Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-02-12
ENLISTED MEN GOT
 MEDALS, BUT THAT WASLOkC, LONG AGO
National Geographic Society Gives Interesting Data
 on Decorations

t, Washington, Feb. 7.--The contro- versy about the bcstowal of decora- tion upon naval heroes of the war lends interest to the history of the three navy awards now authorized. which is related in the following bull letin from the National Geographic Society:
 "The navy medal was changed in 1862 to bestow it on 'seamen distin- gushing themselves in battle or for extraordinary heroism in the line of their profession.' This eliminated seamenlike qualities and confined 1t to heroism, but permitted the grant ing of the reward for heroism at other times tha min action, and q number of medals of honor have been so given in the navy This condition lasted until February, 1919, when the wording of the army conditions was adopted for the navy also.
 Was Changed in 1862.
 "The Medal of Honor was institut- ed by Congress in 1861, and was the earliest American decoration. How ever, it applied at that time only to enlisted men of the navy. In the fol- lowing year enlisted men of the army were included, and by an act ap- proved March 3, 1863, it's provisions were extended to include officers in the army, but naval officers were not eligible for this decoration until 1915.
 "The conditions under which the Medal of Honor may be awarded have been changed from time to time. The first, that of 1861, authorizing the bestowal upon such enlisted men fthe navy 'as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in ac- tion and other seamanlikc qualities during the present war, The act of the following year, which applied to the army, read the same, except that 'seamanlike' was replaced by an. 'lnsurrection.'
 fore, the Medal of Honor was not roism in action, as seamanlike or soldierlike qualities could be re warded with this medal. However, this did not last long. The army conditions were changed in 1863, so as to bestow the medal on those who 'have most distinguished or may hereafter most distinguish them selves in action This limited it to services in action, and the conditions were made more stringent later. 1 "The Distinguished Service Medal for the navy is awarded under ex- actly the same conditions as for the army and was established by Con- gress in. February, 1919. The Dis tinguished Service Medal ranks next i to the Medal of Honor.
 May Be Given to Women.
 "It should be noted that the serv- ices to be rewarded with this decor alton do not have to be renderer at the front, much less in action, the requirement. of great responsibility being the governing factor. It should also be observed that this decoration can be awarded to women.
 "The navy Cross was authorized by the same law that established the navy Distinguished Service Medal, and it can be awarded to any one in the naval service who distinguishes himself by extraordinary heroism or by distinguished service not justify ing the award of the Medal of Honor or the Distinguished Service Medal.
 }"The difference between this and the Distinguished Service Cross of the army should be noted. The army decoration is given only for heroism in action The navy Cross is much broader in scope and, in addition to heroism in action, it includes any other distinguished service, not only in time of war but also in time of peace, in, the theater of hostilities or elsewhere. It is junior decora. tion to both the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Medal.
 "These three naval decorations cover the whole possible gamut of ' services which should be retarded .tThe Medal of Honor is the appropri- 4 ate reward for, extraordinary yalor in action, the Distinguished Service j medal for any other specially distin- { guished services, and the Navy Cross flor any meritorious service, of what. ' eyer character, of lesser degree