Lifesaving Medal

Lifesaving Medal
Gold and Silver Lifesaving Medals
Awarded for	Rescuing, or endeavoring to rescue, any other person from drowning, shipwreck, or other perils of the water.
Country	United States
Presented by	United States Coast Guard
Eligibility	Open
Established	20 June 1874
Total	600+ Gold Lifesaving Medals 1,900+ Silver Lifesaving Medals
Gold Lifesaving Medal ribbon and Silver Lifesaving Medal ribbon

Famed life-saver Joshua James wearing the Gold Lifesaving Medal among other awards

The Gold Lifesaving Medal and Silver Lifesaving Medal are U.S. decorations issued by the United States Coast Guard. The awards were established by Act of Congress, 20 June 1874; later authorized by 14 U.S.C. § 500.^[1] These decorations are two of the oldest medals in the United States and were originally established at the Department of Treasury as Lifesaving Medals First and Second Class. The Department of the Treasury initially gave the award, but today the United States Coast Guard awards it through the Department of Homeland Security.^[2] They are not classified as military decorations, and may be awarded to any person.^[3]

History[]

A British Sea Gallantry Medal for saving life was authorized in 1854. Twenty years later in the United States the Gold and Silver Lifesaving Medals were first authorized in an Act (18 Stat 125, 43rd Congress) that furthered the United States Life-Saving Service. The Secretary of the Treasury was directed, among other provisions of the act, to create "medals of honor", to be distinguished as life-saving medals of the first and second class, and bestow them upon any persons who endanger their own lives in saving, or endeavoring to save lives from perils of the sea, within the United States, or upon any American vessel.

The Lifesaving Medals have had three designs in their history. The original design in 1874 was "non-portable" and could not be worn by the recipient, but rather displayed much like a trophy. In 1882 the design was changed so that the medal was suspended from a two inch wide ribbon. The ribbon was red for the Gold Lifesaving Medal and light blue for the Silver Lifesaving medal. Finally on 4 August 1949 the medals and ribbons were reduced in size so that they were more proportionate to medals awarded by the U.S. Armed Forces. The ribbons were also redesigned to have multiple colors.

The laws governing the awarding of medal were amended over the years, and is currently awarded by the Coast Guard. The Commandant of the Coast Guard makes the final determination in authorizing the award.

"The Gold Lifesaving Medal or the Silver Lifesaving Medal may be awarded to any person who rescues or endeavors to rescue any other person from drowning, shipwreck, or other perils of the water. The rescue or attempted rescue must either take place in waters within the U.S. or subject to the jurisdiction thereof, or one or the other of the parties must be a citizen of the U.S. or from a vessel or aircraft owned or operated by citizens of the U.S."^[3]

The Lifesaving Medal is issued in two grades, being gold and silver. "The Gold Lifesaving Medal may be awarded to an individual who performed a rescue or attempted rescue at the risk of his or her own life, and demonstrates extreme and heroic daring. The Silver Lifesaving Medal may be awarded to an individual who performed a rescue or attempted rescue where the circumstances do not sufficiently distinguish the individual to deserve the medal of gold, but demonstrate such extraordinary effort as to merit recognition. If neither the Gold nor Silver Lifesaving Medal is appropriate, then a Certificate of Valor or an appropriate Coast Guard Public Service Award may be considered."^[3]

Until the mid-20th century, the Lifesaving Medal was often bestowed upon members of the military; however in recent times the decoration has become somewhat rare. This is due primarily to the creation of a variety of additional military decorations that supplant the Lifesaving Medal. The United States Navy often issues the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, instead of the Lifesaving Medal, for sea rescues involving risk of life. "Military personnel serving on active duty would normally not be recommended for Gold and Silver Lifesaving Medals; however, military personnel may be recommended for a Lifesaving Medal if the act of heroism was performed while the individual was in a leave or liberty status. In all other circumstances, a military award should be considered."^[3] The Lifesaving Medal is authorized for wear on U.S. military uniforms.^[4]

The Lifesaving Medal is unusual among U.S. medals because it is actually struck from the eponymous precious metal, silver or gold.^[5]

Multiple awards of the Lifesaving Medal are denoted by award stars on the decoration's ribbon and a gold clasp, inscribed with the recipient's name, is worn on the actual medal.

Since 1874, more than 600 Gold Lifesaving Medals and more than 1,900 Silver Lifesaving Medals have been awarded.^[5]

Notable recipients[]

Life Saving Medal 1st Class, original design

Gold Medal[]

• , sacrificed his life rescuing two teens from the Medina River in Texas on June 8, 2016. Medal posthumously Awarded, August 1, 2017.^[6]
• William Babb, for the 1885 rescue of the American schooner A.C. Maxwell.
• Benjamin Dailey, keeper of the , led the rescue of the crew of the Ephraim Williams.
• Richard Etheridge, Benjamin Bowser, Dorman Pugh, Theodore Meekins, Lewis Wescott, Stanley Wise, and William Irving of the Pea Island Life-Saving Station, for rescue of the crew from the E.S. Newman on 11 October 1896. Awarded gold medals posthumously on 5 March 1996.^[7]
• George Freeth, a swimming instructor and the "Father of Modern Surfing",^[8] who rescued seven fishermen off Venice Beach during a winter storm in December 1908.^[9]
• Vice Admiral Harry G. Hamlet, U.S. Coast Guard – While in command of USS Marietta in the Bay of Biscay on 28 April 1919, rescued a crew of 47 persons from the sinking USS James
• Sergeant Marcus Hanna (lighthouse keeper) – Only person to receive both the Medal of Honor and the Gold Lifesaving Medal.
• Joshua James, USLSS^[10] – Legendary lifesaver.
• Jonas Johns - Native American who rescued the 14-man crew of the schooner Lily Grace wrecked near Gray's Harbor, Washington in January 1887 and a year later rescued 3 more sailors. Medal awarded on 9 December 1889.
• James Larsin, fisherman and Wisconsin state legislator.
• Ida Lewis, lighthouse keeper and first female recipient.
• Surfman Isaac Mayo, USLSS
• Chief Warrant Officer John Allen Midgett Jr., USCG
• Surfman Rasmus Midgett, USLSS
• Captain Henry C. Mustin, USN - Naval aviation pioneer.
• Sheppard Shreaves, civilian diver who rescued Torpedoman 2nd Class Henry Breault, who later received the Medal of Honor, during the salvage of the submarine ^[11]
• Lenny Skutnik^[12]
• Arland D. Williams, Jr.
• Boatswain's Mate First Class Bernard C. Webber, EN3 Andrew Fitzgerald; SN Richard Livesey; and SN Irving Maske, U.S. Coast Guard, stationed at Coast Guard Station Chatham, Massachusetts, for the rescue of 32 crewmen of the T2 tanker SS Pendleton on 18 February 1952. This rescue is depicted in the 2016 movie The Finest Hours.
• Lieutenant Luke Christopher (Posthumously) for the rescue of Seaman John Barrina from the SS Charles G. Black on 5 December 1936. Christopher was stationed at Coast Guard Air Station Cape May. While airlifting Barrina to the hospital, one of the pontoons on the Douglas RD-2 Dolphin named, Adhara caught a stray fishing net and crashed at sea. Christopher survived the initial crash but succumbed to his wounds shortly after.^[13]
• Rear Admiral Lucien Young, veteran of the Spanish–American War. Received for actions while an ensign on 12 June 1878.

Silver Medal[]

• Captain , USCG, Coast Guard aviation pioneer.
• Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd, USN – Organized, led and flew on first flights over the North Pole and South Pole.
• Floyd William Carlson, Chief Test Pilot, Bell Aircraft Corporation, rescued two fishermen marooned on crumbling ice two miles out in Lake Erie in March 1945. This was the first time a helicopter was used for rescue purposes.
• Major General Byron F. Johnson, USMC - Rescued a man from drowning near San Diego in 1929.^[14]
• Vice Admiral Charles E. Larkin, USCG
• Mary McCann, an Irish girl who rescued survivors of the PS General Slocum disaster in 1904.
• Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, USN - Medal of Honor recipient.
• Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN^[15] – Commander of the Pacific Fleet during World War II. For rescuing a drowning sailor.^[16]
• General George S. Patton, USA – Commander of 3rd United States Army.
• Major General Robert L. Spragins.^[17]
• Vice Admiral Joseph K. Taussig, Jr., USN.
• Colonel Frank Tompkins, career Army officer and recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross.
• Master Henry F. Page, age ten. Rescued another boy in Shenevus, New York on 8 August 1887.^[18]
• Miss Marie D. Parsons, age ten. She rescued a man and his seven-year-old daughter on 7 July 1883 in Gardiners Bay off Long Island, New York.^[19]
• Emlen Tunnell, National Football League Hall of Fame member (who played for New York Giants and Green Bay Packers American Football Teams) posthumously awarded, in 2011, for heroic actions saving two fellow members of the Coast Guard during World War 2^[20]
• Bobby Brown- third baseman, baseball executive and cardiologist

Other awardees[]

• Lucien M. Clemons, 19 June 1876.
• Hubbard M. Celmons, 19 June 1876.
• A.J. Celmons, 19 June 1876.
• J. Schuyler Crosby, 8 June 1877.
• Carl Fosburg, 8 June 1877.
• Philip C. Bleil, New York City Police Department, 4 January 1878.
• Seaman Antoine Williams, USN, 13 March 1879.
• John H. Rapp, 4 March 1882. (Also awarded silver medal.)
• Cabin Steward Fuji Hachitaro, USN, 5 November 1889.
• Bobby Brown, NY Yankees player & MLB President, 9 May 1943
• Captain Cameron Kirkconnell, 2008

See also[]

• Soldier's Medal
• Navy and Marine Corps Medal
• Airman's Medal
• Coast Guard Medal
• Awards and decorations of the United States government

References[]

External links[]

• Gold Lifesaving Medal Awardees of the U.S. Life-Saving Service, Lighthouse Service, Revenue Cutter Service and Coast Guard
• Loubat, Joseph Florimond; Jacquemart, Jules-Ferdinard (1878). The Medallic History of the United States of America, 1776–1876. Vol 1. |volume= has extra text (help)
• Loubat, Joseph Florimond; Jacquemart, Jules-Ferdinard (1878). The Medallic History of the United States of America, 1776–1876. Vol 2. |volume= has extra text (help)