MARINE CORPS MEDALS

SILVER STAR
     a. Authorization.   10 U.S.C. 6244

     b. Eligibility Requirements

          (1) Awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, is cited for gallantry in action that does not warrant the Medal of Honor or Navy Cross

               (a) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;

               (b) While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or

               (c) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

          (2) The heroic act(s) performed must render the individual conspicuous and well above the standard expected. An accumulation of minor acts of heroism normally does not justify the award, but unusual or exceptional cases will be decided on their merits.

Silver Star
The Silver Star stands as the United States' third highest award for combat valor. Established on July 16, 1932, the Silver Star actually traces its history back to the silver Citation Star, established on July 9, 1918. The Citation Star was a silver star device which was attached to the service ribbon of the campaign medal for which the individual was cited in official orders for gallantry in action.

Most Citation Stars are found on World War I Victory Medals. To convert their Citation Stars to Silver Star medals, service members were required to present copies of the official orders which made them eligible for the Citation Star.

While the degree of heroism required to earn the Silver Star is less than that required for the Medal of Honor or Navy Cross Medal, it must nevertheless have been performed with marked distinction.

As with the Bronze Star Medal, first production Navy Silver Stars are thicker than their army counterparts. In addition, the first contracts for Army Silver Stars had the planchets stamped on the lower arm of the star with a serial number.