State Department Award for Valor

The Award for Valor is an obsolete award of the United States Department of State. It has since been replaced with the Award for Heroism. It was presented to employees of State, USAID and Marine guards assigned to diplomatic and consular facilities in recognition of acts of valor or outstanding performance under unusually difficult or dangerous circumstances, whether or not in connection with the performance of assigned duties.

Award for Valor
Awarded by United States Department of State
TypeMedal
EligibilityForeign Service, Civil Service, US Military
Awarded for"Acts of valor or outstanding performance under unusually difficult or dangerous circumstances"
StatusObsolete, replaced with the Award for Heroism
Precedence
Next (higher)Award for Heroism
Next (lower)Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service

Ribbon

The award consisted of a gold medal set and a certificate signed by an assistant secretary, an official of equivalent rank or the Chief of Mission.

The basic difference between the Award for Valor and the Award for Heroism is that the Valor Award was issued in 10K gold whereas the Heroism Award is issued in sterling silver. The ribbon reflects this; the designs are almost identical, but the color scheme indicates the precious metal issued with the respective awards.

Criteria

The following criteria were applicable to granting an Award for Valor:

  • Sustained superior performance while under threat of physical attack or harassment; or
  • An individual act of valor or exceptional performance at the risk of personal safety.

Military use

Upon authorization, members of the U.S. military may wear the medal and ribbon in the appropriate order of precedence as a U.S. non-military personal decoration.

Recipients
  • All State Department and CIA employees taken hostage during the Iran hostage crisis. Political Officer Michael J. Metrinko received two: one for his time as a hostage and another for his daring rescue of Americans who had been jailed in Tabriz months before the embassy takeover.[1]
  • Ryan C. Crocker, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq[2]
  • Alvin P. Adams, former U.S. Ambassador, for acts of heroism to protect the safety and well-being of President Aristide during the September, 1991 coup in Haiti.[3]
  • Barbara Bodine, former U.S. Ambassador to Yemen, for her work in occupied Kuwait.[4]
  • Bill A. Miller, former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security and Director of the Diplomatic Security Service [5]
  • Robert Morris, former Regional Security Officer, American Embassy, Beirut for preventing the possible assassination of the Iranian Queen Mother and Princess Shams Pahlavi, 1980.
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References
  1. Mark Bowden Guests of the Ayatollah (2006)
  2. http://www.cnas.org/node/4425
  3. Ambassador Alvin P. Adams
  4. Barbara Bodine
  5. https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/bureau/224929.htm

See also
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