Replies

Several of those links didn't come through (on first try) but I've checked the current instructions, and agree.

Problem is, during a war, when tens of thousands of things are going on at the same time (including medals and honors, deaths, and drafts, and attacks and planning ... as well as the "usual" rounds of congressional inquiries and budgets and DOD purchasing and coordination), it is usual that the "authority" to name awards gets moved doen several levels.

So, for a Bronze Star, when many are going to be authorized in a single year (and this even BEFORE photocopies and faxes and email (obviously) and even automatic typewriters!) it's usual the the SceNAV delegates authority to award that medal to somebody else. Perhaps the same for Silver Star - a slightly higher award.

Question is, that authority would be from a single letter or memo issued (perhaps!) in '65 or '66, and was removed in (maybe ?) '72 or '73 when the fighting stopped.

So, was such a letter issued?

Such a change should be reflected by a message such as the one below and then by a change to the effective edition of the Awards Manual. Not that it would be easy, but it it would probably be easiest to find the old Awards Manual. That could likely be done with a FOIA request to the Awards office, but it would take time. I don't think the answer you seek is readily available using online sources.

For info, the info addresses appearing as "AIG 7403" and "AIG 7406" do not indicate one addressee. AIG = Address Indicator Group and each represents a great big gaggle of addressees.

The current policy shows Army delegation for a Bronze Star but not a Silver Star.

https://www.perscomonline.army.mil/tagd/awards/Delegation_of_Wartime_Approval_AuthorityUSJSOC.doc

231306Z APR 03

FROM: CDRPERSCOM ALEXANDRIA VA//TAPC-PDO-PA

TO: COMUSJSOC FORT BRAGG NC

INFO:
COMCFLCC DOHA KUWAIT KU//C1//
COMUSARCENT-CDRUSATHIRD FT MCPHERSON GA//AFRD-PA//
HQDA WASH DC//DACS/DAMO/DALO/DAPE//
USCINCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ1-MPSA//
CDRFORSCOM FT MCPHERSON GA//AFAG-PSS-S//
AIG 7403
AIG 7406

UNCLAS

SUBJECT: DELEGATION OF WARTIME APPROVAL AUTHORITY-USJSOC

A. AR 600-8-22, MILITARY AWARDS, DATED 25 FEBRUARY 1995.

B. DOD 1348.33-M, MANUAL OF MILITARY DECORATIONS AND AWARDS, SEPTEMBER 1996.

C. HQ, PERSCOM MESSAGE, DTG 121305Z, NOV 02, SUBJ: SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT AWARDS OF THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN AND COMBAT MEDICAL BADGES.

D. HQ, PERSCOM MESSAGE, DTG 091135Z, JUL 02, SUBJ: CLARIFICATION OF PURPLE HEART CRITERIA-CORRECTED COPY.

E. HQ, PERSCOM MESSAGE, DTG 110501Z, MAR 02, SUBJ: AWARD OF THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE AND COMBAT MEDICAL BADGE-OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.

F. HQ, PERSCOM INFORMATION PAPER, DATED 13 JAN 03, SUBJ: CRITERIA AND PROCESSING PROCEDURES FOR ARMY AWARDS TO FOREIGN MILITARY PERSONNEL.

G. HQ, CFLCC/ARCENT MEMORANDUM (AFRD-PA), DATED 20 APR 03, SUBJ: CFLCC WARTIME AWARDS POLICY FOR OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF).

1. ON 18 APR 03, THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY DELEGATED, AS AN EXCEPTION TO POLICY, AUTHORITY FOR YOU TO APPROVE WARTIME AWARDS, BRONZE STAR MEDAL AND BELOW, TO U.S. ARMY PERSONNEL ASSIGNED OR ATTACHED TO YOUR COMMAND WHO DEPLOY INTO THE USCENTCOM AOR IN SUPPORT OF JSOC COMBAT OPERATIONS. THIS AUTHORITY WILL NOT BE FURTHER DELEGATED.

2. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AWARD OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR, DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL, SILVER STAR, LEGION OF MERIT, DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, AND SOLDIERS' MEDAL WILL BE FORWARDED TO HQ, PERSCOM (TAPC-PDO-PA) FOR CONSIDERATION BY ONE OF THE ARMY DECORATIONS BOARDS.

[snip]