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Last Update:
Friday, December 20, 2024
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Silver Star Recipients
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The Silver Star is the third highest military award for heroism. The Silver Star may be awarded to any person who,
while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the United States, is
cited for gallantry in action;
(1) against an enemy of the
United States; (2) while engaged in military operations involving conflict
with an opposing foreign force; or, (3) while serving with friendly foreign
forces engaged in armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the
United States is not a belligerent party. The Silver Star is awarded
when the heroic actions fall just short of warranting the Air Force Cross.
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PJ Medal's Trivia - At least 79 PJs were awarded the Silver Star. Three PJ's were recipients of both a Silver Star and an Air Force Cross (King, Hackney and McGrath). Five PJs received three Silver Stars (Cormier, Lester, Locker, Morrow, and Young) and ten PJ's received two Silver Stars (Avery, Curtis, Eldridge, Fisk, McComb, McQuoid, Musnicki, Pleiman, Stanaland, and Williamson). One father and son were each awarded a Silver Star (Dave & Steve Rhody).
During the Vietnam War, hundreds of Airman's Medals, Distinguished Flying Crosses, Silver Stars, Air Force Crosses, and one Medal of Honor were awarded to Pararescuemen. This elite group of men were one of the most heavily decorated, if not the most decorated, groups of enlisted Air Force men in the history of that war. This is an extraordinary number considering that no more than seventy-five Pararescuemen served at any one time in Vietnam or Thailand.
Since the Vietnam War, two PJs have been awarded
the Air Force Cross and two others the Silver
Star. The Air Force Cross recipients were Timothy A. Wilkinson for
action in Somalia and Jason Cunningham for action in Afghanistan. The
Silver Star recipients were Scott Fales for action in Somalia and Keary Miller for
action in Afghanistan. The tradition of heroism continues with this band
of brothers known as PJs. All of them certainly have lived up to their
motto "That Other's May Live."
The below list has the majority of Pararescue recipients but
it is still missing a
few. In addition to the certified names on this site, we are trying to identify
and verify others. The below list is of verified awardees. If you click on
their name, you will view a copy of the narrative of their award.
If you have the narratives for any of these individuals; or, if you know of any
other PJs awarded the Silver Star, contact me at
historian@pjhistory.org
The
same is true if you have newspaper articles or other published media concerning an
individuals award.
Recipients name is followed by the date
of the SAR mission and the location where it happened. Most names are
hyperlinked to the citation for the award or a news article
concerning the award.
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