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Air Medal (AM)

The Air Medal was instituted on May 11th 1942. On March 9th 1942, the Secretary of War suggested to institute the Air Medal an award to "any person who, while serving in any capacity of the Army of the United States, distinguishes himself by meritorious achievement while participating in an aerial flight". Using the Distinguished Flying Cross for this purpose would have degraded that decoration. The original institutional text stated that the decoration was to be awarded to "any person who, while serving in any capacity in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard of the United States subsequent to September 8, 1939, distinguishes, or has distinguished, himself by meritorious achievement while participating in an aerial flight". On September 11th 1942 this "Executive Order was slightly changed with the words "in any capacity in or with the Army".
The medal was designed by Walker Hancock, who was ordered to temporary duty to the G1 War Department on Camp Livingston, Louisiana, especially to work on the medal.

The Air Medal resembles a Bronze Compass Rose with sixteen points and decorated with a Fleur-de-lis at the top point which holds the suspension ring. On the obverse can be found a downward attacking "American Eagle", clutching a lightning bolt in each talon. The reverse shows a blank raised disk that can bear the recipient’s name and rank.
The ribbon is ultramarine blue with two broad golden orange stripes from top to bottom.

The official criteria are:
- "The Air Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the armed forces of the United States, shall have distinguished himself by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight".
- "Awards may be made to recognize single acts of merit or heroism or for meritorious service".
- "Award of the Air Medal is primarily intended to recognize those personnel who are on current crew member or non-crew member flying status which requires them to participate in aerial flight on a regular and frequent basis in the performance of their primary duties. However, it may also be awarded to certain other individuals whose combat duties require regular and frequent flying in other than a passenger status or individuals who perform a particularly noteworthy act while performing the function of a crew member but who are not on flying status. These individuals must make a discernible contribution to the operational land combat mission or to the mission of the aircraft in flight. Examples of personnel whose combat duties require them to fly include those in the attack elements of units involved in air-land assaults against an armed enemy and those directly involved in airborne command and control of combat operations. Involvement in such activities, normally at the brigade/group level and below, serves only to establish eligibility for award of the Air Medal; the degree of heroism, meritorious achievement or exemplary service determines who should receive the award. Awards will not be made to individuals who use air transportation solely for the purpose of moving from point to point in a combat zone."

Any further awarded Air Medal came in the form of an Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (US Army, US Army Air Force), or Golden Star (US Navy, US Coast Guard and US Navy Marines Corps) that could be worn on the ribbon. Each fifth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster or Golden Star was awarded as a Silver Oak Leave Cluster or Silver Star. The US Army and Navy also awarded a "V" pin (Valour Device) that denoted special acts for heroism involving aerial contact with an enemy force.

Abbott, Earl Leroy "Abby"* January 8th, 1919
† January 24th, 1945

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Abeles, Afred Beecher (USAF)* June 12th, 1923
† January 23rd, 1945

Grid List
Palermo, Carmello J.† January 20th, 1945

Parramore III, George F† December 1st, 1943
Plot: D Row: 5 Grave: 36

Paschal, Thomas C.* May 15th, 1922
† April 16th, 1944

Patterson, Owen Findlay* October 27th, 1914
† May 27th, 2006

Patterson, William Webb* January 10th, 1924

Paw, Joseph† August 17th, 1943
Plot: 84 Grave: 207-209

Pease, Harl Jr.* April 17th, 1910
† August 7th, 1942

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Peek, Buster* April 6th, 1917
† August 31st, 1943

Pell, Floyd Joaquin* December 29th, 1913
† February 19th, 1942
Plot: VII Grave: 52

Petersen, Vernon R.* May 18th, 1924
† April 17th, 1945

Petersen, Vernon William* July 28th, 1918
† December 10th, 2022

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Peterson, Arman* May 20th, 1915
† July 1st, 1943

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Peterson, Chesley Gordon* August 10th, 1920
† January 28th, 1990

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Phillips, Charles T.† December 15th, 1942

Phipps, Laurel H. "Bud"* March 27th, 1921
† April 12th, 2012

Pieniazek, Adam Jan* January 2nd, 1920
† March 19th, 1968

Pierson, Albert* July 10th, 1899
† February 22nd, 1999
Plot: 59 Grave: 397

Pinney, George Robert* January 8th, 1922
† September 19th, 2011

Pitts, Marc F.† June 13th, 1943

Plotecia, Sam† December 16th, 2004

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Poepper, James Raymond* February 2nd, 1924
† December 25th, 1964

Potter, Henry A. "Hank"* September 22nd, 1918
† May 27th, 2002

Potts, Francis M.† September 6th, 1942

Powers, John James* July 3rd, 1912
† May 8th, 1942

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Preddy, George E. “Ratsy”* February 5th, 1919
† December 25th, 1944

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Pressler, Louis Philip, Jr.* January 18th, 1916
† February 25th, 1990

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Pruett, Henry E.† March 3rd, 1944

Psaki, Nicholas George, Jr.* April 11th, 1919
† March 14th, 2009

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Pucket, Donald Dale* December 15th, 1915
† July 9th, 1944
Plot: 84 Grave: 270-272

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Pumphrey, A.T. "Pump"* March 24th, 1917
† December 22nd, 2010
Plot: C1 Row: W2 Grave: B48

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Purdy, Robert F.† October 4th, 1943

Sources