During World War I, General John Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force in France, identified the need in the army for a lesser award than the Medal of Honor that recognised acts of bravery. The award was introduced on January 1918 by President Woodrow Wilson.

The original medal was designed by Lieutenant Aymar E. Embry of the U.S Engineers Officer Reserve Corps, whose designed was subsequently embellish. One hundred medals using the original design were produced to meet the immediate demand. This first batch of medals were ultimately replaced when the final design reached production.

An award of the Distinguished Service Cross entitled an enlisted recipient with more than 20 years of service to a 10% increase in their retirement pay.

Description

• Shape: uniform cross
• Material: bronze
• Dimensions: 2 inches in height, 1 13/16 inches in width
• Features: An eagle in the center with a scroll beneath reading FOR VALOR
• Ribbon: Imperial Blue in the center with stripes of white and Old Glory Red on the edges