Coast Guard Medal
Encyclopedia
The Coast Guard Medal is a decoration
of the United States military that is awarded to any service member who, while serving in any capacity with the United States Coast Guard
, distinguishes themselves by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. For the decoration to be awarded, an individual must have performed a voluntary act of heroism in the face of great personal danger or of such a magnitude that it stands out distinctly above normal expectations.
The Coast Guard Medal was first authorized in 1949, but it was not until 1958 that the medal was actually bestowed. The first recipients of the Coast Guard Medal were Petty Officers Third Class Earl Leyda and Raymond Johnson who were awarded the decoration in June 1958. The citation for the Coast Guard Medal was for actions performed in August 1957 while attempting to rescue trapped workers from the Oswego Water Works Tunnel, under Lake Ontario
, in Oswego, New York
.
Additional awards of the Coast Guard Medal are annotated by gold award stars. The Coast Guard Medal is the equivalent to the Soldier's Medal
, Airman's Medal
and the Navy and Marine Corps Medal
.
Awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard
Awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard are military medals and ribbons of the United States Coast Guard which are currently issued under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security....
of the United States military that is awarded to any service member who, while serving in any capacity with the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
, distinguishes themselves by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. For the decoration to be awarded, an individual must have performed a voluntary act of heroism in the face of great personal danger or of such a magnitude that it stands out distinctly above normal expectations.
The Coast Guard Medal was first authorized in 1949, but it was not until 1958 that the medal was actually bestowed. The first recipients of the Coast Guard Medal were Petty Officers Third Class Earl Leyda and Raymond Johnson who were awarded the decoration in June 1958. The citation for the Coast Guard Medal was for actions performed in August 1957 while attempting to rescue trapped workers from the Oswego Water Works Tunnel, under Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
, in Oswego, New York
Oswego, New York
Oswego is a city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 18,142 at the 2010 census. Oswego is located on Lake Ontario in north-central New York and promotes itself as "The Port City of Central New York"...
.
Additional awards of the Coast Guard Medal are annotated by gold award stars. The Coast Guard Medal is the equivalent to the Soldier's Medal
Soldier's Medal
The Soldier's Medal is a military award of the United States Army. It was introduced as Section 11 of the Air Corps Act, passed by the Congress of the United States on July 2, 1926...
, Airman's Medal
Airman's Medal
The Airman’s Medal is a military decoration of the United States Air Force and is awarded to those service members or those of a friendly nation who, while serving in any capacity with the United States Air Force, distinguish themselves by heroic actions, usually at the voluntary risk of life, but...
and the Navy and Marine Corps Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Medal
The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is the second highest non-combatant medal awarded by the United States Department of the Navy to members of the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps...
.
External links
Notable Recipients
- Richard R. CallahanRichard R. CallahanCoast Guardsman - Boatswain Mate Second Class Richard R. Callahan of Cicero, Illinois was awarded the Coast Guard Medal for heroic life saving actions along with two comrades....
- Edgar CulbertsonEdgar CulbertsonCoast Guardsman - Boatswain Mate First Class "Ed" Edgar A. Culbertson, 32, of Ferndale, Michigan, born October 13, 1935 lost his life on April 30, 1967 while trying to rescue three teenagers in Duluth, Minnesota. He was a Korean War Veteran, and had served in the Coast Guard since 1952.-Rescue:The...
- Ronald C. PreiRonald C. PreiRonald C. Prei was a Coast Guard Fireman of St. Francis, Wisconsin who was awarded the Coast Guard Medal for heroic life saving actions along with two comrades.-Rescue:...
- David M. LorangeDavid M. LorangeCoast Guardsman - Boatswain Mate Second Class David M. Lorange was awarded the Coast Guard Medal for extraordinary heroism during the rescue of a young boy near the Coast Guard station at Saipan.-Coast Guard Medal Citation:...
- Michael P. LeavittMichael P. LeavittMichael Phillip Leavitt is the eleventh and current Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard , assuming the position from MCPOCG Charles W. Bowen on May 21, 2010...
- BMCM Thomas D "Tom" McAdams, USCG, Ret.