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Navy Cross

When the United States entered the First World War, the country had no other meritorious decoration than the Medal of Honor. It had no decoration to recognize heroic actions that could not apply for the Medal of Honor. To fill this gap, the US Army instituted the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal in 1918. The Navy and Marine Corps followed somewhat later.
On February 4th 1919, the Navy Cross was instituted by act of Congress as the third highest Naval decoration after the Navy Medal of Honor and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.

This made the medal not very popular. Most servicemen regarded it as a minor decoration.
The Navy Cros was made retroactive till April 6th 1917. On August 7th 1942, the Congress upgraded the medal and placed it directly under the Medal of Honor. It then became a combat-only recognition.

The Navy Cross was designed by James Earl Fraser. Through the years it knew some differences. The medal itself has always been the same. It is a three part construction. The cross and the front and the back of the medallion are struck separately and soldered together. The earliest version (1919-1928) wears a ribbon with a very narrow white stripe on the blue cloth. The medal has mostly a dull, greenish bronze colour. The later issues (1928-1941) have a more custom .5" white stripe on the ribbon and are of a more darker, gunmetal bronze.
The cross is designed as a modified cross that measures 1,5 inches wide. The ends of the arms are rounded. On each re-entrant arms of the cross can be found a bunch of laurel leaves with berries to represent achievement. In the centre is depicted a sailing vessel on waves, sailing to the left. The ship is a so called Caravelle, symbolic for sailing ships of the 14th century.
The reverse bears crossed anchors of the pre-1850 period, with attached cables. In the mid can be found the letters USN.
The ribbon is in Navy Blue with a white stripe in the center, to represent the Navy service and the purity of selflessness.

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.

Replicas are almost without exception struck out of one piece instead of the original three piece construction. During the years 1941-1942 a variation was seen that was nicknamed "Black Widow" with a blackened finish of the medal. Most of these awards were awarded posthumously. From the mid of World War Two the more original dull bronze finish was once more adapted.

Abel, Brent Maxwell* May 16th, 1916
† December 26th, 2005

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Abele, Mannert Lincoln (USN)* July 11th, 1903
† August 16th, 1942

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Grid List
Eareckson, William Olmstead "Eric"* May 30th, 1900
† October 25th, 1966
Plot: 37 Grave: 692

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Earnest, Albert Kyle "Bert"* April 1st, 1917
† October 27th, 2009
Plot: 7 Row: GG Grave: Column 4-4

Ebert, Walter Gale* August 2nd, 1909
† June 20th, 1990
Plot: Columb. 1 

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Eccles, Henry Effingham* December 31st, 1898
† May 14th, 1987

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Edgar, Charles R.† March 1945

Edge, Lawrence Lott* November 15th, 1912
† June 18th, 1945

Edmondson, Robert F.* January 13th, 1917

Edson, Merritt Austin "Red Mike"* April 25th, 1897
† August 14th, 1955

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Ellison, Thomas Ballard* July 28th, 1914

Ely, Arthur Vincent* March 8th, 1912
† June 5th, 1943

Engeset, Knut* April 25th, 1892
† May 3rd, 1946

English, Robert Henry* January 16th, 1888
† January 21st, 1943
Plot: 8 Grave: 5118

Ervin, Arthur B. "MuMu'* April 16th, 1922
† July 5th, 1944

Ethridge, Walker* February 1st, 1913
† March 20th, 1945

Evans, William Robinson, Jr.* August 11th, 1918
† June 4th, 1942

Evarts, Milo Burnell* September 3rd, 1913
† October 12th, 1942

Ewen, Edward Coyle* May 26th, 1897

Ewoldt, Leonard Emil* November 19th, 1913
† October 10th, 2001

Sources