Evening star., 1920-02-01
FEATURESOF. NAVY
AWARDS DESCRIBED
Three Classes of Decorations
for Service Clearly
Defined.

The controversy about the bestowal
of decorations upon naval heroes of
the war lends interest to the his
tory of the three Navy awards now
made, which is related in the follow
ing bulletin from the National Geo
graphic Society:
''The Navy medal was changed in 1862
to bestow it on 'seamen distinguish
ing themselves in battle or for ex-
traordinary heroism in the line of
their profession This eliminated
'seamanlike qualities and confined it
to heroism. but it will be noted that
1t permitted the granting of the re-
ward for heroism at other times than
In action. and some medals of honor
have been so given in the Navy. This
condition lasted until February. 1919,
when the wording of the Army con-
ditions was adopted for the Navy
also. so that the medal of honor, the
highest award in the Army, and the
same footing.
Earliest Decoration.
"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. 1853. its provisions
the Army, but naval officers We're not
eligible for this decoration until 1919.
'The conditions under which the
medal of honor may be AWARDED nave
been changed from time to time py
various laws. The first, that OF 1861,
authorized the bestowal upon such
enlisted men of the Navy as shall
most distinguish thmselves by their
ealIantry in action and other seaman
like qualities during the present
war The act of the following year.
which applied to the Army. read the
same except that Seamanlike' was re-
placed by 'soldierlike' and the war
termed an insurrection.
"In it's original conception, there
fore, the medal of honor was not
limited to heroism, much less to nero
ism in action. as seamanlike or sol.
dierlike qualities could be rewarded
with this medal However, this did not
last long The Army conditions were
changed in 1868, so as to bestoW the
m edal on those who have most dls-
tinguished or may hereafter most
distinguish themselves in action This
absolutely limited it to services in ac-
ton. and the conditions were made
more stringent later.
other Decorations.
THE distinguished service medal for
the Navy is awarded under exactly
the same conditions as for the Army,
and was established by act OF Con-
gress, in February, 1919. The distin-
guished service medal ranks next to
the medal of honor.
1T should be noted that the services
to be rewarded with this decoration
do not have to be rendered at the
front, much less in action. the require
ment of great responsibility being the
governing factor. 1t should also be
observed that this decoration can be
awarded to women.
1.-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 distinguished him
self by extraordinary herOism. Or ny
distinguished service not just''
the award of the medal of
the distinguished service n
Differs From Army CrosS.
"The difference between this and the
distinguished service cross Of the
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 peace, in
1t is a junior decoration 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 rewarded.
The medal of honor is the appropriate
reward for extraordinary valor in ac-
ton, the distinguished service medal
for any other specially distinguished
services and the Navy cross for any
meritorious service, of whatever
character. of a lesser degree"