Navy and Marine Corps Medal
For heroic performance to rise to this level it must be clearly established that the act involved very specific life-threatening risk to the awardee.This is due primarily to the creation of a variety of additional military decorations that are often considered more prestigious than the Lifesaving Medal.[2] The Navy and Marine Corps Medal was first bestowed during World War II.However, the medal was awarded retroactively for actions that predated its establishment, "to any person to whom the Secretary of the Navy, before August 7, 1942, awarded a letter of commendation for heroism, and who applies for that medal, regardless of the date of the act of heroism.[3] The ribbon of the medal is three equal stripes of navy blue, old gold, and apple red.