A set of signs of the Silver Star medal

The original set of signs is in almost perfect collector's condition. It includes the medal itself, a field bar and a miniature enamel bar. Manufacturer "G27" (Graco Awards company, has been in existence since 1981, is located in Tombal, Texas). Guarantee of authenticity.

The Silver Star (English Silver Star, abbreviations: SS, SSM) is a personal military award of the United States, which is based on courage and bravery shown in battle. The Silver Star is a federal award and is intended to be awarded to members of all branches of the US Armed Forces.

The Silver Star medal traces its history back to the Citation Star, a 3/16-inch (about 4.8 mm) diameter badge attached to the ribbon of the military campaign medal, established by an act of the U.S. Congress on July 9, 1918. At its core, the star was not an independent award, but an additional award badge. The Star of Distinction was awarded to members of the US Army whose courage and bravery were noted in the command order, but whose merits were not enough to be awarded the Medal of Honor or the Distinguished Service Cross. The statute of the award provided for the possibility of retroactive awarding.

A similar award was established for members of the Navy and Marine Corps in 1920 as a badge awarded the "Special letter of commendation" by the Bureau of Naval Awards; as well as the Army star "For Distinction", this badge represented It is a silver star with a diameter of 3/16 inches.

In 1932, the award acquired a modern look: on July 19, by order of the Ministry of Defense, an independent Silver Star medal was approved instead of the army Star "For Distinction"; a 3/16—inch silver star became its central element. The design of the award was developed by jewelry firm Bailey, Banks and Biddle. According to the regulations on the award, US Army soldiers could replace previously received stars of Distinction with a Silver Star medal. Military personnel of the Navy and the Marine Corps could make an exchange only if the award of the star "For Distinction" was made by the US Army. The first recipient of the new medal was General Douglas MacArthur, who was awarded the Star of Distinction seven times during the First World War and was awarded the Silver Star with Oak Leaves, indicating multiple awards.

In 1942, the statute of the award was clarified: the Silver Star became an award for courage and bravery shown in battle. As such, the award was established by an Act of the United States Congress dated August 7, 1942 for the Navy and Marine Corps, and by an act of Congress dated December 15, 1942 for Army personnel.

During the award's existence, the largest number of Silver Star awards has been awarded to Colonel David H. Haskell of the United States Army, who was awarded three times during the Korean War and seven times during the Vietnam War.