Distinguished Service Medal (United States Coast Guard)

The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal (CGDSM) is a personal decoration of the United States Coast Guard that was established 4 August 1949.[2] Prior to this date, members of the Coast Guard were eligible to receive the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. The medal is presented for, "Exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility."[3]

Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
Awarded by the Department of Homeland Security
Type	Military medal (Decoration)
Eligibility	Individuals serving in any capacity with the US Coast Guard
Awarded for	Distinguished and exceptionally meritorious service to the United States Government in a duty of great responsibility.
Status	Currently awarded
Statistics
Established	4 August 1949
First awarded	1961
Precedence
Next (higher)	Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal,[1] Department of Commerce Gold Medal
Equivalent	Navy Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal
Next (lower)	Silver Star[1]
Service ribbon

The Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal, which replaced the Transportation Distinguished Service Medal in 2002, is another higher precedence Distinguished Service Medal that may be awarded to Coast Guardsmen.[1]

Criteria

The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is awarded to any member of the U.S. Coast Guard who distinguishes themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the United States Government in a duty of great responsibility. The exceptional performance of duty must be clearly above what is normally expected and must have contributed materially to the success of a major command or project. The decoration is typically awarded to senior flag officers, such as the Commandant of the Coast Guard. However, this does not preclude the award of the medal to any person who meets the eligibility requirements.[1]

The bestowing authority of the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is the Secretary of Homeland Security. Prior to 2003, the award was authorized by the Secretary of Transportation, and prior to 1967, it was authorized by the Secretary of the Treasury.

Devices

Additional awards of the CGDSM are denoted by ​⁵⁄₁₆ inch gold stars.

Notable recipients

• Admiral Alfred C. Richmond, first recipient of the medal, 1961
• General Richard Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 2005
• General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., Commander of Operation Desert Storm, 1991
• General Eric Shinseki US Army Chief of Staff
• General Colin Powell Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Rick Trent, first enlisted recipient of the medal, 1998[4]
• Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Vincent W. Patton III
• Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Frank A. Welch
• Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Charles W. Bowen
• Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Michael P. Leavitt

See also

• Awards and decorations of the United States military

References

1. United States Coast Guard (15 August 2016). "Coast Guard Military Medals and Awards Manual COMDTINST M1650.25E" (PDF). Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
2. 14 U.S.C. § 492
3. Armed Forces Information Service (1992). Armed Forces Decorations and Awards (PDF). Department of Defense. p. 6.
4. "Eric A. "Rick" Trent". Military Times. Gannett. Retrieved 19 January 2013.