1. Description: On a 1 3/8 inch wide Bronze octagon an eagle displayed,
standing on a fasces, between two groups of stars of six and seven, above the group of six a spray of leaves. On the reverse
is a shield paly of 13 pieces, on the chief the letters "US", supported by sprays of laurel and oak, around the upper edge
the inscription "SOLDIER’S MEDAL" and across the face the words "FOR VALOR." In the base is a panel for the name of
the recipient to be engraved. The medal is suspended from the ribbon by a rectangular-shaped metal loop with corners rounded.
2. Ribbon: The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and
consists of the following stripes: 3/8 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118 on each side and the center containing 13 White and Red
stripes of equal width (7 White 67101 and 6 Old Glory Red 67156).
3. Criteria: The Soldier’s Medal is awarded
to any person of the Armed Forces of the United States, or of a friendly foreign nation who while serving in any capacity
with the Army of the United States, distinguished him/herself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. The
same degree of heroism is required as for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. The performance must have involved
personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life under conditions not involving conflict with an armed enemy. Awards
will not be made solely on the basis of having saved a life.
4. Components: The following are authorized components
of the Soldier’s Medal.
a. Decoration (regular size): MIL-D-3943/16. NSN 8455-00-269-5759
for decoration set. NSN 8455-00-246-3835 for individual medal.
b. Decoration (miniature size): MIL-D-3943/16. NSN 8455-00-996-5014.
c. Ribbon: MIL-R-11589/137. NSN 8455-00-252-9956.
d. Lapel Button: MIL-L-11484/12. NSN 8455-00-253-0820.
5. Background: a. A need to recognize acts of heroism
in 1922 resulted in the War Department issuing War Department orders for acts of bravery during peacetime. This led to an
Act of Congress (Public Law 446-69th Congress, 2 July 1926 (44 Stat. 780)) which established the Soldier’s
Medal for acts of heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. The Secretary of War directed that the Quartermaster
General prepare and submit appropriate designs of the Soldier’s Medal per letter signed by The Adjutant General dated
11 August 1926.
b. The Secretary of War requested assistance in preparing a design
from the Secretary of Treasury by letter dated 18 January 1927. In a response to the Secretary of War by letter dated 22 January
1927, the Secretary of Treasury indicated that the Director of the Mint had been instructed to request the Engraver of the
Mint at Philadelphia to submit designs and model. A proposed design was completed and forwarded from the Philadelphia Mint
on 22 June 1927 and forwarded to the Commission of Fine Arts for comments. The Commission of Fine Arts in a letter to the
Secretary of War dated 27 February 1928 stated.. "It would be a very serious disappointment to this Commission, after all
its struggles to obtain good medals, to have to rely on work of this character. One of the fundamental objections to the designs
submitted is a lack of that simplicity which should characterize all medals of the highest class. The designs and casts are
disapproved and returned". Subsequent designs were submitted and rejected by the Commission in November 1929. The Quartermaster
General forwarded a letter to Mr. Gaetano Cecere, New York, NY on 20 January 1930, requesting a design and indicating the
War Department would pay not more than $1500.00 for an approved design and cast. Mr. Cecere provided a proposed design in
April 1930 that was approved by the Commission on 5 May 1930.
c. Title 10, United States Code (USC), Section 3750 contains current
statutory requirements for the Soldier’s Medal. Enlisted personnel may be entitled to an increase in retired pay under
Title 10, USC 3991 when credited with heroism equivalent to that required for the award of the Distinguished Service Cross.
d. Order of precedence and wear of decorations is contained in Army
Regulation 670-1. Policy for awards, approving authority, supply, and issue of decorations is contained in Army Regulation
600-8-22.