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The
Coast Guard Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded
to a member of the United States Coast Guard. The Coast Guard Cross is the Coast Guard decoration equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross (Army), the
Navy Cross (Navy and Marine Corps), and the
- The President may award a Coast Guard Cross to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Coast Guard, when not operating under the Department of the Navy, distinguishes himself or herself in action by extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of the Medal of Honor:
- While engaged in action against an enemy of the United States;
- While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force or terrorist organization; or,
- While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armred force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
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To warrant this decoration, the act or execution of duty must be performed in the presence of great danger, or at great personal risk, and must be performed in such a manner as to set individuals apart from their shipmates. An accumulation of minor acts of heroism normally does not justify the award.
The high standards demanded must be borne in mind when recommending the award.
Background:
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ORDER OF PRECEDENCE
The Coast Guard Cross is worn after the Medal of Honor and before all other decorations.
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DEVICES
Additional awards of the Coast Guard Cross are denoted by gold stars five/sixteenths of an inch in diameter.
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DESIGNER
The Coast Guard Cross was designed by the Coast Guard in conjunction with the Army's Institute of Heraldry.
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DESCRIPTION AND SYMBOLISM
Obverse
The medal is a cross in gold metal and colored epoxy and is two and one quarter inches in height and one and three-quarters inches in width. The four arms of the cross are pointed and faceted with ships' anchors between each arm. Centered on the obverse is a wreath of twenty-six laurel leaves, thirteen to either side of a depiction of the coat of arms for the United States of America, all of appropriate epoxy colors. The suspension ring is part of the medal and is a looped rope with crossed oars.
Reverse
The reverse is the same as the obverse except that it does not display the wreath and shield; in its place is a central circle and the word FOR arched at the top and VALOR arched below.
The ribbon is one and three-eighths inches wide and consists of a dark blue background with a center stripe of flame red bordered by two ultramarine blue stripes (all of the central stripes are fimbriated by thin white borders).
This area allows access to, and the capability of searching, the Coast Guard Cross Medal database.
As of 01 January 2025 this medal has never been awarded.
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