Indiana Book of Merit
Official Individual Decorations and Commendations Awarded to Indiana Men and Women for Services in the World War.
Batchelor, Harry Samuel
Butler, Cecil
Davis,
Charles Clarence
Enochs,
Rex Paul
Fischer,
Fred C.
Hunt, Jesse Beeson
Pirtle,
James J.
Thornton,Eugene
Tipton, John B.
Congressional Medal of Honor - presented by the president in the name of Congress to the officer or enlisted man who, in action involving actual conflict with an enemy, distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty. The requirements are the same for the Army and the Navy.
Distinguished-Service Medal - awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Army of the United States, shall distinguish himself or herself, by specially meritorious service tot eh government in a duty of great responsibility. The Distinguished-Service Medal of the Navy is awarded under the same conditions.
Distinguished-Service Cross - an Army decoration, awarded for extraordinary acts of heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, not warranting the award of a Medal of Honor. It may be bestowed on civilians serving with the Army in any capacity.
Navy Cross - awarded to any one in the Naval service who distinguishes himself by extraordinary heroism or by distinguished service not justifying award of the Medal of Honor or the Distinguished-Service Medal.
Silver Star -awarded for a citation in orders from the Headquarters of a force commanded by a general officer, or the appropriate command of a general officer, for gallantry in action under conditions not warranting the award of a Medal of Honor or a Distinguished-Service Cross. Although a citation for an act may appear successively in Brigade, Division, and Army General Orders, but one star may be worn for the same act.
Citation Certificate -for gallantry in action, or for meritorious services, issued by the Headquarters of the American Expeditionary Forces in France, and signed by General Pershing.
Purple Heart -is not included in these records because of the late date at which the award was authorized. It is awarded to persons who while serving in the Army of the United States perform any singularly meritorious act of extraordinary fidelity or essential service. The award of the Purple Heart for acts performed prior to February 22, 1932, "is confined to those persons, who, as members of the Army, were awarded the Meritorious Services Citation certificate by the Commander-in-Chief, American Expeditionary Forces, or who were wounded in action under conditions which entitled them to wear a wound chevron."