Navy and Marine Corps Medal

Navy and Marine Corps Medal
Awarded by United States Navy and United States Marine Corps
Type	Medal
Awarded for	"Distinguishing oneself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. For acts of lifesaving, or attempted lifesaving, it is required that the action be performed at the risk of one's own life"
Status	Currently awarded
Statistics
Established	7 August 1942
Precedence
Next (higher)	Distinguished Flying Cross
Equivalent	Army - Soldier's Medal Air Force - Airman's Medal Coast Guard - Coast Guard Medal
Next (lower)	Bronze Star
Navy and Marine Corps Medal ribbon

The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is the second highest non-combatant medal awarded by the United States Department of the Navy to members of the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. The decoration was established by an act of Congress on August 7, 1942.

The Navy and Marine Corps Medal may be awarded to service members who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguish themselves by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. Typically, it is awarded for actions involving the risk of one's own life.

During the mid-20th century, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal has been awarded instead of the Silver or Gold Lifesaving Medal, for sea rescues involving risk of life. This is due primarily to the creation of a variety of additional military decorations that are often considered more prestigious than the Lifesaving Medal.

The Navy and Marine Corps Medal was first bestowed during World War II, although the first recipient is unknown. Perhaps the most famous recipient of the Navy and Marine Corps Medal was President John F. Kennedy who was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for service as Commanding Officer of a World War II Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109.

The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is generally considered the equivalent of the U.S. Army′s Soldier's Medal, the U.S. Air Force′s Airman's Medal, and the Coast Guard Medal.

The recipients of the Navy and Marine Corps Medal and the text of the citations issued to each recipient, to the extent of available records, are listed in a Naval database.^[1]

See Also: Awards and decorations of the United States military, Lifesaving Medal

Notable Recipients

See also: Category:Recipients of the Navy and Marine Corps Medal

• Brashear, Carl
• Cartano, John D.
• Del Valle, Pedro
• Dietrichsen, Kyle
• Fienen, Phillip
• Gonzalez, Brandon L.
• Gullo, Carmine R.
• Johnson, Daniel
• Kane, Paul V.
• Kennedy, John F.
• Schmitt, Aloysius
• Williams, James E.

Wiese, Paul C.

References

1. ^ MilitaryTimes Hall of Valor. The database on the Internet is maintained by the Gannett Company [1]