United States Distinguished Service Medal (Army) Accession Number: RELAWM14855

Description

United States Distinguished Service Medal (Army). Unnamed. Obverse: The Coat of Arms of the United States in gold surrounded by a circle of dark blue enamel, bearing the inscription 'FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MCMXVIII'. Reverse: A scroll for the name of the recipient (left blank)) upon a trophy of flags and weapons. The medal is fitted with a fixed bar suspender and a piece of 35 mm ribbon consisting of a broad white centre and red edges separated by a narrow stripe of blue.

Contextual Description

The American Distinguished Service Medal (Army) was authorized by a Presidential Order dated 2 January 1918, and confirmed by Congress on 9 July 1918. It was announced by War Department General Order No. 6, on 12 January 1918, with the following information concerning the medal, 'A bronze medal of appropriate design and a ribbon to be worn in lieu thereof, to be awarded by the President to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Army shall hereafter distinguish himself or herself, or who, since April 6, 1917, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility in time of war or in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United States.' The medal may be granted posthumously and can be awarded to officers and men of allied military services. This medal is part of a collection assembled by the late Hon. Sir Thomas Hughes, Member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. It was presented to the Memorial in memory of his son, Captain Roger Forrest Hughes, Australian Army Medical Corps, who died of wounds in France on 11 December 1916 and his grandson, Flying Officer Peter Roger Forrest Hughes, 12 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, who was killed on active service while flying in the Northern Territory on 3 October 1942.