Combat Action Ribbon
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The Combat Action Ribbon is a personal military decoration of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps, and which is awarded to those who, in any grade including and below that of a Captain in the Navy (or Colonel in the Marine Corps), have actively participated in ground or surface combat. The Combat Action Ribbon is also awarded to members of the United States Coast Guard when operating under the control of the Navy.
The Combat Action Ribbon was first created in February 1969 with retroactive presentation to to March 1, 1961. On October 5, 1999, by Presidential Order of Bill Clinton, the retroactive effective date of the Combat Action Ribbon was changed to December 7, 1941 which was the entry date of the United States of America into the Second World War.
To be awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, a service member must have actively participated in bonafide ground or naval combat with hostile enemy forces. Such performance under enemy fire must be deemed "honorable and satisfactory" which excludes the award to those who show cowardice in the face of an enemy or retreat without cause.
Personnel who earned the Combat Infantryman Badge or Combat Medical Badge while a member of the United States Army may be authorized to wear the Combat Action Ribbon upon application to the Department of the Navy. This policy may soon change since, as of 2005, the U.S. Army is currently developing an equivalent of the Combat Action Ribbon, to be known as the Combat Recognition Ribbon.
Retroactive awards of the Combat Action Ribbon, for retired, deceased, or discharged personnel, are handled by the Navy Liaison Officer to the National Personnel Records Center.
Additional decorations of the Combat Action Ribbon are denoted by gold and silver award stars.