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1. Description: On a 1 3/8 inches wide
bronze hexagon, one point up, an American bald
eagle with wings displayed horizontally, grasping
three crossed arrows and bearing on its breast a
shield paly of thirteen pieces and a chief. On the
reverse, a name panel between the words "FOR
MILITARY" and "MERIT", all above a
sprig of laurel.
2. Ribbon: The
ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of the
following stripes: 3/32 inch white 67101; 25/64
inch myrtle green 67190; 1/32 inch white; 1/16
inch myrtle green; 1/32 inch white; 1/16 inch
myrtle green; center 1/32 inch white; 1/16 inch
myrtle green; 1/32 inch white; 1/16 inch myrtle
green; 1/32 inch white; 25/64 inch myrtle green;
and 3/32 inch white.
3. Criteria:
a. The Army Commendation Medal is awarded to any
member of the Armed Forces of the United States
other than General Officers who, while serving in
any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941,
distinguished himself by heroism, meritorious
achievement or meritorious service. Award may be
made to a member of the Armed Forces of a friendly
foreign nation who, after 1 June 1962,
distinguishes himself by an act of heroism,
extraordinary achievement, or meritorious service
which has been of mutual benefit to a friendly
nation and the United States.
b.
Awards may be made for acts of valor performed
under circumstances described above which are of
lesser degree than required for award of the
Bronze Star Medal. These acts may involve aerial
flight. An award may be made for acts of
noncombatant-related heroism which do not meet the
requirements for an award of the Soldier’s
Medal.
4. Components:
The following are authorized components of the
Army Commendation Medal:
a.
Decoration (regular size): MIL-D-3943/27. NSN
8455-00-269-5750 for the decoration set. NSN
8455-00-246-3820 for individual replacement medal.
b.
Decoration (miniature size): MIL-D-3943/27. NSN
8455-00-996-5003.
c.
Ribbon: MIL-R-11589/37. NSN 8455-00-257-3898.
d.
Lapel Button: MIL-L-11484/20. NSN
8455-00-269-5423.
5. Background:
a. In a summary sheet, 5 November 1945, WDGAP,
Personnel Division recommended that an Army
Commendation Ribbon of distinctive design be
established to recognize meritorious service in an
area at a time for which the Bronze Star Medal may
not be awarded. The recommendation was approved by
the Secretary of War and the ribbon was
established by War Department Circular 377, dated
18 December 1945. This circular authorized award
to "members of the Armed Forces of the United
States serving in any capacity with the Army for
meritorious service rendered since 7 December
1941, not in sustained operational activities
against an enemy nor in direct support of such
operation, i.e., in areas and at times when the
Bronze Star Medal may not be awarded because of
its operational character". Authority to
award the Commendation Ribbon was delegated to
Major Generals or commanders of any command, force
or installation normally commanded by Major
Generals.
b.
In a DF, 29 April 1948, from the D/PA to the
Quartermaster General, the Personnel & Admin.
Division indicated that the Secretary of the Army
and the Secretary of the Air Force had authorized
a medal pendant to be established for the
Commendation Ribbon and requested that a proposed
design be prepared. The design was approved by
both Secretaries on 8 July 1948. The Medal Pendant
for Commendation Ribbon was announced in
Department of the Army (DA) Circular 91 (AF Letter
35-25) dated 20 July 1949. On 20 March 1950, the
Secretary of the Navy approved the Navy
Commendation Ribbon, and authorized use of the
same pendant with a different ribbon on 6 April
1950.
c. DA
General Order No. 10, dated 31 March 1960, renamed
the Commendation Ribbon with Medal Pendant to the
Army Commendation Medal. President Kennedy, in a
memorandum to the Secretary of Defense, dated 1
June 1962, authorized the award of the Army
Commendation Medal to members of the Armed Forces
of friendly foreign nations who, after 1 June
1962, distinguished themselves by an act of
heroic, extraordinary achievement, or meritorious
service.
d. Order
of precedence and wear of decorations is contained
in Army Regulation (AR) 670-1. Policy for awards,
approving authority, supply, and issue of
decorations is contained in AR 600-8-22.
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