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The Pinnacle of Naval Service

An academic exploration of the United States Navy's highest non-combat award for meritorious service, detailing its history, criteria, appearance, and notable recipients.

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Medal Overview

Distinguished Recognition

The Navy Distinguished Service Medal stands as a premier military decoration within the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. Established in 1919, it is conferred upon Sailors and Marines who have rendered exceptionally meritorious service to the United States government in a capacity of significant responsibility.[6]

Inter-Service Equivalence

This esteemed award is recognized as equivalent to similar high-level service medals across other branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. It mirrors the Distinguished Service Medal awarded by the U.S. Army, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal.[1]

Precedence and Standing

Historically, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal initially held a higher precedence than the Navy Cross. However, following Congressional action on August 7, 1942, this order was reversed. Currently, it is worn after the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and precedes the Silver Star Medal in the order of wear.[7][5]

Historical Context

Genesis During World War I

The inception of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, alongside the Navy Cross, was a direct response to the needs identified during World War I. Prior to this, the Medal of Honor was the sole decoration available for recognizing acts of valor. The new awards were created by Public Law 253 on February 4, 1919, to acknowledge distinguished service and heroism at levels below that required for the Medal of Honor. The law retroactively applied the award's eligibility to April 6, 1917.[4]

First Award and Precedence Shift

The inaugural presentation of the medal was made posthumously to Brigadier General Charles A. Doyen of the U.S. Marine Corps on March 13, 1919. As previously noted, its initial placement in the order of precedence was above the Navy Cross, a distinction that was later altered by legislative action.[4]

Award Criteria

Defining Exceptional Service

The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is awarded for service that is exceptionally meritorious and performed in a duty of great responsibility. The performance must demonstrably exceed the standard expectations for the role and contribute significantly to the success of a major command or project.[2]

Eligibility and Application

While generally bestowed upon officers holding principal commands at sea or in the field, the criteria do not preclude its award to any individual meeting the service requirements. The term "great responsibility" typically signifies senior military leadership roles. Consequently, it is most frequently awarded to senior Navy flag officers and Marine Corps general officers, as well as extremely senior enlisted positions like the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy or the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.[2]

Exceptional Circumstances

In rare instances, the medal has been presented to Navy captains and Marine Corps colonels. Such awards are typically made under exceptional circumstances, often upon retirement, and usually for individuals serving in positions of significant responsibility directly supporting senior leadership.[2]

Medal Design

Obverse and Reverse Details

The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is crafted from gilt bronze, measuring 1.25 inches in diameter. The obverse (front) features a stylized American bald eagle with outstretched wings, symbolizing national strength and vigilance. The eagle clutches an olive branch in its right talon and arrows in its left. Encircling the eagle is a blue enameled ring inscribed with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" at the top and "NAVY" at the bottom. This ring is bordered by gold scroll waves moving clockwise. A white, five-pointed star, tipped with gold balls, surmounts the medal, with a blue anchor at its center and gold rays emanating between the star's arms.[4]

Symbolic Elements

The reverse (back) of the medal displays a trident encircled by a laurel wreath, symbolizing authority and achievement. The wreath is enclosed by a blue enameled ring bearing the inscription "FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE." Similar to the obverse, the blue enamel ring on the reverse is also surrounded by scroll waves.[4]

Suspension and Service Ribbon

The suspension and service ribbon for the medal is characterized by a deep navy blue field, bisected by a single central stripe of yellow. Subsequent awards of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal are indicated by the addition of gold and silver 5/16 inch stars affixed to both the suspension ribbon and the service ribbon.[2]

Notable Recipients

Distinguished Individuals

The Navy Distinguished Service Medal has been awarded to numerous distinguished individuals throughout its history. The list of recipients includes many prominent figures in naval and military leadership. While an exhaustive enumeration is beyond the scope of this overview, notable recipients often include individuals who have held command positions during critical periods or have made significant contributions to naval strategy, operations, and policy.

  • James F. Amos (2 awards)
  • Edwin Anderson Jr.
  • George W. Anderson (2 awards)
  • John C. Aquilino (2 awards)
  • David Architzel (2 awards)
  • Jackson D. Arnold
  • Stanley R. Arthur (3 awards)
  • Bernard L. Austin (3 awards)
  • Lee Baggett Jr. (2 awards)
  • David W. Bagley
  • Worth H. Bagley
  • Ralph A. Bard
  • George Barnett
  • Micheal Barrett
  • Robert H. Barrow
  • Reginald R. Belknap
  • William S. Benson
  • Delbert Black
  • William H. P. Blandy (4 awards)
  • Walter F. Boone
  • Jeremy M. Boorda (4 awards)
  • Frank L. Bowman
  • Alpha L. Bowser
  • Omar Bradley
  • Ted N. Branch
  • Robert P. Briscoe
  • Mark L. Bristol
  • George S. Brown
  • Miles Browning
  • Arleigh Burke (3 awards)
  • James B. Busey IV (3 awards)
  • Duane R. Bushey
  • John D. Butler
  • Smedley Butler
  • Richard E. Byrd (2 awards)
  • James F. Caldwell Jr. (2 awards)
  • Albert M. Calland III
  • Joe Campa
  • William B. Caperton
  • Robert B. Carney (4 awards)
  • Worrall Reed Carter
  • Clifton B. Cates (2 awards)
  • Leonard F. Chapman Jr. (3 awards)
  • Jehu V. Chase
  • Claire L. Chennault
  • Henry G. Chiles Jr.
  • Albert T. Church III
  • Bernard A. Clarey (5 awards)
  • Vern Clark (3 awards)
  • Archie R. Clemins (3 awards)
  • Robert E. Cleary
  • Bruce DeMars
  • Nanette M. DeRenzi
  • Martin Dempsey
  • Louis E. Denfeld
  • Robert L. Dennison
  • Vincent P. de Poix (3 awards)
  • Louis R. de Steiguer
  • Kirkland H. Donald (3 awards)
  • Walter Doran (2 awards)
  • Charles A. Doyen
  • Charles K. Duncan
  • Kevin M. Donegan (2 awards)
  • Joseph Dunford
  • Charles W. Dyson
  • Edward W. Eberle
  • Thomas A. Edison
  • Leon A. Edney (2 awards)
  • Richard S. Edwards
  • Robert L. Eichelberger (4 awards)
  • Dwight D. Eisenhower
  • James O. Ellis
  • Edward Ellsberg
  • John L. Estrada
  • Craig S. Faller
  • William J. Fallon
  • Thomas B. Fargo (4 awards)
  • William Fechteler (2 awards)
  • Harry D. Felt (2 awards)
  • Mark E. Ferguson III (3 awards)
  • Jason K. Fettig
  • James Fife (3 awards)
  • James R. Fitzgerald (2 awards)
  • Mark P. Fitzgerald (2 awards)
  • William J. Flanagan Jr.
  • Frank F. Fletcher
  • Frank J. Fletcher
  • Lisa Franchetti
  • James G. Foggo III (2 awards)
  • Sylvester R. Foley Jr. (2 awards)
  • Ignatius J. Galantin
  • Daniel V. Gallery
  • Roy Alexander Gano
  • Noel A. M. Gayler (2 awards)
  • Edmund P. Giambastiani (5 awards)
  • Albert Gleaves
  • William E. Gortney (2 awards)
  • Christopher W. Grady
  • Alfred M. Gray Jr. (2 awards)
  • Collin P. Green
  • Jonathan W. Greenert (6 awards)
  • Wallace M. Greene (2 awards)
  • Charles D. Griffin (2 awards)
  • John Hagan
  • Alexander Haig
  • John L. Hall, Jr.
  • William F. Halsey, Jr. (4 awards)
  • Cecil D. Haney (2 awards)
  • Huntington Hardisty
  • Harry B. Harris Jr. (3 awards)
  • Thomas C. Hart (2 awards)
  • John C. Harvey Jr. (2 awards)
  • Ronald J. Hays (3 awards)
  • Thomas B. Hayward (3 awards)
  • Arthur Japy Hepburn
  • James L. Herdt
  • Diego E. Hernรกndez
  • H. Kent Hewitt (2 awards)
  • Frank T. Hines
  • Thomas Holcomb
  • James L. Holloway Jr.
  • James L. Holloway III (4 awards)
  • Ephraim P. Holmes
  • Wilfred Holmes
  • James R. Hogg (2 awards)
  • Herbert G. Hopwood
  • Frederick J. Horne
  • Michelle Howard (2 awards)
  • Charles F. Hughes
  • John Hyland (2 awards)
  • Royal E. Ingersoll
  • Stuart H. Ingersoll (2 awards)
  • Jonas H. Ingram (3 awards)
  • Bobby Inman
  • David E. Jeremiah (5 awards)
  • Jay L. Johnson
  • Jerome L. Johnson
  • Means Johnston Jr. (2 awards)
  • David C. Jones
  • Hilary P. Jones
  • Sara A. Joyner
  • Timothy J. Keating (2 awards)
  • Frank B. Kelso II (3 awards)
  • Paul X. Kelley
  • Carlton W. Kent
  • Joseph D. Kernan (2 awards)
  • Margaret G. Kibben
  • Isaac C. Kidd Jr. (3 awards)
  • Ernest J. King (3 awards)
  • Tracy W. King (2 awards)
  • Thomas C. Kinkaid (3 awards)
  • George E. R. Kinnear II (2 awards)
  • John Kirby
  • Alan G. Kirk
  • Austin M. Knight
  • Charles C. Krulak (2 awards)
  • Henry Louis Larsen (2 awards)
  • Charles R. Larson (7 awards)
  • Edwin T. Layton
  • William D. Leahy (3 awards)
  • Julien J. LeBourgeois (2 awards)
  • Lewis G. Lee
  • Willis A. Lee (2 awards)
  • John A. Lejeune
  • Lyman Lemnitzer
  • Samuel J. Locklear (2 awards)
  • Charles A. Lockwood (3 awards)
  • Robert L. J. Long (2 awards)
  • Thomas J. Lopez (2 awards)
  • James Lyons (2 awards)
  • Douglas MacArthur
  • Harold M. Martin
  • James N. Mattis
  • Henry H. Mauz Jr. (3 awards)
  • Henry T. Mayo
  • Mildred H. McAfee
  • John S. McCain Sr. (3 awards)
  • John S. McCain Jr. (2 awards)
  • Keith B. McCutcheon (3 awards)
  • David L. McDonald (2 awards)
  • Wesley L. McDonald (2 awards)
  • Kinnaird R. McKee
  • Alford L. McMichael
  • Joseph V. Medina
  • George E. Mayer
  • Wayne E. Meyer
  • Frederick H. Michaelis (2 awards)
  • Richard W. Mies
  • Paul D. Miller (3 awards)
  • Marc Mitscher (3 awards)
  • Ben Moreell (2 awards)
  • Thomas H. Moorer (5 awards)
  • William F. Moran (2 awards)
  • Michael Mullen (2 awards)
  • Carl E. Mundy Jr.
  • Charles L. Munns (2 awards)
  • Orin G. Murfin
  • Daniel J. Murphy
  • Dennis J. Murphy
  • John Murtha
  • Richard Myers
  • John B. Nathman (4 awards)
  • Robert J. Natter (5 awards)
  • Wendell C. Neville (2 awards)
  • Chester W. Nimitz (4 awards)
  • Eric T. Olson
  • William A. Owens (2 awards)
  • Peter Pace
  • Randolph M. Pate
  • Frank E. Petersen
  • Donald L. Pilling
  • William H. Plackett
  • John Cyril Porte
  • Carol M. Pottenger
  • Colin Powell
  • William V. Pratt
  • Joseph W. Prueher
  • Sean A. Pybus
  • Arthur W. Radford (4 awards)
  • Marion Frederic Ramรญrez de Arellano
  • DeWitt Clinton Ramsey (2 awards)
  • J. Paul Reason
  • Joseph M. Reeves
  • Eli T. Reich (2 awards)
  • John M. Richardson (3 awards)
  • Claude V. Ricketts
  • Hyman G. Rickover (3 awards)
  • Herbert D. Riley
  • Maurice H. Rindskopf
  • Horacio Rivero Jr. (3 awards)
  • Joseph Rochefort
  • Carson Abel Roberts
  • Louis Robertshaw
  • Samuel M. Robinson
  • Hugh Rodman
  • Bernard W. Rogers
  • Michael S. Rogers
  • Gary Roughead (2 awards)
  • Ross E. Rowell
  • James S. Russell (2 awards)
  • John H. Russell Jr.
  • Billy C. Sanders
  • Walter M. Schirra
  • Harry Schmidt (3 awards)
  • Terry D. Scott
  • David F. Sellers
  • Benedict J. Semmes, Jr.
  • James E. Service
  • Sumner Shapiro
  • U. S. Grant Sharp Jr. (2 awards)
  • Harold E. Shear (2 awards)
  • Alan Shepard
  • Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr.
  • Forrest P. Sherman
  • Eric Shinseki
  • David M. Shoup
  • John H. Sides
  • William Sims
  • William N. Small (2 awards)
  • Edward H. Smith
  • Leighton W. Smith Jr.
  • Harold Page Smith
  • Holland M. Smith (4 awards)
  • William D. Smith (2 awards)
  • David W. Sommers
  • Raymond A. Spruance (3 awards)
  • William H. Standley
  • Harold R. Stark (3 awards)
  • James G. Stavridis
  • Clark Daniel Stearns
  • Michael D. Stevens
  • Vincent R. Stewart
  • James Stockdale (3 awards)
  • Joseph C. Strasser
  • Joseph Strauss
  • Lewis Strauss
  • William O. Studeman
  • Felix Stump
  • Scott H. Swift (3 awards)
  • David W. Taylor
  • Montgomery M. Taylor
  • John S. Thach (2 awards)
  • Kurt W. Tidd
  • Jan E. Tighe
  • John H. Towers
  • Patricia Ann Tracey
  • Harry D. Train II (4 awards)
  • Carlisle Trost (3 awards)
  • Jeffrey E. Trussler
  • Richmond K. Turner (4 awards)
  • Stansfield Turner
  • Nathan F. Twining
  • Pedro del Valle
  • Alexander Vandegrift
  • John W. Vessey Jr.
  • Russell R. Waesche
  • Robert Walker
  • Patrick M. Walsh (3 awards)
  • Thomas Washington
  • James D. Watkins (3 awards)
  • John P. Weinel (4 awards)
  • Maurice F. Weisner (4 awards)
  • Edward F. Welch, Jr.
  • Waldemar F.A. Wendt (3 awards)
  • Robert Wertheim (2 awards)
  • Rick West
  • Steven A. White
  • John Whittet
  • Alfred J. Whittle Jr. (2 awards)
  • Henry A. Wiley
  • Charles E. Wilhelm
  • Theodore S. Wilkinson
  • Robert F. Willard (3 awards)
  • Henry B. Wilson
  • James A. Winnefeld, Jr.
  • Clark H. Woodward (2 awards)
  • Jerauld Wright (2 awards)
  • Harry E. Yarnell
  • James A. Zimble
  • Anthony Zinni
  • Ronald J. Zlatoper
  • Elmo Zumwalt (3 awards)

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References

References

  1.  USS Norris Ship's Captains: LeBourgeois '59-'61
A full list of references for this article are available at the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Wikipedia page

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Academic Disclaimer

Important Notice for Learners

This content has been generated by an Artificial Intelligence system, drawing exclusively from the provided source material. It is intended for academic and informational purposes, aiming to provide a structured and comprehensive understanding of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for students at the Master's degree level and higher.

This is not official military guidance or a substitute for professional consultation. The information presented herein is based on publicly available data and may not encompass all nuances or updates. Always refer to official U.S. Navy and Department of Defense directives for authoritative information regarding military awards and regulations.

The creators of this educational resource are not liable for any inaccuracies, omissions, or actions taken based on the information provided.