REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE AWARD OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY MEDAL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP59-00882R000200330203-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 13, 2001
• Sequence Number: 203
• Content Type: REGULATION

Approved For.Release 2002/01/02 : CIA-RDP59-0088Z000200330203-6
REGULATIONS GOVIETING THE tit'AFLI) OF THE NATIGra SECURITY 'MEDAL
Purauaat to Pararaph 2 of ExeclAive Order the follow,-
ing regulations are hereby issued to govern thu award of the
National Securit Veda':
1. The ilational SecLrit.y reclul may be awerded to any person
without regard to nationality, including a nemiler of the Armee'
Foroeu of the 1,731ited Stater, who, on or after 26 July 1947, has
made an outstanding contribution to the National intelligence of?
fort. This contribution may consist of either exceptionally
aleritorioz service perforred in a iosition of high responsibIlity
or of an ac, of valor requiring per:onal courale of a high derrec
and corplete diercsurcl of lerc:onai rafety.
2. The National Securiti heL:Jal with 41ccovrperving ribbon and
apputeranoes, alnll be of appropriete des17n to be approved 1)1
the Executive E7ecretary of the National Security. Council,
3. The National Securit, Medal shall be awarded only by the
Preuiklent or his desioloe for that purpose.
4. Recommendations vry 1e sAvitted to the Executive SLore?
tary o: the National Security Counel by any individual havinc
pertonal knowled, e of the facts of the exceptionally meritorious
conduct of act of valor of the candidate in the performance of
outsLn iding oerrIcess either ns an eyewitnees or from the testimolly
of othes who have personal knaerdre or were eyewitnesses. Any
recommendations shall be accolzpanied by complete documentation,
including where necesscr:-) certifeates? affidavits or sworn
transcripts of testimony. Each mcormendaUen for an award shall
show the exact rtatua) at the tiro of the rend:I:Lion of the service
on which the recormendation is based) with rerpect to citizenship)
Inployrent, and all other raterial factors, of the pereon who is
being reownended for the rational Security Yodel.
5. Doh recommenWdon shall contain a draft of an appro?
priate citation to aceorpany the award of the National Sturiti
raedel.
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T
eeere et.A proved For Release 2002/01/02 : CIA-RDP59-0088a,000200330203-6
12 January
TrTi. %71ere).A1, CPPJT YP-EttkL
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Thu early- histo-recal records of oer country thow recognition of
the vital importance of obtairing accurate intellience for guidance
on eattrs of national interest. In this connection General Georee
eashington in a letter to Colonel Elias ray-ton, dated July 2b, 1717,
stated "The necessity of procuring good intelligence is apparent and
need not be further ureed." t Oeneral Order issued August 7, 1762 at
the headquarters of the Continental /Army, Newburgh, NEW fork provided
that badges of distinction be conferyeC on veteran non-caelissioed
officers and soldiers and provision for the award: know; as the Beige of
'Illittry Merit or the Decoretion of the, Purple Hetrt was made by the
-?rollowing laneuaee:
"The General ever eesirous to cherish virtuous ambi-
tion in his soldiers as eell as to Poster and enc)erage
every species of Military merit directs that whenever any
sineuiarly meritorious action is performed the author of
it shall be p,reitted to wear on his Iacings-over the left
breast the fieure of a heart in purple cloth or silk edged
with narrow lece or :fending
"The road.. to elory in a patriot army and a free country
is thus open to all. This order is also to have retrospect
to the earliest staves et the war and to be considered as a
permanent one"
The lirsu two Purple deart awarcs were :or veeor in battle. The
third arple Heart rewarded a very d:Iferent kind of service, Ier_ormed
by Sergeant -aniel Bieocle thr)eet Tay months, incons?uous.y and in
secret. In this conr_ction order General OruQrs of the Continental
trny or niay, June 8, 1763, there is the :olloting earagraph:
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Approved For Release 2002/01/02 : CIA-RDP59-00882R000200330203-6
"Sierjeant !lisle1 of the 2a. Cennecticut regt havipg per
formod some important services, itu the imediate taume
ledge of tbe Commander ii chiefs in vinich tno fidelity, per-
severance, and geod serine raid sejuant Bicse1 were
conspicuously znanifested; it in therefore (irllerod that he be
honored with the badg,e of Meri7::? he I'd11. cal at 1;cetkluartors
on tueszia,y next for the insignit end certificate to which he
is, hereby entitled,"
The citation begins by st3tirw:
"It hath ever boa., au 6sth1ialie4 mvxim in the Arcrican
Service that the Road to Glory-Tar on to all."
It has been Etatod that the roz-d of 1.,niti 3isso:.1 le throUh
extremes of nerils self-sacrifice axle 1.:1D 3,12dM2 of thsgruce.
The a. rd of the fUrple iart itscootinued, hawevtr, iii when
eubeqtently revored was ustd as pn mard :Cor the reco4nit1on of wounds
received in action egaiust tht (tiorci.
Despite t...te ear
i.n our country's hi tor of
importance of intpilicncr: thn.t ha:-ever, uAil thin tint been eroat
a lecoration solely to iAmard oriiLi iri'oance fLn tbe field of
-
intelligence.
It i8 for this purpone, 1:;.nnh thAt the National :jeourity 4elal hem
been cre5ted - to honor service In (? 2:iold or liLal importtace to the
nation and one in which nroper fecog3ition has heratOfor bten lacking
Approved For Release 2002/01/02 : CIA-RDP59-00882R000200330203-6