Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-02-03
Origin VAmerican
Military Decorations
Prepared and Issued by
The National Geographic Society

In view OF the current discussion
in Congress concerning the awards
made by the American Government
for distinguished services and acts
of heroism during the World War, the
National Geographic Society has issu-
ed the following bulletin giving the
history of the three Army awards now
bestowed and setting forth the cir
cumstances under which they are
given:
In nearly all the countries which
are included under the term of Great
Powers decorations for distinguished
service rendered to the State take
precedence over those awarded for
acts of valor, this on the theory that
the services of statesmen. generals,
and other public men high in the
councils of the nation are of more
importance, n therefore deserve
higher reward than do individual acts
of g~allantry on the battlefield" says
the bulletin which is based on a COM
munication to The Society Of Col.
Robert e. Wyllie, U. S. A.
The exceptions to this rule are
Great Britain and the United States,
in both of which countries the pri-
mary valor decoration takes prece-
dence over all others, n 1t Is worthy
of note that the standards set for
these two rewards are not only high
Cl lttoA Al ShJ olhSA ooS
they are also more vigorously ap-
piled.
Awards of the Victoria Cross
/ (British) and of the Medal of Honor
(American) are so rare and so jealous
ly guarded that they are u~ndoubted-
ly the two highest honors which can
be bestowed for valor and this may
serve to explain why they are placed
first in their respective countries, ON
trary to the>custom of all Others. An
additional resemblance is that neither
is aver bestowed on a foreigner. The
Victoria Cross Is limited to British
subjects by royal decree; in the case
of the Medal of Honor, there is no
law prohibiting it's award to a foreign
err, but it has never been done, and
custom is sometimes more thai acts
of Congress.
1.-The Medal of Honor was instituted
by act of Congress in 1861 and was
the earliest American decoration.
However. it applied at that time only
to enlisted men of the Navy. In the
following year enlisted men of the
Army were included. and by an act
approved March 3, 1863. It's provis-
ions were extended to include officers
in the Army, but ava officers were
not eligible for this decoration until
1915.
.The conditions under which the
ARMY Aieudl Oh I1OIlOI may ne dWdlu-
ed ave been changed from time to
time. Today the law provides that:
The President is authorized to
ipresent, in the name of Congress. a
Medal of Honor only to each person
who, while an officer OF enlisted man
of the Army, shall hereafter, in action
Involving actual conflict with an
,enemy, distinguish himself conspicu-
lously by g~allantry and intrepidity al
the risk of his life, above and beyond
the call of duty
THE Distinguished Service Medal
1.-THE American decoration which Ii
second only to the Medal of Honor
Ican be awarded by the President to
l'any person who, while serving in any
States, shall distinguish himself oil
herself by specially merftorious SER
vice to the government in a duty OF
great responsibility The Distinguish
ed Service Medal for the Navy Is
awarded under exactly the same con
Iditions as for the Army and was es-
Itablished by act of Congress in Feb
lruary, 1919.
1T should be noted that the SER
vices to be rewarded with this decor
lation do not have to be rendered al
THE front, much less in action. the
Requirement of great responsibility be-
ing the governing factor. 1t was In
tended to be used In the same way
as the Legion of Honor of France and
other similar orders with which
European countries reward the great
leaders of their military and naval
forces.
1.-THE institution of the Distinguish
ed Service Medal in the Army of the
United States was in recognition of the
fact that in an army of modern times
lall the fighting is not done on the
fighting front, but that those who ser,
we'd by way of preparing others and
Those whose services were specially
necessary in association with military
Operations are equally serving in the
cause.
1.-The Distinguished Service Cross Ii
purely an Army decoration and is be
slowed as a reward for individual
lacts of extraordinary heroism in con-
Injection with military operation.
against an armed enemy not war
lranting the award of the Medal Of
Honor.
1T is indicative of the growing rec
tognition of the important position o.
women In the modern state h a botf
1.-The Distinguished Service Medal and
the Distinguished Service Cross hav
ibeen awarded to women"