Criteria: the second highest medal that can be awarded by the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Awarded to any person who, while serving with the Navy, Marine Corps or (in time of war) Coast Guard, distinguishes himself in action by extraordinary heroism not justifying an award of the Medal of Honor. The action must take place under one of three circumstances: while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or, while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict in which the United States is not a belligerent party. To earn a Navy Cross the act 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.

Attachments: Gold Star Device - Mounted, Silver Star Device.

Note: This service ribbon is issued by the military along with an accompanying medal. Check the appropriate Branch of Service category for purchase of its medal counterpart.

Note: Protecting the legacy of U.S. Armed Forces veterans is an extremely important mission to USA Military Medals / ACU Army. Occasionally customers place orders for what we deem to be especially important and sacred awards.  These awards are only presented to military personnel for exceptional valor and heroism in combat and fall just short of the Medal of Honor.  These awards are the:

1. Army Distinguished Service Cross;
2. Air Force Cross;
3. Navy Cross.

It’s extremely important for us to protect the legacy of these awards and their recipients.

Although these items can be ordered through the website, the awards will not be shipped without a formal verification process, and we reserve the right to not ship them at all.  Any order placed in our system for these specific awards will be highly scrutinized before shipment.  Our investigative process will include a search of national databases listing legitimate recipients – and if not appearing in those databases we will require submission of an official DD-214 or other similar official paperwork authenticating the individual’s receipt of the award.