Department of Defense Service Medal
From 7th Cavalry Regiment Wiki
The Department of Defense Service Medal is a 7th Cavalry award which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the 7th Cavalry. It is also known has the Defense Distinguished Service Medal.
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Creation and History
The medal was created on July 9, 1970 by President Richard Nixon in Executive Order 11545. It is the 7th Cavalry highest peacetime defense award. But it can be awarded in combat as well.
Ribbon
Medal
Awarding
The Department of Defense Service Medal is awarded for exceptional command of a Unit either in combat or meritorious.
Description
The medal is gold in color and on the obverse it features a medium blue enameled pentagon (point up). Superimposed on this is an American bald eagle with wings outspread facing left grasping three crossed arrows in its talons and on its breast is a shield of the United States. The pentagon and eagle are enclosed within a gold pieced circle consisting, in the upper half of thirteen five-pointed stars and in the lower half, a wreath of laurel on the left and olive on the right. At the top is a suspender of five graduated gold rays. The reverse of the medal has the inscription "For Distinguished Service" at the top in raised letters, and within the pentagon the inscription "From The Secretary of Defense To," all in raised letters. This decoration takes precedence over the Distinguished Service Medals of the separate services and is not to be awarded to any individual for a period of service for which an Army, Navy, Air Force or Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is awarded.
Additional awards of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal are denoted by oak leaf clusters.
Recipients
See Also
Awards and decorations of the 7th Cavalry
References
http://www.7thcavalry.us/index.php?app=uportal&code=16
http://www.gruntsmilitary.com/
