Medal for Humane Action - Berlin Airlift

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Medal for Humane Action - Berlin Airlift

1. The Medal for Humane Action was established by an act of Congress approved 20 July 1949, and implemented by Executive Order 10325 of 7 February 1952, to be awarded on behalf of the President of the United States by the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Secretary of the Air Force under such regulations as they may severally prescribe.

2. The medal may be awarded to any person who, while serving in or with the Armed Forces of the United States, participated in the humane military effort to supply necessities of life to the people of Berlin, Germany, during the Berlin Airlift (Operation VITTLES) from 26 June 1948 to 30 September 1949. Such person may have been, at the time of participation, a member of the Armed Forces or a national of the United States, or a member of the Armed Forces or a national of any country other than the United States.

3. Requirements for entitlement to the medal are as follows:

(a). General. -- Service for at least 120 days during the period 26 June 1948 and 30 September 1949, inclusive, within the boundaries of the Berlin airlift operations prescribed below, by individuals attached to the following units, which were designated by the Chief of Naval Operations as participating in direct support of the Berlin airlift:

(1) Air Transport Squadron SIX
(2) Air Transport Squadron EIGHT
(3) GCA Unit TWENTY-ONE
(4) GCA Unit TWENTY-EIGHT
(5) GCA Unit THIRTY-ONE
(6) Headquarters Company, Staff of COMNAV Germany
(7) Any Air Force unit approved by Chief of Staff, USAF, as participating in direct support of Berlin Airlift (Operation VITTLES)

b. Posthumous. -- Awards may be made to those persons who lost their lives while participating in the Berlin airlift, or as a direct result of participating therein, without regard to the length of such service, provided all other requirement prescribed in (a) above have been met.

4. Boundaries of the area of Berlin airlift operations are as follows:

a. Northern boundary -- 54th parallel north latitude
b. Eastern boundary -- 13th meridian east longitude
c. Southern boundary -- 48th parallel north latitude
d. Western boundary -- 5th meridian west longitude

5. No individual will be awarded more than one Medal for Humane Action, regardless of the number of times he may qualify for an award.

Source: 1953 U.S. Navy Awards Manual

21 June 1998