Eligibility Requirements
The Gold Lifesaving Medal or
the Silver Lifesaving Medal is awarded by the Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, to any person
who rescues or endeavors to rescue any other person from drowning, shipwreck, or other
perils of the water. If such rescue is made at the risk of ones own life, and
evidences extreme and heroic daring, the medal is GOLD. If such rescue or attempted
rescue is not sufficiently distinguished to deserve the medal of gold, but evidences such
extraordinary effort as to merit recognition, the medal shall be SILVER. The rescue
or attempted rescue must either take place in waters within the United States or subject
to the jurisdiction thereof, or one or the other parties must be a citizen of the United
States or from a vessel or aircraft owned or operated by citizens of the United
States. If, in the opinion of the Commandant, neither the Gold or Silver Lifesaving
Medal is appropriate, then an appropriate Coast Guard Public Service Award will be
considered.
Military personnel serving on active duty
normally should
not be recommended for the Gold and Silver Lifesaving Medals. However, personnel may
be recommended for a Lifesaving Medal if the act of heroism was performed while the member
was in a leave or liberty status. Otherwise, a military award should be
considered.
Submission of Applications and
Recommendations
Applications or recommendations for the awarding of Lifesaving
Medals, or requests for information pertaining to these awards, should be addressed
to Commander (a) of the Coast Guard District where the incident took place. If the
district is unknown, or if the incident took place outside any such district, applications
and recommendations should be addressed to Commandant (G-WPM-1), U.S. Coast Guard,
Washington, DC 20593-0001, who will forward the case to the appropriate district.
Applications and recommendations for the award of a Lifesaving Medal may be submitted by
or on behalf of the person making or attempting a rescue. Such submissions, in letter
form, must include the following:
(1) Satisfactory evidence of the services performed, in the
form of affidavits, made by eyewitnesses of good repute and standing testifying of their
own knowledge. The opinion of witnesses that person for whom an award is sought
imperiled his or her own life or made extraordinary efforts is not sufficient.
The affidavits must set forth in detail all facts and occurrences showing
clearly in what manner and to what extent life was risked or extraordinary efforts made so
the Commandant may judge for himself as to the degree of merit involved.
(2) A statement identifying the precise locality of the
rescue or attempted rescue, whether from waters within the jurisdiction thereof, or if the
rescue or attempted rescue was outside such waters, whether one or the other of the
parties involved was a citizen of the United States, or was from a vessel or aircraft
owned or operated by citizens of the United States. The date, time of day, nature of
the weather, condition of the water, the names of all persons present when practicable,
the names of all persons rendering assistance, and all pertinent circumstances and data,
showing the precise nature and degree of risk involved, should also be stated.
(3) The affidavits required shall be made before an officer duly
authorized to administer oaths. The affidavits must also be accompanied by a
certificate showing the affiants to be credible persons, certified by some United States
officer, such as a judge or clerk of a United States Court, district attorney, collector
of customs or a postmaster. A commissioned officer of the Coast Guard may certify an
individuals credibility. A credibility certificate is not required if the
affiant is an officer or employee of the Federal Government or a member of the Armed
Forces of the United States.
(4) Upon receipt, the Commandant or cognizant district
commander shall refer the recommendation to an investigating officer. The
investigating officer shall conduct an informal investigation and, guided by the
Administrative Investigations Manual, COMDTINST M5830 (series), develop such additional
information and/or evidence necessary to either:
(a) Terminate the investigation as containing insufficient
justification to continue further (provide feedback to originator, with copy to Commandant
(G-WPM-1)); or
(b) Complete the application for submission to the Commandant for
final determination, adding a proposed citation.
Posthumous Awards
Lifesaving Medals may be awarded posthumously.
Time Limitations
There is no time limitation on the awarding of
Lifesaving Medals.
Award Elements
The Gold and Silver Lifesaving Medals include
the following award elements:
(1) Large medal (engraved) with citation and certificate
(2) Lapel pin
(3) Miniature medal
(4) Ribbon Bar
The large medal, citation, certificate and lapel pin are awarded
to civilians earning the Gold or Silver Lifesaving Medal. Military and personnel earning
the Gold or Silver Lifesaving Medal are issued all elements listed above.
Attachments
Gold Bar A gold bar is
authorized to be worn on the suspension ribbon of the Gold Lifesaving Medal to
denote each subsequent award earned.
Silver Bar A silver bar is authorized to be worn on the
suspension ribbon of the Silver Lifesaving Medal to denote each subsequent award earned.
Stars A military recipient of a Gold or Silver
Lifesaving Medal will receive a 5/16-inch gold star to be worn on the suspension ribbon
and ribbon bar in lieu of a gold or silver bar.
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