As the first and only complete history of all personal awards and decorations of the United States' three sea services, this book serves as a valuable resource of Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard awards. It also provides little-known historical information on the background and development of each award and decoration, along with details of its design and award criteria. Some never-before-photographs of rare Navy Medals of Honor are featured.

Fred L. Borch, a retired U.S. Army colonel, is regimental historian and archivist for the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General s Corps in Charlottesville, VA. He served twenty-five years as an Army lawyer, retiring in 2005. He is the author and co-author of many books and articles on military medals. Charles P. McDowell, a retired U.S. Air Force Reserve officer, has written many articles and books on medals and has served as a resource to the Navy Memorial Museum, the Army s Institute of Heraldry, and the awards branches of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. His research into the history of the Navy Cross and the Army s Distinguished Service Cross and his compilation of recipients of those decorations led to the unmasking of numerous impersonators.