Enter a player name to begin or load your saved progress.
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal was officially established by Congressional act in 1919.
Answer: True
Explanation: Public Law 253, enacted by Congress on February 4, 1919, formally established the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
The inaugural award of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal was presented to an officer from the United States Army in 1920.
Answer: False
Explanation: The first Navy Distinguished Service Medal was awarded posthumously to Brigadier General Charles A. Doyen of the U.S. Marine Corps in 1919.
The legislative establishment of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal included a retroactive application to the commencement of World War I.
Answer: True
Explanation: The law establishing the medal made it retroactive to April 6, 1917, the date the United States entered World War I.
Prior to the establishment of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Navy Cross, the Medal of Honor served as the sole naval decoration recognizing acts of heroism.
Answer: True
Explanation: Before the creation of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Navy Cross, the Medal of Honor was the only decoration available within the Department of the Navy for acts of heroism.
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Navy Cross were instituted to acknowledge acts of heroism that did not meet the criteria for the Medal of Honor.
Answer: True
Explanation: Both the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and the Navy Cross were established to provide recognition for acts of valor and service that fell below the threshold for the Medal of Honor.
By what legislative act and in what year was the Navy Distinguished Service Medal officially established?
Answer: February 4, 1919
Explanation: The Navy Distinguished Service Medal was established by Public Law 253 on February 4, 1919.
Identify the recipient of the inaugural Navy Distinguished Service Medal award.
Answer: Brigadier General Charles A. Doyen
Explanation: The first Navy Distinguished Service Medal was awarded posthumously to Brigadier General Charles A. Doyen of the U.S. Marine Corps.
To what date was the establishment of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal retroactively applied?
Answer: April 6, 1917
Explanation: The establishment of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal was made retroactive to April 6, 1917, the date of U.S. entry into World War I.
What was the principal objective in establishing the Navy Distinguished Service Medal concurrently with the Navy Cross?
Answer: To provide recognition for service and valor below the Medal of Honor threshold.
Explanation: Both medals were created to offer recognition for acts of valor and service that fell below the stringent criteria for the Medal of Honor, establishing distinct awards for heroism and distinguished service.
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal recognizes exceptionally meritorious service, not merely satisfactory performance.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is awarded for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility, distinguishing it from satisfactory performance.
Eligibility for the Navy Distinguished Service Medal is restricted solely to members of the United States Navy.
Answer: False
Explanation: While primarily awarded to Navy personnel, the medal is also awarded to members of the United States Marine Corps.
The criteria for awarding the Navy Distinguished Service Medal include service that is merely routine, provided it is performed with great responsibility.
Answer: False
Explanation: The award requires exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility, not merely routine service.
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is typically awarded exclusively to junior officers.
Answer: False
Explanation: The medal is typically awarded to senior Navy flag officers and Marine Corps general officers, not junior officers.
Navy captains and Marine Corps colonels are eligible for the medal, provided they held positions of minor responsibility.
Answer: False
Explanation: While typically awarded to senior officers, Navy captains and Marine Corps colonels may receive the medal in rare instances, usually upon retirement, provided they held positions of significant responsibility.
Subsequent bestowals of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal are denoted through the use of oak leaf clusters.
Answer: False
Explanation: Subsequent awards of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal are indicated by the addition of gold and silver stars to the suspension and service ribbons, not oak leaf clusters.
The criterion 'great responsibility' suggests that the recipient occupied a position with minimal operational impact.
Answer: False
Explanation: The phrase 'great responsibility' signifies that the recipient held a senior position involving significant command, leadership, or influence, where their actions had a substantial impact on operations or objectives.
A 'Notable recipients' list within the source material enumerates every individual who has ever received the award.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 'Notable recipients' list is explicitly noted as being incomplete, indicating it does not include all individuals who have received the award.
What category of service is recognized by the Navy Distinguished Service Medal?
Answer: Exceptional meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility.
Explanation: The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is awarded for exceptionally meritorious service rendered to the United States in a duty of great responsibility.
To which category of personnel is the Navy Distinguished Service Medal typically awarded?
Answer: Senior Navy flag officers and Marine Corps general officers.
Explanation: The medal is typically awarded to senior Navy flag officers and Marine Corps general officers, though exceptionally senior enlisted personnel may also be eligible.
By what means are subsequent awards of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal indicated on the ribbon?
Answer: By adding gold and silver stars.
Explanation: Multiple awards of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal are indicated by the addition of gold and silver 5/16 inch stars worn on the suspension and service ribbons.
Which of the following individuals is typically NOT considered eligible for the Navy Distinguished Service Medal?
Answer: A Navy Lieutenant Commander
Explanation: The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is typically awarded to senior officers (flag officers and generals) and exceptionally senior enlisted personnel. A Lieutenant Commander is generally below the typical rank threshold for this award.
What does the criterion 'duty of great responsibility' imply in the context of this award?
Answer: The recipient must have held a senior position with significant impact.
Explanation: The criterion 'duty of great responsibility' implies that the recipient held a senior position with significant command or leadership impact, rather than merely routine duties.
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is constructed from silver and possesses a diameter of two inches.
Answer: False
Explanation: The medal is made of gilt bronze and measures 1.25 inches (32 mm) in diameter.
The obverse (front) side of the medal is characterized by the presence of a trident and laurel wreath.
Answer: False
Explanation: The obverse side of the medal features an American bald eagle, while the reverse side depicts a trident surrounded by a laurel wreath.
The inscription 'FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE' appears on the reverse side of the medal.
Answer: True
Explanation: The reverse side of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal is inscribed with the words 'FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE'.
The service ribbon of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal is predominantly yellow, accented by a navy blue stripe.
Answer: False
Explanation: The service ribbon for the Navy Distinguished Service Medal is primarily navy blue with a single, central yellow stripe.
The laurel wreath depicted on the reverse of the medal symbolizes victory and achievement.
Answer: True
Explanation: The laurel wreath is a classical symbol representing honor, victory, and achievement, underscoring the distinguished nature of the service recognized by the medal.
The anchor symbol featured on the medal is a direct representation of the United States Marine Corps.
Answer: False
Explanation: The anchor is a prominent symbol representing the United States Navy, not the Marine Corps.
The scroll waves depicted on the medal are understood to symbolize the Army's role in warfare.
Answer: False
Explanation: The scroll waves likely symbolize the maritime environment and naval forces, reinforcing the medal's connection to sea service.
The term 'gilt bronze' signifies that the medal is composed entirely of solid gold.
Answer: False
Explanation: 'Gilt bronze' indicates that the medal is constructed from a bronze alloy coated with a layer of gold, not that it is made of solid gold.
What is the specified diameter of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal?
Answer: 1.25 inches (32 mm)
Explanation: The Navy Distinguished Service Medal measures 1.25 inches (32 mm) in diameter.
What symbol is prominently featured on the obverse (front) side of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal?
Answer: An American bald eagle with spread wings
Explanation: The obverse side of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal features an American bald eagle with spread wings.
What specific inscription is present on the reverse side of the medal?
Answer: FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
Explanation: The reverse side of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal bears the inscription 'FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE'.
What is the symbolic meaning of the laurel wreath depicted on the reverse of the medal?
Answer: Honor, victory, and achievement
Explanation: The laurel wreath is a classical symbol representing honor, victory, and achievement, signifying the distinguished nature of the service being recognized.
What does the term 'gilt bronze' imply regarding the medal's construction and appearance?
Answer: It is a bronze alloy coated with a layer of gold.
Explanation: The term 'gilt bronze' indicates that the medal is composed of a bronze alloy that has been coated with a layer of gold.
What colors comprise the service ribbon of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal?
Answer: Navy blue with a single yellow stripe
Explanation: The service ribbon of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal is characterized by a primary navy blue color with a single, central yellow stripe.
What is a potential symbolic representation of the scroll waves featured on the medal's design?
Answer: The maritime environment and naval forces
Explanation: The scroll waves on the medal are interpreted as symbolizing the maritime environment and the naval forces, reinforcing its connection to sea service.
What is the potential symbolism attributed to the navy blue and yellow colors of the service ribbon?
Answer: Blue is associated with naval service, and yellow may represent distinction.
Explanation: While not explicitly defined, the navy blue color of the ribbon is associated with naval service, and the yellow stripe may symbolize distinction or a specific naval tradition.
In its initial establishment, the Navy Cross was accorded a higher precedence than the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
Answer: False
Explanation: Initially, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal held a higher precedence than the Navy Cross.
Congressional action in 1942 resulted in a reversal of the precedence order between the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and the Navy Cross.
Answer: True
Explanation: The precedence between the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and the Navy Cross was officially reversed by Congressional action on August 7, 1942.
In the current order of precedence, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal is ranked below the Silver Star Medal.
Answer: False
Explanation: Currently, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal ranks higher in precedence than the Silver Star Medal, being worn after the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and before the Silver Star.
Equivalent Distinguished Service Medals to that of the Navy are also awarded by the United States Army and Air Force.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard each possess their own Distinguished Service Medal, which is considered equivalent in status to the Navy's.
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is the sole Distinguished Service Medal conferred by the United States military.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard also award their own Distinguished Service Medals, considered equivalent in status to the Navy's.
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is awarded for heroism, whereas the Navy Cross recognizes distinguished service.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Navy Distinguished Service Medal recognizes exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility, while the Navy Cross is primarily awarded for heroism.
Which military branches are explicitly noted for possessing a Distinguished Service Medal equivalent in status to that of the Navy?
Answer: Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard
Explanation: The Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard are mentioned as branches that award a Distinguished Service Medal considered equivalent in status to the Navy's.
Which medal, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal or the Navy Cross, was initially accorded higher precedence?
Answer: The Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Explanation: Initially, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal held a higher precedence than the Navy Cross.
Within the current order of precedence for U.S. military awards, after which award is the Navy Distinguished Service Medal worn?
Answer: Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Explanation: In the current order of precedence, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal is worn after the Defense Distinguished Service Medal.
In the current order of precedence, following the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal is worn before which subsequent award?
Answer: Silver Star Medal
Explanation: The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is worn in precedence after the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and immediately before the Silver Star Medal.
Based on the provided information, which statement best delineates the difference between the Navy DSM and the Navy Cross?
Answer: DSM is for service in great responsibility, Navy Cross is primarily for heroism.
Explanation: The Navy Distinguished Service Medal recognizes exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility, whereas the Navy Cross is primarily awarded for heroism.
The legislative basis for the Navy Distinguished Service Medal is found within Title 10 of the United States Code.
Answer: True
Explanation: The establishment of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal is codified within Title 10 of the U.S. Code, specifically Chapter 567, Section 6243.
The United States Department of the Army is the entity responsible for presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is presented by the United States Department of the Navy.
Which section within the United States Code pertains to the establishment of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal?
Answer: Title 10, Chapter 567, Section 6243
Explanation: The establishment of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal is addressed in Title 10 of the U.S. Code, specifically within Chapter 567, Section 6243.
By which specific governmental department is the Navy Distinguished Service Medal awarded?
Answer: United States Navy
Explanation: The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is awarded by the United States Department of the Navy.