how do you find the reason a silver star was awarded?

Question

My grandfather was given the silver star at some point during his service with the US Air Force (including WWII, Korea, and Vietnam). How can I find out what he did that merited the award?

Answer 1

This is very nice of you. I am very impress! See if he has or registered a DD214 with your local clerk if not, go to http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/get-service-records.html and request a copy. After receiving it you can write including a copy to the address below asking for the presentation and the substantiation for the award.


National Personnel Records Center (Air Force)
Air Force Reference Branch (NRPMF)
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100


Please do me a favor and let me know what it says, it is a very big deal. Oh, if he is still alive thank him for me and us.

Best of luck. Thank-you and God Bless you and the Southern People

Answer 2

Navy Silver Star

Answer 3

Charles Durning Military Service

Answer 4

Every time a Silver Star is given, there is a citation that accompanies the award. It gives the details of your grandfather's actions (what he did, where and when he did it, why his actions merit the award, and how his actions reflect credit upon himself and the U.S. Air Force). If no one in your family has that citation, there is a slim chance that you could get a copy from his military records. You would need to contact the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis to find out how you can request copies of his records. Here is the website:

http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/index.html

Answer 5

An award star is a decoration issued by the United States military to denote multiple military awards issued to personnel of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard. An award star is very similar to an oak leaf cluster, which serves the same purpose. Award stars are sometimes referred to as Gold Stars and Silver Stars (not to be confused with the Silver Star Medal).

The Silver Star is the fourth highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Armed Forces, and the third highest given for valor (in the face of the enemy).
In 1944, four nurses became the first female recipients of the Silver Star. 1st Lt. Mary Roberts, 2nd Lt. Elaine Roe, 2nd Lt. Virginia Rourke, and 2nd Lt. Ellen Ainsworth (posthumous) were cited for their bravery in successfully evacuating the 33rd Field Hospital at Anzio, Italy on February 10. They remained the sole female recipients until Leigh Ann Hester was awarded the Silver Star in 2005.

Other notable recipients include:

* William Brantley Aycock
* Antonio Rodriguez Balinas
* Cesar Basa
* Charles Beckwith
* Albert Blithe
* Richard Bong
* Maurice L. Britt
* Arleigh Burke
* David Christian
* Wesley Clark
* Max Cleland
* Lynn Compton
* Johnny Checketts
* Nestor Chylak
* Louis Cukela
* Benjamin O. Davis Jr.
* Ray Davis
* Hugh A. Drum
* Charles Durning
* Joseph A. Farinholt
* Hobart R. Gay
* John J. Gilligan
* John Campbell Greenway
* Ed Guthman
* David H. Hackworth
* Carlos N. Hathcock II



* Sterling Hayden
* Clifford B. Hicks
* Daniel J. Hill
* Daniel J. Miller
* Lucius Roy Holbrook
* Gordon Pai'ea Chung-Hoon
* Joe R. Hooper
* Lyndon Baines Johnson
* James L. Jones
* John Kerry
* Charles C. Krulak
* Ben Lear
* Homer Litzenberg
* Douglas MacArthur
* Louis de Maigret
* Rodger W. Simpson
* Peyton C. March
* Richard Marcinko
* George Marshall
* Richard Marshall
* John McCain
* Sid McMath
* Merrill A. McPeak
* Cliff Montgomery
* Audie Murphy



* Oliver North
* Mike O'Callaghan
* Robert M. Pagan
* George S. Patton
* George Patton IV
* Basil L. Plumley
* Charles E. Potter
* Tommy Prince
* Chesty Puller
* Karl W. Richter
* Pedro Rodriguez
* Robert Rosenthal
* Dick Rutan
* Oliver Smith
* John Stebbins
* James Stockdale
* George L. Street III
* Samuel D. Sturgis, Jr.
* Richard K. Sutherland
* Pat Tillman
* Paul K. Van Riper
* Donald Walters
* John T. Walton
* Jim Webb
* Albert Dunbar Wedemeyer

does one of the above names belong to your grandfather?

Answer 6

find reason silver star awarded

Answer 7

The Silver Star is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States not justifying a higher award. It may be awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S Armed Forces, distinguishes him or herself by extraordinary heroism involving one of the following actions:
In action against an enemy of the United States
While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force
While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party
Contact Departement of Veterant Affair to find out.

Answer 8

The Silver Star Medal had its beginning during World War I. An Act of Congress of July 9, 1918, authorized the wearing by Army personnel of a small silver star, 3/16 of an inch in diameter, upon the service ribbon of a campaign medal, to indicate "a citation for gallantry in action, published in orders issued from headquarters of a general officer, not warranting the award of a Medal of Honor or Distinguished Service Cross." Known in the Army as the "citation star," the award was made retroactive, so that all those cited for gallantry in action in previous campaigns, even as far back as the Spanish-American War, were eligible to wear it.

It is estimated that more than 20,000 members of the Army received such citations before 1918. A similar device was authorized for Navy and Marine Corps personnel in 1920 which authorized a " special letter of commendation" to be awarded on the recommendation of the Board of Naval Award. Receipt of this special letter of commendation authorized its recipient to wear a small silver star on the ribbon of the Victory Medal.

On August 8, 1932, the Silver Star was re-designed as a medal by an Act of Congress. This medal, designed by the firm of Bailey, Banks and Biddle, is a gilt-toned star of five points. On the obverse side in the center, is a small silver star, (the same size as the original citation star) centered within a wreath of laurel. Eighteen rays radiate from the star to the wreath. The reverse of the star has the inscription, "For Gallantry in Action" in raised letters, below which is a blank area suitable for engraving the recipient's name.

The ribbon, one of the most striking of all American awards has a wide center stripe of red flanked on either side by a wide stripe of dark blue, a wide stripe of white, a thin stripe of white and a narrow stripe of dark blue at the edges.

The Silver Star is currently awarded by all branches of the Armed Forces to any person who, while serving in any capacity, is cited for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly forces against an opposing Armed Force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

The Army announced that anyone who had previously earned a Citation Star could apply for the Silver Star Medal. Navy and Marine Corps personnel could only apply, if they were awarded a citations star by the Army. The status of the Silver Star was further clarified, when on August 7, 1942, Congress authorized the award of the Silver Star to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy since December 6, 1941, distinguished himself by gallantry and intrepidity in action, but not of a nature to justify the award of the Navy Cross. Four months later, on December 15, 1942, the decoration was extended to Army personnel for gallantry in action, but not of a degree to justify an award of the Distinguished Service Cross.

Answer 9

check the links below.
you are going to need some specific information about him.
a service number would be ideal, but a name and unit(s), as well as, when he was in a particular unit, will do.