Navy Cross
Display Recognition

Site Index

      • Example Display Recognition
      • Applicable Military Branches
      • 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
      • Sea Service Websites
      • Example Display Recognition:
        Actual Size: 8 1/2 x 11
        Displayed: Navy



        Military Branches

        All Military Service branches are applicable:
        United States Navy, United States Marine Corps

        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 in Appearance Gold

        Ready for Mantle or Shelf Display

        Issue Requirements
        You must submit one of the following:

      • An unaltered photocopy of your DD-214, OR WD AGO 53-55, OR other military issued document clearly displaying your Navy Cross award.
      • 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: Navy Cross Display Recognition Inquiry

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

        Copyright ©  The American War Library
        Military and Veteran Websites
        The G.I. Photograph Museum of Honor
        Locator Registry Applications
        Accessing The Worldwide Military Personnel Database

        Issue Regulations


        Navy Cross


        Click for larger image

        Authorized on February 4, 1919 and awarded to officers and enlisted personnel of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps who distinguish themselves by extraordinary heroism, not justifying the award of the Medal of Honor, in military operations against an armed enemy. Originally awarded for combat heroism and other distinguished service, it was the Navy's third highest award. An Act of Congress on August 7, 1942 gave the Navy Cross precedence over the Distinguished Service Medal, making it a combat decoration only, awarded for extraordinary heroism in the presence of great danger and personal risk. It is now the second highest decoration for U.S. Naval personnel.

        Establishing Authority

        The Navy Cross was established by Act of Congress (Public Law 253, 65th Congress), approved on February 4, 1919.

        Effective Dates

        The Navy Cross has been in effect since April 6, 1917.

        Criteria

        The Navy Cross may be awarded to any person who, while serving with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguishes himself in action by extraordinary heroism not justifying an award of the Medal of Honor. The action must take place under one of three circumstances: while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or, while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict in which the United States is not a belligerent party. To earn a Navy Cross 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. An accumulation of minor acts of heroism does not justify an award of the Navy Cross.

        Order of Precedence

        The Navy Cross is worn after the Medal of Honor and before all other decorations.

        Devices

        Additional awards of the Navy Cross are denoted by gold stars five-sixteenths of an inch in diameter.

        Designer

        The Navy Cross was designed by James Earl Fraser (1876-1953).

        First Recipient

        The first actual recipient of the Navy Cross is unknown because intial awards were made from a lengthy list published after the First World War.

        Description and Symbolism

        Obverse

        The Navy Cross is a modified cross patie one and a half inches wide (the ends of its arms are rounded whereas a conventional cross patie has arms that are straight on the end). There are four laurel leaves with berries in each of the re-entrant arms of the cross. In the center of the cross a sailing vessel is depicted on waves, sailing to the viewer's left. The vessel is a symbolic caravel of the type used between 1480 and 1500. Fraser selected the caravel because it was a symbol often used by the Naval Academy and because it represented both naval service and the tradition of the sea. The laurel leaves with berries refer to achievement.

        Reverse

        In the center of a bronze cross patie one and a half inches wide, crossed anchors from the pre-1850 period, with cables attached. The letters USN appear amid the anchors.

        Ribbon

        The ribbon is navy blue with a center stripe of white. the blue alludes to Navy service and the white represents the purity of selflessness.

        10 USC Sec. 6242 01/26/98

        TITLE 10 - ARMED FORCES Subtitle C - Navy and Marine Corps

        PART II - PERSONNEL CHAPTER 567 - DECORATIONS AND AWARDS TEXT,/p>

        Sec. 6242. Navy cross The President may award a Navy cross of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguishes himself by extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of a medal of honor - (1) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; (2) while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or (3) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. SOURCE (Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 389; July 25, 1963, Pub. L. 88-77, Sec. 2(2), 77 Stat. 94.) NOTES Historical and Revision Notes

        Revised section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large)

        6242 34 U.S.C. 356. Feb. 4, 1919, ch. 14, Sec. 3, 40 Stat. 1056; renumbered Sec. 2 and amended Aug. 7, 1942, ch. 551, Sec. 1, 56 Stat. 743.

        The word "award" is substituted for the word "present" to cover the determination of the recipient as well as the actual presenting of the decoration. The words "but not in the name of Congress" are omitted, since a decoration is presented in the name of Congress only if the law so directs. The words "Navy or the Marine Corps" are substituted for the words "naval service of the United States" for clarity. To be eligible for the award, a person need not be a member of the naval service, but only serving in some capacity either with the Navy or with the Marine Corps. AMENDMENTS 1963 - Pub. L. 88-77 enlarged the authority to award the Navy cross, which was limited to those cases in which persons distinguished themselves in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, to permit its award for extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of a medal of honor, while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

        Go To Top of Page
        Go To Issue Regulations for Other Medals and Badges