Texas Medal of Valor

The Texas Medal of Valor, officially the Lone Star Medal of Valor, is the second highest military decoration that can be conferred to a service member of the Texas Military Forces.[1] It can also be conferred to service members of the United States Armed Forces or other state militaries.[2] Subsequent decorations are conferred by a silver twig of four oak leaves with three acorns on the stem device.[2] A lapel button is also conferred with this decoration.[2]

Lone Star Medal of Valor
TypeMilitary decoration
Awarded forValor
DescriptionThe neck ribbon is blue with a white star. The medal consists of a silver star below a bar with the word "Texas". In the center of the star, between olive and live oak branches is a circle with the word "Valor".
Presented byTexas Military Department
EligibilityTexas Military Forces and
United States Armed Forces
StatusCurrently issued
EstablishedMay 3, 1963
Lone Star Medal of Valor medal ribbon
Precedence
Next (higher)Texas Medal of Honor
Next (lower)Texas Purple Heart

Eligibility

The Lone Star Medal of Valor is conferred to any member of the Texas Military Forces who distinguishes themselves by specific acts of bravery or outstanding courage, or a closely related series of heroic acts involving personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life and which resulted in an accomplishment so exceptional and outstanding as to clearly set the individual apart from his/her comrades or from other persons in similar circumstances. The required gallantry for decoration, while of lesser degree than that required for decoration of the Texas Medal of Honor, must nevertheless be performed with marked distinction.[2]

Authority

The Lone Star Medal of Valor was authorized by the Fifty-eighth Texas Legislature in Senate Bill Number 279 and approved by Governor John Connally on 3 May 1963, effective 23 August 1963.[2]

Description

Medal

The medal pendant is a silver five-pointed star, point up, 1-1/2 of an inch in circumscribing diameter. In the raised center of the star is a live oak branch with acorns on the wearer's right and an olive branch with olives on the wearer's left encircle the inscription, "VALOR". The star is suspended by one link from a silver bar, 1-3/8 of an inch long and 9/32 of an inch high, bearing the inscription "TEXAS" in raised letters. The reverse of the pendant and bar is blank. The pendant is suspended by a metal loop attached to a dark blue moiré silk neckband 1-3/8 of an inch wide and 24 inches long behind a hexagonal pad in the center, made of the same ribbon as the neckband. The color of the ribbon is the blue used in the ribbon of the United States Army's Distinguished Service Cross. A white enameled five-pointed star, 3/8 of an inch in circumscribing diameter, is centered on the hexagonal pad, point up.[2]

Device

Device

A silver twig of four oak leaves with three acorns on the stem is conferred for second and succeeding decorations. Oak leaf clusters will be worn centered progressively to the wearer's right and left of the white enameled star on the neck band pad and the service ribbon. A maximum of four clusters will be worn.[2]

Lapel button

A lapel button, in the form of an enameled replica of the service ribbon, 1/8 of an inch in height and 21/32 of an inch in width is conferred with this decoration. The Texas Medal of Honor and Texas Medal of Valor are the only decorations with lapel buttons.[2]

Recipients
Date conferred Service Member Abbreviated Citation Texas Military Unit Command Conflict/Event Ref
September 2004 Sergeant Tomás Garces First service member killed in action since World War II 1836th Transportation Company DOD Operation Iraqi Freedom [3]
September 2007 19 Choctaw Code Talkers Provided secure communication that aided victory 142nd Infantry Regiment DOD Meuse-Argonne Offensive [4]
May 2011 CSM Larry Rayburn Rescued four paratroopers in subzero weather 143rd Infantry Regiment DOD Cold War training exercise [5]
July 2011 CW2 Howard Cook III Sacrificed himself to save 1LT Rachel Ries during car accident Not applicable to citation N/A Car accident [6]
2008 1LT Melissa Macintyre Extraordinary acts of courage 149th Aviation Brigade TMD Water rescue [7]
2008 CW5 David Torres Extraordinary acts of courage 149th Aviation Brigade TMD Water rescue [7]
2008 SFC Juan Rendon Extraordinary acts of courage 149th Aviation Brigade TMD Water rescue [7]
2008 SSG Michael Faulk Extraordinary acts of courage 149th Aviation Brigade TMD Water rescue [7][8]
2010 SSG Michael McNutt Evacuated Bowie County Deputy Sheriff Michael Page; performed CPR for 25 miles Not applicable to citation N/A Police shooting [9]
April 13, 2019 SSG Andrew Gleason Risked life to save Texans 114th Aviation Regiment TMD Hurricane Harvey [10]
April 13, 2019 SSG Joseph Baker Risked life to save Texans 114th Aviation Regiment TMD Hurricane Harvey [10]
April 13, 2019 SGT Marshall Hallmark Risked life to save Texans 114th Aviation Regiment TMD Hurricane Harvey [10]
April 13, 2019 SGT Jason Carter Risked life to save Texans 114th Aviation Regiment TMD Hurricane Harvey [10]
April 13, 2019 SGT Destry Riggs Risked life to save Texans 114th Aviation Regiment TMD Hurricane Harvey [10]
April 13, 2019 CW4 Gerald Stayton Risked life to save Texans 114th Aviation Regiment TMD Hurricane Harvey [10]
April 13, 2019 CW3 Justin Bielss Risked life to save Texans 114th Aviation Regiment TMD Hurricane Harvey [10]
April 13, 2019 CW3 Ralph Hernandez Risked life to save Texans 114th Aviation Regiment TMD Hurricane Harvey [10]
April 13, 2019 CW4 Robert Meischen Risked life to save Texans 114th Aviation Regiment TMD Hurricane Harvey [10]
April 13, 2019 CW2 William Wallace Risked life to save Texans 114th Aviation Regiment TMD Hurricane Harvey [10]
April 13, 2019 MAJ Adrian Velez Risked life to save Texans 114th Aviation Regiment TMD Hurricane Harvey [10]
April 13, 2019 CPT Craig Tripp Risked life to save Texans 114th Aviation Regiment TMD Hurricane Harvey [10]
April 13, 2019 CPT Jed Kennis Risked life to save Texans 114th Aviation Regiment TMD Hurricane Harvey [10]
April 13, 2019 CW4 Brandon Briggs Risked life to save Texans 114th Aviation Regiment TMD Hurricane Harvey [10]
April 13, 2019 CW3 Joshua A Schaaf Risked life to save Texans Nebraska Army National Guard TMD Hurricane Harvey [10]
April 13, 2019 1SG Ronald K Schroeder Risked life to save Texans Nebraska Army National Guard TMD Hurricane Harvey [10]

See also

References
  1. "State Awards". TMD.
  2. "Joint Force Texas Regulation (1-07)" (PDF). Texas Military Department. August 1, 2009.
  3. "Official Publication of the National Guard Association of Texas" (PDF).
  4. "Choctaw Code Talkers to be Honored by TX Military Forces". KTEN NBC. August 15, 2007.
  5. "36th ID sergeant major receives Texas Medal of Valor 26 years after lifesaving mission". Dvidshub.net. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  6. "Cook demonstrated valor on and off battlefield". Mysanantonio.com. 17 July 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  7. "NGAT NEWS" (PDF). OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL GUARD ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS. 2008.
  8. Bischof, Greg (February 9, 2009). "Man receives medal in helping fallen officer". Texarkana Gazette.
  9. "NGAT NEWS" (PDF). OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL GUARD ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS. 2010.
  10. "Texas Lone Star Medal of Valor". dvidshub.net. 14 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
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