Silver Star

The Silver Star is a military decoration of the United States that is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States. The Silver Star was first authorized by Congress on July 9, 1918. It is the third-highest award for valor that can be bestowed upon members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Silver Star is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who distinguish themselves by gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States, or while serving with friendly forces against an opposing armed force. The act of heroism must have taken place while the individual was engaged in combat, and the individual must have placed themselves at great risk to their own life.

The Silver Star Medal is a gold five-pointed star, 38 mm in circumscribing diameter with a laurel wreath encircling rays from the center and a 4.8 mm diameter silver star superimposed in the center. The pendant is suspended from a rectangular shaped metal loop with rounded corners. The reverse has the inscription FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION. The ribbon is  35 mm wide and consists of the following stripes: 5.6 mm. Old Glory red (center stripe); proceeding outward in pairs 5.6 mm white;  5.6 mm ultramarine blue;  1.2 mm white; and  2.4 mm ultramarine blue.

The Silver Star is awarded in recognition of acts of valor that do not meet the criteria for the Medal of Honor, but are nevertheless extraordinary and deserving of recognition. Recipients of the Silver Star include members of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard.

Authorization for the Silver Star Medal was placed into law by an Act of Congress for the U.S. Navy on August 7, 1942, and an Act of Congress for the U.S. Army on December 15, 1942.