Why the American military created the Silver Star, Navy Cross and other medals for valor
Harold C. Hutchison - 1h ago
Today, the Silver Star, Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, and Air Force Cross are known as awards that recognize heroic actions by service members in combat.
But they were created on the heels of serious controversy over other awards.
During the Civil War, Congress created the Medal of Honor to recognize valor. But some of the awards were seen as questionable by some. Perhaps the most egregious of these was the case of the 27th Maine Regiment.
According to HomeofHeroes.com, the 864 men of this regiment were awarded the medal en masse due to a poorly-worded order by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and a bureaucratic snafu.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/why-the-american-military-created-the-silver-star-navy-cross-and-other-medals-for-valor/ar-AAZFGSR?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=a5c5effaad664c5ba379734ae22015b8
