US Navy Medals

[Texas Star]

In a topic in the other brands guns and knives forum, a man posted photos of WWII guns and acc., like medals from the various forces that used the pistols pictured.
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I don't understand some of the medals and ribbons with the Victory Model S&W .38.

Some ribbon that I thought resembled the Navy Cross was said by someone else to be a Navy Distinguished Service Cross. Doesn't compute to me. I thought the Navy Cross, and the Air Force Cross, were like the Army's Distinguished Service Cross, all just one step below the coveted Medal of Honor.

In WWII, the AF was still part of the Army, the USAF not becoming a separate entity until 1947.

Does the Navy not award the Silver Star? Is it otherwise the third highest award? Where does the Legion of Merit fit in?

I was in the USAF and many Naval doings are rather arcane to my mind. Even their ranks are a code in themselves. They have stuff like a pharmacist's mate, a gunner's mate. etc. I thought a "mate" was an Australian's pal... I do understand the USN commissioned officer ranks.

Will one of you sailors sort this medal stuff out for us?

All I know is that a Royal Navy medic received the Military Cross for saving a wounded soldier while under heavy Taliban fire. She is only the second woman to receive that decoration, about on par with the US Silver Star. I know the British Army also awards that medal, and most probably go to the Army. The soldier saved was from The Rifles, a famous Army regiment. Why they had a RN medic in combat wasn't explained. But she got the same award that a soldier would in those circumstances. So I think a USN sailor might get a Silver Star for comparable gallantry?

BTW, the RN medic received her medal from HRH Prince Charles in an investiture at (I think) Buckingham Palace. The USN doesn't present medals in such circumstances! She also received an enthusiastic standing ovation, on Britain's Got Talent. Who awards US Navy medals of that order? Some admiral? I think Audie Murphy received his Medal of Honor from some general in Europe, not at the White House.

I know that Marine Sgt. Major Brad Kasal (sp?) received the Navy Cross for his gallantry in Iraq, commemorated by a famous photo taken of him supported by other Marines, still holding his Beretta pistol and combat knife, despite severe loss of blood in a house that became an abattoir in battle. The USMC has erected a large bronze statue copying that photo, which also appeared on the cover of his book. Can one of you more computer-savvy men post that photo here? I am in awe of such courage.


Thanks,

T-Star

 

[soFlaNative]

Not sure the picture is appropriate but here is a link with some detail.
Brad Kasal Navy Cross

 

[Texas Star]

Not sure the picture is appropriate but here is a link with some detail.
Brad Kasal Navy Cross

Thank you. Although small, the picture and those below the article set the scene for what happened that day.

I hope that everyone takes time to read Kasal's comments in that article. It is one of the most scathing indictments of the media since the Earl Spencer bitterly referred to them in his eulogy to his sister, Princess Diana. And Kasal's remarks about his men are truly the stuff of what makes a hero.

 

[Texas Star]

Navy Cross Citation for Bradley A. Kasal


The Citation for the Navy Cross, with picture of the medal.

Kasal was wounded seven times by rifle fire and absorbed an unknown number of grenade fragments, but continued to direct the fighting. When one grenade landed nearby, he absorbed the force of the blast with his own body, to protect an adjacent Marine.

 

[OFT II]

T.S., I couldn't find anything about Navy decorations in WWII but the attached link gives a list of current Naval decorations and awards.

Navy Awards Precedence Chart

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

TEXAS Star, you can look up Naval awards on the internet by looking for military awards precedence. Navy awards are essentially the same as the other services except for appearance. The Navy awards fewer awards than the other services except the Marines. The standards are more stringent, this is documented. The AF is more generous, the Army next.


The rank structure and the Navy traditions evolved from the British Navy. We use to say that the U.S. Navy was two hundred years of tradition unhampered by progress. The top three enlisted ranks in the Navy hold a status and a prestige not common in the other military services. Chief, Senior Chief and Master Chief rates occupy a particularly significant leadership role in the Navy chain of command. I can't begin to explain this significance in a few words, but the other services are now trying to emulate this with what they call their top three.

 

[Steely85]

The ribbon you asked about in the other post is the Navy Distinguished Service Medal

 

[Steely85]

I see the person in question also answered the question for you later on, which you apparently did not read. He typed 'Cross' the first time, which was incorrect, but he corrected it later on.

 

[Texas Star]

T.S., I couldn't find anything about Navy decorations in WWII but the attached link gives a list of current Naval decorations and awards.

Navy Awards Precedence Chart

This is very useful. To answer my question, the Navy Cross ribbon and the Distinguished Service Medal ribbon are almost identical. The only difference I can see is that the Navy Cross has a slightly darker blue. Easy to confuse them.

They have the Silver and Bronze Stars, but well down a list of medals I've not seen before.

 

[Steely85]

DSM stripe is gold, Navy cross stripe is white.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

In WWII the Navy Cross was ranked below the Navy Distinguished Service
Medal. Congress reversed the precedence in 1942. Pearl Harbor hero Doris Miller was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions aboard the USS West Virginia on December 7, 1941.
The ranks of Senior Chief and Master Chief Petty Officer were established by Congress in 1958, in WWII and Korea only 7 enlisted ranks and paygrades.