion of Minerva driving before her shield the figure of Discord, was suspended by an anchor from the bottom buckle of a ribbon having a blue band over thirteen vertical stripes of red and white. This ribbon was attached at top and bottom to buckles of bronze, the bottom buckle bearing a star.

Medal and ribbon were worn on the left breast until 1913. In that year the medal was placed in its present distinctive position at the neck of the wearer, being detached from its original ribbon and worn as a pendant from a ribbon band woven through the anchor ring. The ribbon band, which is of light blue with a cluster of thirteen small stars, is worn around the neck.

The second medal of honor, added in 1919, is from the design of Tiffany & Co., of New York. The medal, which is of gold, is in the form of a cross superimposed upon a wreath of leaves. The center of the cross bears the arms of the United States, framed by the inscription "United States Navy, 1917-1918," and each arm of cross contains an anchor.

The new medal of honor is suspended from a ribbon consisting of a triple chevron of thirteen white stars on a light blue field, the star at point of chevron being uppermost. At the crest of this ribbon is a bar which bears the single word "Valour." The new medal of honor is also worn at the neck as a pendant, but in contrast to the old medal, which is suspended direct from the ribbon band worn around the neck, the new medal is suspended from the band by means of its ribbon.

The service ribbon bar worn in lieu of either medal of honor is light blue and bears a cluster of white stars.

CONGRESSIONAL
MEDAL OF HONOR
Awarded under Acts approved December 21, 1861, and March 3, 1915
See page 7

MEDAL OF HONOR
Awarded under Act approved February 4, 1919
See page 9

EXTRACTS FROM THE STATUTES AUTHORIZING THE ISSUE OF MEDALS OF HONOR

[Extract from the act to promote the efficiency of the Navy.]

Section 7. And it is further enacted, That the Secretary of the Navy be, and is hereby, authorized to cause two hundred medals of honor to be prepared with suitable emblematic devices which shall be bestowed upon such petty officers, seamen, landsmen, and marines as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other seamanlike qualities during the present war.

Approved December 21, 1861.

[Extract from the act to establish and equalize the grade of line officers of the United States Navy.]

Section 10. And be it further enacted, That * * * seamen distinguishing themselves in battle or by extraordinary heroism in the line of their profession may be promoted to forward warrant officers or acting master's mates, as they may best be qualified, upon the recommendation of their commanding officer, approved by the flag officer and the Department. Upon such promotion they shall receive a gratuity of one hundred dollars and a medal of honor to be prepared by the Navy Department.

Approved July 16, 1862.

[Extract from the act to appoint certain officers of the Navy.]

Section 3. And be it further enacted, That * * * seamen distinguishing themselves in battle or by extraordinary heroism in the line of their profession may be promoted to forward warrant officers or acting master's mates, as they may be best qualified, upon the recommendation of their commanding officer, approved by the flag officer and the Department. Upon such promotion they shall receive a gratuity of one hundred dollars and a medal of honor to be prepared by the Navy Department.

Approved May 17, 1864.

AN ACT For the reward of enlisted men of the Navy or Marine Corps.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That any enlisted man of the Navy or Marine Corps who shall have distinguished himself in battle or displayed extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession shall, upon recommendation of his commanding officer, approved by the flag officer and the Secretary of the Navy, receive a gratuity and medal of honor as provided for seamen in section fourteen hundred and seven of the Revised Statutes.

Approved March 3, 1901.

[Public Resolution No. 23.]

JOINT RESOLUTION Authorizing the issue of duplicate medals where the originals have been lost or destroyed.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in any case where the President of the United States has heretofore, under any act or resolution of Congress, caused any medal to be made and presented to any officer or person in the United States on account of distinguished or meritorious services, on a proper showing made by such person to the satisfaction of the President that such medal has been lost or destroyed through no fault of the beneficiary, and that diligent search has been made therefor, the President is hereby authorized to cause to be prepared and delivered to such person a duplicate of such medal, the cost of which shall be paid out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.

Approved April 15, 1904.

[Extract from "An act making appropriations for the naval service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1916, and for other purposes."]

The President of the United States is hereby empowered to prepare a