United States: Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom (Instituted 2001)

The medal riband fitted with a 9mm crimp brooch with intricate drop lock hinged pin & clasp fittings. The medal brooch bar with Federal Contractor makers hallmark 'G27'

Referred to as the Civilian Purple Heart

Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld announced the establishment of the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom on, 27 September 2001, in the Pentagon. The medal is the civilian equivalent of the Purple Heart and will be awarded to Department of Defense civilian employees who are killed or wounded by hostile action while serving in support of the department

Eligibility: The medal shall be awarded to any DoD civilian employee meeting the definition of “employee” under title 5 United States Code, Section 2105, and who is eligible for an award under DoD 1400.25-M, Subchapter 451, “Awards,” including employees of non-appropriated fund activities, when killed or wounded by hostile action while serving under any competent authority of the Department under conditions for which a military member would be eligible for receipt of the Purple Heart. Additionally, the Secretary of Defense has discretionary authority to award this medal to non-Defense personnel who are otherwise qualified to be awarded the medal based on their involvement in DoD activities

Award Criteria: Eligibility criteria for the medal are aligned as closely as possible to those for the Purple Heart for members of the United States Armed Forces; this medal differs from other medals in that it is not “recommended.” The employee is “entitled” to the medal if the employee is eligible under Section 4 and if the conditions or criteria in this paragraph are present. Hostile action may involve, but is not limited to, the use of conventional or nuclear weapons, chemical or biological agents, explosives, or missiles. The medal shall be awarded to employees who are killed or who sustain injury due to hostile action against the United States, or killed or wounded while rescuing or attempting to rescue any other employee or individual subjected to injuries sustained under such conditions. The wound for which the award is made must have required treatment by a medical officer, and records of medical treatment for wounds or injuries received in action must have been made a matter of official record

The medal with bright crisp gilding, and an attractive item of insignia

A very scarce, and hard earned medal

Condition: EF

Code: 23698