The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army which is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility. The performance must be such as to merit recognition for service which is clearly exceptional. Exceptional performance of normal duty will not alone justify an award of this decoration. Distinguished Service Medal (USA) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Awards and decorations of the United States military are military decorations which recognize a service members service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces. ... The United States Army is the branch of the United States armed forces that has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ...

Separate Distinguished Service Medals exist for the different branches of the military as well as a fifth version of the medal which is a senior award of the United States Department of Defense. The Army version of the Distinguished Service Medal is typically referred to simply as the "Distinguished Service Medal" while the other branches of service use the service name as a prefix.

For service not related to actual war, the term "duty of a great responsibility" applies to a narrower range of positions than in time of war, and requires evidence of conspicuously significant achievement. However, justification of the award may accrue by virtue of exceptionally meritorious service in a succession of high positions of great importance.

Awards may be made to persons other than members of the Armed Forces of the United States for wartime services only, and then only under exceptional circumstances, with the express approval of the President in each case.

Because of the criteria for the medal, most awards of the Army Distinguished Service Medal have been to general officers and admirals. Among notable recipients below flag rank are X-1 test pilot Chuck Yeager and X-15 test pilot Robert M. White, who both received the DSM as U.S. Air Force majors (at the time, there was no Air Force Distinguished Service Medal), director Frank Capra, decorated in 1945 as an Army colonel, Col. Wendell Fertig, who led Filipino guerrillas behind Japanese lines, and Col. (later Major General) John K. Singlaub, who led partisan forces in the Korean War. Charles Yeager Brigadier General Charles Elwood Chuck Yeager (born February 13, 1923 in Myra, Lincoln County, West Virginia) is a World War II ace and test pilot, considered a living legend of aviation. ... Robert Michael White began his military career in World War II. White joined the 354th Fighter Squadron of the 355th Fighter Group (Eighth Air Force) in England in July, 1944. ... Frank Capra Frank Capra (May 18, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was an American film director and a major creative force behind a number of highly popular films. ... Wendell Fertig (b. ... John K. Singlaub was a highly decorated OSS officer and Major-General in the US Army, and a founding member of the Central Intelligence Agency, (CIA). ...

Design of the Distinguished Service Medal

The medal consists of the Coat of Arms of the United States in Gold surrounded by a circle of Dark Blue enamel, 1.5 inches (38 mm) in diameter, bearing the inscription "FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MCMXVIII". On the reverse is a scroll for the name of the recipient (which is to be engraved) upon a trophy of flags and weapons. The medal is suspended by a bar attached to the ribbon. The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches (35 mm) wide and consists of the following stripes: 5/16 inch (8 mm) scarlet 67111; 1/16 inch (2 mm) ultramarine blue 67118; 5/8 inch (16 mm) white 67101; 1/16 inch (2 mm) ultramarine blue; and 5/16 inch (8 mm) scarlet.

Additional awards of the Distinguished Service Medal are denoted by oak leaf clusters. Bronze and Silver oak leaf clusters An Oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on military awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. ...

History of the Distinguished Service Medal

The Distinguished Service Medal was authorized by Presidential Order dated January 2, 1918, and confirmed by Congress on July 9, 1918. It was announced by War Department General Order No. 6, January 12, 1918, with the following information concerning the medal: "A bronze medal of appropriate design and a ribbon to be worn in lieu thereof, to be awarded by the President to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Army shall hereafter distinguish himself or herself, or who, since April 6, 1917, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility in time of war or in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United States." The Act of Congress on July 9, 1918, recognized the need for different types and degrees of heroism and meritorious service and included such provisions for award criteria. The current statutory authorization for the Distinguished Service Medal is Title 10, United States Code, Section 3743. January 2 is the second day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... July 9 is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 175 days remaining. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... January 12 is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... April 6 is the 96th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (97th in leap years). ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... July 9 is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 175 days remaining. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... The United States Code (U.S.C.) is a compilation and codification of the general and permanent federal Law of the United States. ...

Among the first awards of the Distinguished Service Medal for service in World War I were those to the Commanding Officers of the Allied Armies: General Pershing of the United States, Marshals Foch and Joffre and General Petain of France, Field Marshal Haig of the United Kingdom, General Monash of Australia, General Diaz of Italy and General Gillain of Belgium. More than 2,000 awards were made during World War I, and by the time the United States entered World War II, approximately 2,800 awards had been made. From July 1, 1941 to June 6, 1969, when the Army stopped publishing awards of the DSM in Department of the Army General Orders, over 2,800 further awards were made (George H. Apgar, Awards of the US Army Distinguished Service Medal 1942-1969, 1995 Planchet Press). Philippe Pétain Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain (April 24, 1856 - July 23, 1951), generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain, was a French soldier and leader of Vichy France. ...

Notable recipients

Because the Army Distinguished Service Medal was principally awarded to general officers, a list of notable recipients would include nearly every prominent general since 1918, many of whom received multiple awards. Hence the list below can only be a sampling of notable recipients.

• Abrams, Creighton W. (with three Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Arnold, Henry H. "Hap" (with three Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Bliss, Tasker H.
• Bradley, Omar N. (recipient of both the Army (with three Oak Leaf Clusters) and Navy version)
• Brooke, Alan, Field Marshal, British Army
• Buckner, Simon Bolivar, Jr.
• Burke, Arleigh, Adm., USN
• Carroll, Joseph F., Lt. Gen., USAF
• Casey, Hugh John (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
• Chennault, Claire L. (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
• Chiang Kai-shek, General, Chinese Army
• Clark, Mark W. (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Clark, Vern, Admiral, USN
• Clark, Wesley
• Clay, Lucius D. (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
• Crerar, Harry, Lieutenant General, Canadian Army
• Davis, Sr., Benjamin O.
• Davis, Jr., Benjamin O.
• Delano, Jane
• Dempsey, Miles, Lieutenant General, British Army
• Donovan, William J. 'Wild Bill' (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
• Drum, Hugh A.
• Eaker, Ira C. (recipient of both the Army (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters) and Navy version)
• Eichelberger, Robert Lawrence (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Eisenhower, Dwight David (recipient of both the Army (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters) and Navy version)
• Franks, Tommy
• Geiger, Roy S., General, USMC (recipient of both the Army and Navy version)
• Grant III, Ulysses S.
• Halsey, Jr., William "Bull", Admiral, USN (recipient of both the Army and Navy version)
• Hershey, Lewis Blaine (recipient of both the Army and Navy version)
• Hines, John L.
• Hobby, Oveta Culp
• Juin, Alphonse, General, French Army (later a Marshal of France)
• Jumper, John P. USAF (recipient of the Army, Air Force, and Navy version)
• Kirk, Alan, Admiral, USN
• Lejeune, John A (Lt. Gen. and Commandant, USMC) (recipient of both the Army and Navy version)
• MacArthur, Douglas (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
• March, Peyton C.
• Marshall, George C. (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
• Marshall, Richard J. (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
• McAuliffe, Anthony
• Mitchell, William 'Billy'
• Montgomery, Bernard L., Field Marshal, British Army
• Nimitz, Chester, Fleet Admiral, USN (recipient of both the Army and Navy version)
• Ord, James B.
• Patton, George S., Jr. (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Pershing, John 'Black Jack'
• Powell, Colin L.
• Rockey, Keller E., USMC (recipient of both the Army and Navy version)
• Ruckman, John Wilson
• Schoomaker, Peter (with Oak leaf Cluster)
• Schwarzkopf, Jr., Norman (recipient of both the Army (with Oak Leaf Cluster) and Navy version)
• Shinseki, Eric K., General, US Army
• Stilwell, Joseph W. (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
• Sturgis, Jr., Samuel D. (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
• Sutherland, Richard Kerens (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
• Tassigny, Jean de Lattre de, General, French Army (later a Marshal of France)
• Taylor, Maxwell D. Taylor (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)

Creighton W. Abrams watches Bob Hope at Long Binh in Vietnam Creighton Williams Abrams Jr. ... Henry Hap Arnold Henry Harley Hap Arnold was an aviation pioneer and commander of the United States Army Air Corps (from 1938), commander of the U.S. Army Air Forces (from 1941 until 1945) and the first General of the Air Force (in 1949. ... Gen. ... General of the Army Omar N. Bradley Omar Nelson Bradley (February 12, 1893 – April 8, 1981) was one of the main U.S. Army field commanders in North Africa and Europe during the World War II and a General of the Army of the United States Army. ... The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. ... Lord Alanbrooke Field Marshal Sir Alan Francis Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Baron Alanbrooke, KG, GCB, OM, GCVO, DSO (July 23, 1883 - June 17, 1963) was a British Field Marshal during World War II. He also served as Lord High Constable during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. ... Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. ... Admiral Arleigh Burke in 1951 Arleigh Albert Burke (October 19, 1901 _ January 1, 1996), an Admiral of the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean War, was born far from the sea in Boulder, Colorado. ... Lt. ... Hugh John Casey (Pat) was a Major General in the US Army and General MacArthurs chief engineer. ... Maj. ... Chiang Kai-shek (October 31, 1887 – April 5, 1975) was a Chinese military and political leader who assumed the leadership of the Kuomintang (KMT) after the death of Sun Yat-sen in 1925. ... Mark Wayne Clark (May 1, 1896 - April 17, 1984) was an American general during World War II and the Korean War. ... Admiral Vern Clark Admiral Vern Clark is Chief of Naval Operations in the United States Navy. ... Wesley K. Clark Wesley Kanne Clark (born December 23, 1944) is a retired four-star general in the U.S. Army. ... Lucius Dubignon Clay (April 23, 1897 - April 16, 1978) was an American general. ... General The Honourable Henry Duncan Graham (Harry) Crerar, PC , CH , CB , DSO , KStJ , CD (April 28, 1888 - April 1, 1965) was a Canadian general and the countrys leading field commander in World War II. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, he died at Ottawa, Ontario. ... Brig. ... Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. ... Jane Arminda Delano, born March 12, 1862 in Montour Falls, New York, United States – died April 15, 1919 in Savenay, Loire-Atlantique, France, was a nurse and founder of the American Red Cross Nursing Service. ... Miles Dempsey (15th December 1896 - 5th June 1969) was commander of the 2nd British Army during the D-Day landings in World War II. After graduating from Sandhurst Military Academy in 1915 Dempsey joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment. ... William Donovan Major General William Joseph Donovan, KBE, United States Army (January 1, 1883 – February 8, 1959) was an American soldier, lawyer and intelligence officer, best remembered today as wartime head of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). ... Hugh Aloysius Drum (September 19, 1879 - October 3, 1951) was a U.S. general. ... Life Magazine, November 29, 1943. ... The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. ... Robert Lawrence Eichelberger (9 March 1886 – 26 September 1961) was a general in the United States Army, who commanded the US Eighth Army in the Pacific during World War II. Eichelberger was born at Urbana, Ohio, on 9 March 1886. ... Dwight David Eisenhower, (October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969, popularly known as Ike) was an American soldier and politician. ... The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. ... General Tommy R. Franks (USCENTCOM photo) Tommy Ray Franks (born June 17, 1945) is a retired General in the United States Army, previously serving as the Commander-in-Chief of United States Central Command, overseeing United States Armed Forces operations in a 25-country region, including the Middle East. ... Roy Geiger Roy Stanley Geiger (January 25, 1885 - January 23, 1947) was a United States Marine Corps general who, during World War II, became the first Marine to lead an army. ... The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. ... Ulysses S. Grant III (July 4, 1881 - August 29, 1968), the son of Frederick Dent Grant (and the grandson of General of the Army and President of the United States Ulysses S. Grant) was an American soldier and planner. ... William F. Halsey, Jr. ... The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. ... Lewis Blaine Hershey (September 12, 1893 - May 20, 1977) was a U.S. administrator and general. ... The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. ... General John L. Hines John Leonard Hines (May 21, 1868-October 13, 1968) was an American soldier, who served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army from 1924 to 1926. ... Secretary Hobby Oveta Culp Hobby (January 19, 1905–August 16, 1995) was the first secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, first commanding officer of the Womens Army Corps, and chairman of the board of the Houston Post. ... Alphonse Juin (1888—1967) was a Marshal of France. ... The Marshal of France (maréchal de France) was one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France. ... General John P. Jumper General John P. Jumper is a United States Air Force officer who served as Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from September 6, 2001 to September 2, 2005. ... The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. ... The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. ... Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune, 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps, was born at Pointe Coupee, Louisiana, on 10 January 1867. ... The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. ... This article is about the American soldier; for the municipality in the Philippines, see General MacArthur, Eastern Samar. ... Peyton Conway March (December 27, 1864 - April 13, 1955) was an American soldier and Army Chief of Staff. ... This article is about the general and statesman. ... Richard Jacqueline Marshall (June 16, 1895 - August 3, 1973) was a Major General in the US Army. ... General Anthony C. McAuliffe (July 2, 1898 - August 11, 1975) was the United States Army general who commanded the force during the Battle of Bastogne, Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. He was famous for his single-word reply to a German surrender ultimatum. ... Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, United States Army Air Service William L. (Billy) Mitchell (December 28, 1879 – February 19, 1936) was an American general who is regarded as the father of the U.S. Air Force. ... Bernard Law Montgomery Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (November 17, 1887 - March 24, 1976) was a British military officer during World War II often referred to as Monty. ... Chester Nimitz Chester William Nimitz (February 24, 1885 – February 20, 1966) was the Commander in Chief of Pacific Forces for the United States and Allied forces during World War II. He was the United States leading authority on submarines, as well as Chief of the Navys Bureau of Navigation... The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. ... James Basevi Ord (March 15, 1892 - January 30, 1938) was a US Army Lieutenant Colonel killed in an air crash at Camp John Hay, Philippines. ... George Smith Patton, Jr. ... General John Pershing John Joseph Black Jack Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948) was an officer in the United States Army. ... General Colin Luther Powell, United States Army (Ret. ... Lieutenant General Keller E. Rockey (22 September 1888 – 6 June 1970) commanded the Fifth Marine Division in the battle of Iwo Jima in World War II and the Third Amphibious Corps during the occupation of North China following the war. ... The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. ... John Wilson Ruckman (1858-1921), was born in Sidney, Illinois (Champagne County). ... General Peter Schoomaker (born February 12, 1946) became the 35th Chief of Staff of the United States Army, on August 1, 2003. ... General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. ... The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. ... Eric K. Shinseki General Eric Ken Shinseki (born November 28, 1942) served as the 34th Chief of Staff of the United States Army (1999 - 2003). ... Stilwell with Generalissimo and Madame Chiang Kai-shek. ... Samuel Sturgis, Jr. ... Richard K. Sutherland (November 27, 1893 - June 25, 1966) was a Lieutenant General of the US Army and General MacArthurs Chief of Staff during World War II. He served with the American Expeditionary Force during World War I. The Japanese Surrender At the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay on... Jean de Lattre de Tassigny (February 2, 1889 - January 11, 1952) was a French military hero of World War II. Born at Mouilleron-en-Pareds (during the time of Georges Clemenceau, who was also born there), he graduated from school in 1911, and fought in World War I. He specialized... The Marshal of France (maréchal de France) was one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France. ... General Maxwell Taylor General Maxwell Davenport Taylor (August 26, 1901 – April 19, 1987) was an American soldier and diplomat of the mid-20th century. ...

See also

• Navy Distinguished Service Medal
• Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
• Awards and decorations of the United States military