South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-11
Navy Medals and
Why They Are Given

WASHINGTON. p. c.. Feb 10
The controversy about the bestowal
Of decorations upon naval heroes Of
the war lends interest 10 the his
toy OF the three navy awards now
made. which is related In the fol-
lowing bulletin from the National
Geographic society.
The navy medal was changed in
1852 20 bestow 70 on seaman dis
tinguishing themselves in battle or
Ter extraordinary heroism in the
line Of their profession This elm
mated 'seananlike qualities and
confined II To herolsrn, out Il will
be noted that II PERMITTED the grant
ing OF the reward FOR heroism at
other times than in action. and
number OF medals OF honor have
been 20 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 he medal OF honor, the
highest award IN the army. and the
navy medal are now on exactly the
same footing.
Medal OF Honor.
The medal OF honor was insti-
tuted by act Of congress in 1861 and
was the earliest American decora-
ton. However. Il applied at that
time only 10 enlisted men of the
navy. IN the following year enlisted
men OF the army were included, and
by an act approved March 3, 1863.
its provisions we're extended 20 in
clude 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 by various laws. The first, that
OF 1851. authorized the bestowal up
on such enlisted men OF the navy
as shall most distinguish themselves
by their gallRntry in action and
other seamanlfke qualities during
following year. which applied 20 the
army. read the same, except that
'seamanlike' was replaced by sol
disrlike' and the war was termed an
instruction
I'm it's original conception. there
fore, the medal OF honor was not
limited 10 heroism. much less to
heroism I'm action, as seamanli1e or
soldierlike qualities could be re-
r warded with this medal However,
this did not last long. The army
conditions were changed fl 1863, so
as to bestow the medal on those who
have most distinguished or may
hereafter most distinguish them
selves in action This absolutely
limited II to services in action, and
the conditions were made more
stringent later.
Distinguished Service Medal.
The distinguished service medal
for the navy Is awarded under exact
~ the same conditions as for the
army and was established by an act
OF congress in February. 1919. The
distinguished service medal ranks
next 10 the medal Of honor
EFT should be noted that the ser
vices 20 be rewarded with this
decoration do not have TO be rem
dered at the front much less I'M ac-
ton. the requirement of great re-
spondsibility being the governing
factor nc should aIsu Dc observed
that this decoration can be award
ed 60 women.
- 1.-The NAVY Cross was authorized
by the same law that established
fhe Navy Distinguished Service
Medal. and il can be awarded 20
amy one in the naval service who
distnSuishes himself bv extraor-
diuary heroism or by distinguished
service not justifying the award OF
tGe Medal of Honor or the Dis
tinguishod Service Medal
Includes Distinguished service.
1.-The difference between this and
tho Distinguished Service Cross of
the army should bee noted The army
decoration Is given only for heroism
i'm action. The Navy Cross is much