Authorized Feb. 4, 1919, the Navy Cross at the time was the Navy’s third highest award for combat heroism and other distinguished services.
On Aug. 7, 1942, Congress made the Navy Cross a combat-only decoration and made it the Navy’s second- highest award — ranking below only the Medal of Honor.
The Navy Cross shares this status with the Army’s Distinguished Service Cross and the Air Force Cross.
Official criteria for the award
“The act should involve risk of life so extraordinary as to set this person apart from his contemporaries.”
The medal is awarded “to any person while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps who distinguishes himself (or herself) with extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of the Medal of Honor.”
“The act to be commended must be performed in the presence of great danger or at great personal risk and must be performed in such a manner as to render the individual highly conspicuous among others of equal grade, rate, experience, or position of responsibility.”
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