Issued by
United States Department of Defense
Received by
General Powell, Colin L., American, 1937 - 2021
Subject of
United States Army, American, founded 1775
United States Armed Forces, American, founded 1775
Date
December 28, 1978
Medium
metal with silk (textile)
Dimensions
H x W x D: 3/8 × 1 3/8 × 3/16 in. (1 × 3.5 × 0.5 cm)
Caption
Colin Powell was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious service to the Department of Defense in 1978. Secretary of Defense Harold Brown issued the award.
Description
One (1) Medal for Defense Superior Service awarded to General Colin L. Powell. The medal is designed in the shape of a circular oak leaf wreath with silver five-pointed stars arced over its top half, with a blue enameled pentagon in the center, on top of which is the United States Great Seal eagle. The reverse of the medal is inscribed at the top of the rounded wreath “FOR SUPERIOR SERVICE”. On the pentagon is the inscription “FROM / THE SECRETARY / OF DEFENSE / TO”. The bottom space is empty for inscribing the name of the medal’s recipient. The medal is suspended from a double-sided silk ribbon of five striped colors, golden yellow, blue, white, and scarlet.
Place used
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Awards, Medals, and Insignia
Type
medals
Topic
Government
Military
U.S. History, 1969-2001
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Alma J. Powell
Object number
A2022.101.1.55
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd57f78febc-c992-4f1c-ba89-367d9980dc0d

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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