Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the second highest military decoration for valor that may be awarded to a member of the United States Navy , Marine Corps , or Coast Guard ( when operating under the Department of the Navy ) for extraordinary heroism in combat . It is equivalent to the Army ' s Distinguished Service Cross , the Air Force ' s Air Force Cross and the Coast Guard ' s Coast Guard Cross . The Navy Cross is bestowed by the Secretary of the Navy and may also be awarded to members of the other armed services , and to foreign military personnel while serving with the U . S . naval services . The Navy Cross was established by Act of Congress ( ) and approved on February 4 , 1919 . History . The Navy Cross was instituted in part due to the entrance of the United States into World War I . Many European nations had the custom of decorating heroes from other nations , but the Medal of Honor was the sole American award for valor at the time . The Army instituted the Distinguished Service Cross and Distinguished Service Medal in 1918 , while the Navy followed suit in 1919 , retroactive to 6 April 1917 . Originally , the Navy Cross was lower in precedence than the Navy Distinguished Service Medal , because it was awarded for both combat heroism and for " other distinguished service . " Congress revised this on 7 August 1942 , making the Navy Cross a combat - only award and second only to the Medal of Honor . Since its creation , it has been awarded more than 6 , 300 times . It was designed by James Earle Fraser . The first actual recipient of the Navy Cross is unknown because initial awards were made from a lengthy list published after World War I . Criteria . The Navy Cross may be awarded to any member of the U . S . Armed Forces while serving with the Navy , Marine Corps , or Coast Guard ( in time of war only ) who distinguishes himself or herself in action by extraordinary heroism not justifying an award of the Medal of Honor . The action must take place under one of three circumstances : The act ( s ) to be commended must be performed in the presence of great danger or at great personal risk and must be performed in such a manner as to render the individual highly conspicuous among others of equal grade , rate , experience , or position of responsibility . An accumulation of minor acts of heroism does not justify an award of the Navy Cross . As originally authorized , the Navy Cross could be awarded for distinguished non - combat acts , but legislation of 7 August 1942 limited the award to acts of combat heroism . Wear . Originally the Navy Cross was the Navy ' s third - highest decoration , after the Medal of Honor and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal . On 7 August 1942 , Congress revised the precedence , making the Navy Cross senior to the Distinguished Service Medal . Since that time the Navy Cross has been worn after the Medal of Honor and before all other decorations . Additional awards of the Navy Cross are denoted by gold and silver 5 / 16 inch star s affixed to the suspension and service ribbon of the medal ; a silver star would indicate a sixth award . Description and symbolism . The award has been found similar in appearance to the British Distinguished Service Cross . The earliest awards ( 1919 – 1928 ) featured a more narrow strip of white , while the so - called " Black Widow " medals awarded from 1941 – 1942 were notable for the dark color due to over - anodized finish . The Navy Cross is a modified cross pattée one and a half inches wide . The ends of its arms are rounded whereas a conventional cross patée has arms that are straight on the end . There are four laurel leaves with berries in each of the re - entrant arms of the cross . In the center of the cross a sailing vessel is depicted on waves , sailing to the viewer ' s left . The vessel is a symbolic caravel of the type used between 1480 and 1500 . Fraser selected the caravel because it was a symbol often used by the Naval Academy and because it represented both naval service and the tradition of the sea . The laurel leaves with berries refer to achievement . In the center of a bronze cross pattée , one and a half inches wide , are crossed anchors from the pre - 1850 period , with cables attached . The letters USN are evident amid the anchors . The service ribbon is navy blue with a center stripe of white identical to the suspension ribbon of the medal . The blue alludes to naval service ; the white represents the purity of selflessness . Notable recipients . Non - citizen recipients . The Secretary of the Navy has only occasional opportunities to confirm that the Navy Cross has been awarded to a non - American recipient . Slightly more than 100 such honors have been extended to men who were not citizens of the United States .