Coast Guard Commendation
Display Recognition

Site Index

      • Example Display Recognition
      • Display Types
      • Issue Requirements
      • Issue Regulations
      • Who May Apply
      • Administration Processing and Delivery
      • How To Apply For This Display Recognition and/or Medal
      • Mailing Address
      • Questions?
      • Other Display Recognitions
      • Naval Service Websites
      • Example Display Recognition:
        Actual Size: 8 1/2 x 11



        Who May Apply

        • Veteran recipients
        • Active Duty recipients
        • Family Members of recipients
        • Estate Inheritors

        Display Types

        You have four display types to choose from:
        Black & White (No Color)
        Heavy Bond Enclosure

        Heavy Bond Enclosure
        Colors: Regal, Black, Navy
        Trimmed inAppearance Gold

        Ready for Mantle or Shelf Display

        Issue Requirements
        You must submit the following:

      • An unaltered photocopy of your DD-214, WD AGO, NAVPERS, NG or other military issued document clearly displaying your award of the Coast Guard Commendation.
      • Contact The War Library if you do not have a DD-214, WD AGO, NAVPERS, NG or other Report of Separation: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone).
      • NOTICE

        This Display Recognition is available ONLY to authorized recipients who possess orders, or authorization form, or release documentation that confirms award eligibility. (See "Issue Requirements"). To obtain either a Display Medal or a Display Recognition for your authorized award you will be required to provide military-issued documentation authorizing your award. There are no exceptions.

        WARNING!
        You must NOT submit a military issued document or photocopy that:

        • has been altered in any way by you after
          the original's official issue
        • contains information or corrections or
          additions that you entered
        • lists awards or training you knowingly did not receive
        • contains highlighting, colorizing or other markings you entered

        Be advised that on request any knowingly fraudulent document sent by you will be released to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that may result in prosecution and/or fine/imprisonment.

        Email Questions, or Phone: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone)

        Personnel Branch
        Processing and Delivery

        Style Admin Shipping Total
        Full Color .PDF (Printable) $7.50 Emailed $7.50
        Published Document only (Full Color) $14.00 $10.50 USPS $24.50
        Published Document in Heavy Bond Enclosure (Full Color) $19.00 $10.50 USPS $29.50
        Full Color Printable Certificates
        on CD-Rom (minimum 20 Certificates)
        $7.50 $7.50 By Count

      • Total/Shipping fees, above, apply to 50 U.S. states
      • Contact The War Library for international shipping cost
      • How to Apply

        You may apply for your Display Recognition using a...

      • Check Debit card (* Shipped within 1 week)
      • Charge card (* Shipped within 1 week)
      • Personal, Business, Bank or Cashiers Check ( Shipped in 6 weeks)
      • Money Order (* Shipped in 6 weeks)
      • (* Upon reception of required documentation)

        Complete and MAIL this APPLICATION FORM.
        Don't forget to include an unaltered COPY of your DD-214, WD AGO 53-55 or other pre-arranged document(s).

        DISPLAY RECOGNITION and/or MEDAL APPLICATION FORM

        Mailing Address

        Records Chief (REC-AMW)
        The American War Library
        817 East Via Carmelitos Ste 319
        Long Beach CA 90805-7549

        Questions?

        Click here for answers to common questions

        Email: USCG Commendation Display Recognition Inquiry

        Telephone: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone)

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        Issue Regulations


        Coast Guard Commendation

        Coast Guard Commendation Medal


        Click for larger image

        Establishing Authority

        This award was established by the Commandant of the Coast Guard, as announced in Commandant's Circular No. 24-47, dated August 15, 1947, and approved by the Secretary of the Treasury on August 26, 1947. It was initially established as the Coast Guard Commendation Ribbon. On July 5, 1951, the Acting Secretary of the Treasury redesignated it as the Coast Guard Commendation Ribbon With Metal Pendant on the recommendation of Vice Admiral Merlin O'Neill, the Commandant of the Coast Guard. On October 2, 1959, Admiral Alfred C. Richmond, who was Commandant at the time, redesignated it as the Coast Guard Commendation Medal.

        Effective Dates

        The Coast Guard Commendation Medal has been in effect since August 15, 1947.

        Criteria

        The Coast Guard Commendation Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces serving in any capacity with the Coast Guard for meritorious service resulting in unusual and outstanding achievement rendered while the Coast Guard is serving under Department of Transportation jurisdiction. Specifically, it may be awarded to persons who, while serving in any capacity with the Coast Guard (including foreign military personnel) distinguish themselves by heroic or meritorious achievement or service. To merit this award, the acts or services must be accomplished or performed in a manner above that normally expected and must be sufficient to distinguished the individual above others of comparable grade or rating who perform similar services.

        Acts of Heroism

        The act must be worthy of special recognition but not to the degree required for the Bronze Star Medal when combat is involved; or the Coast Guard Medal or Meritorious Service Medal when combat is not involved.

        Outstanding Achievement

        The achievements must be outstanding and worthy of special recognition, but not to the degree required for the Bronze Star Medal or Air Medal when combat is involved; or the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, or Air Medal when combat is not involved. The achievement should be such as to constitute a definite contribution to the Service, such as an invention, or improvement in design, procedure, or organization.

        Meritorious Service

        The meritorious service must be outstanding and worthy of special recognition, but not to the degree required for the Bronze Star Medal or Air Medal when combat is involved; or the Meritorious Service Medal or Air Medal when combat is not involved. The award may cover an extended period of time during which a higher award may have been recommended or received for specific act(s). The criteria, however, should not be the period of service involved, but rather the circumstances and conditions under which the service was performed. The performance should be well above that usually expected commensurate with the individual's grade or rate. If the meritorious service is not sufficient to warrant the award of a Coast Guard Commendation Medal, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal should be considered.

        Order of Precedence

        The Coast Guard Commendation Medal is worn after the Joint Service Commendation Medal and before the Joint Service Achievement Medal.

        Devices

        Additional awards are denoted by Gold Stars, and both the Combat and Operational Distinguishing Devices may be authorized.

        Designer and Sculptor

        The Coast Guard Commendation Medal was designed by Jay Morris and sculpted by Lewis J. King, Jr., both of the Army's Institute of Heraldry.

        First Recipient

        The first recipient of the current version of the Coast Guard Commendation Medal was YN2 Marilyn A. Seebald. She was assigned to the Permanent Uniform Board in the Coast Guard Office of Personnel and received her Commendation Medal on January 13, 1978 for her outstanding performance in the development of a Coast Guard women's uniform.

        Description and Symbolism

        Obverse

        The current Coast Guard Commendation Medal is a bronze hexagon, point up, one and a quarter inches wide and one and three-eighths inches wide, point-to-point. In its center is the current Coast Guard seal.

        Reverse

        The reverse contains a circle consisting of the word AWARDED at the top and OUTSTANDING SERVICE in the lower third, separated by laurel leaves. Inside the circle are the words TO and FOR, separated by a space for engraving the recipient's name. The inscription is configured to read, AWARDED TO [recipient's name] FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE. The inscription describes the purpose of the award, and the laurel leaves represent achievement.

        Ribbon

        The ribbon to the second style Coast Guard Commendation Medal is identical to the ribbon of the first style medal.

        Authorized by the Secretary of the Treasury on August 26, 1947, it was originally only a ribbon bar. The first medal pendant was created July 5, 1951, and on October 2, 1959, it was re-designated the Coast Guard Commendation Medal. The current design was approved by the Commandant of the Coast Guard on June 11, 1968. Awarded to members of the U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Reserve, and to other members of the United States Armed Forces serving in any capacity with the Coast Guard, who distinguish themselves by heroism, outstanding achievement or meritorious service above that normally expected and worthy of special recognition.

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