Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal

United States Coast Guard distinguished service medal

Award

Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal

Type| Distinguished service medal
Awarded for| Distinguished and exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility.
Presented by| United States Department of Homeland Security
Eligibility| United States Coast Guardsmen
Status| Currently awarded
Established| 4 August 1949
First award| 1961

Service ribbon

Precedence
Next (higher)| Department of Defense: Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Department of Homeland Security: Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
Equivalent| Army: Distinguished Service Medal
Naval Service: Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Air and Space Forces: Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Next (lower)| Silver Star Medal

The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal (CGDSM) is a military decoration of the United States Coast Guard that was established 4 August 1949 and is presented to coast guardsmen for "Exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility."[1][2] Prior to this date, members of the Coast Guard were eligible to receive the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. 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.[3] The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is equivalent to the Army's Army Distinguished Service Medal, Naval Service's Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and the Air and Space Forces' Air Force Distinguished Service Medal.

## Criteria

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The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is awarded to coast guardsmen who distinguish themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the United States Government in a duty of great responsibility. The medal may also be awarded to members of the uniformed services of the United States who distinguish themselves while working with the U.S. Coast Guard. 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.[3]

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

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

## Notable recipients

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* Admiral Jonathan Greenert \- Chief of Naval Operations
* 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

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* Awards and decorations of the United States military

## References

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1. ^ Armed Forces Information Service (1992). Armed Forces Decorations and Awards (PDF). Department of Defense. p. 6\. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 19, 2004.
2. ^ 14 U.S.C. § 2736
3. ^ a b United States Coast Guard (15 August 2016). "Coast Guard Military Medals and Awards Manual COMDTINST M1650.25E" (PDF). Department of Homeland Security. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 4, 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
4. ^ "Eric A. "Rick" Trent". Military Times. Gannett. Retrieved 19 January 2013.

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Awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard

Decorations|

* Medal of Honor
* Coast Guard Cross
* Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
* Silver Star
* Legion of Merit
* Distinguished Flying Cross
* Coast Guard Medal
* Bronze Star
* Purple Heart
* Meritorious Service
* Air Medal
* Commendation Medal
* Achievement Medal
* Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon

Lifesaving Medals|

* Gold Lifesaving Medal
* Silver Lifesaving Medal

Unit Awards|

* Presidential Unit Citation
* Coast Guard Unit Commendation
* Meritorious Unit Commendation
* Meritorious Team Commendation
* Coast Guard "E" Ribbon

Conduct Medals|

* Good Conduct Medal
* Reserve Good Conduct Medal

Service Awards|

* Combat Action Ribbon
* Enlisted Person of the Year Ribbon
* Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal
* Special Operations Service Ribbon
* Sea Service Ribbon
* Restricted Duty Ribbon
* Overseas Service Ribbon
* Basic Training Honor Graduate Ribbon
* Recruiting Service Ribbon

Marksmanship|

* Distinguished Marksman Medal
* Distinguished Pistol Shot Medal
* Silver Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Medal
* Silver Pistol Excellence-in-Competition Medal
* Bronze Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Medal
* Bronze Pistol Excellence-in-Competition Medal
* Expert Rifle Medal
* Expert Pistol Medal
* Sharpshooter Rifle Ribbon
* Sharpshooter Pistol Ribbon
* Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon
* Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon

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