- Established
- 1969
- Awarded by
- Navy and Marine Corps (Army and Air Force award combat badges)
- Criteria
- Active participation in ground or surface combat.
- Precedence
- #18 of 18 in this guide · below Prisoner of War Medal
A ribbon-only award signifying that the wearer came under enemy fire and returned it. The Army’s rough equivalents are the Combat Infantryman Badge, Combat Action Badge and Combat Medical Badge.
From Wikipedia
The Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) is a United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States Marine Corps military decoration awarded to United States sea service members "who have actively participated in ground or surface combat." Coast guardsmen, Navy sailors, and Marines active in clandestine, stealth or special operations are deemed eligible for consideration of the award. The ribbon is awarded to members of the Navy and Marine Corps with a rank no higher than captain and colonel, respectively. The U.S. Navy first authorized the Combat Action Ribbon on 17 February 1969.
Excerpt from “Combat Action Ribbon” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable recipients
- John McCain1936–2018 · Vietnam War
- John Ford1894–1973 · World War II
- R. Lee Ermey1944–2018 · Vietnam War
- Robert Mueller1944–2026 · Vietnam War
- Jim Mattis1950 · War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- Don Adams1923–2005 · World War II
- John F. Kelly1950 · Gulf War
- Oliver North1943 · Vietnam War
- Jonny Kim1984
- Doris Miller1919–1943 · World War II
- Peter Pace1945 · Vietnam War
- William H. McRaven1955 · War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- John S. McCain, Jr.1911–1981 · World War II
- Michael P. Murphy Medal of Honor too1976–2005 · War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- Michael A. Monsoor Medal of Honor too1981–2006 · Iraq War
Images: ribbon (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons.
