Medal of Courage
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Hebrew name: Itur HaOz
The Medal of Courage was instituted by the Law of Decorations
in the Israel Defense Forces of 1970. This Law of Decorations relates to acts performed after June 4, 1967, but
also to those earlier acts for which the title "Hero of Israel"
or the Chief of Staff citation was given.
The Medal of Courage is awarded by the Chief of Staff, for an act of gallantry
at the risk of life, during fulfillment of combat duty. |
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Design:
The medal shows swords entwined by an olive branch forming the silhouette
of a candelabra. The designer was Dan Reisinger. The medal was first
minted in 1973
by Kretschmer of Jerusalem and issued by the Israel Government Coins and
Medals Corporation. The original medal was made of 25 gr. silver and 43 mm
diameter. |
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Ribbon:
The ribbon is red, symbolizing fire and blood in battle. |
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Multiple awards:
If justified, more than once the same decoration may be awarded,
however no additional medal can be presented. In this case a clasp of a
miniature version of the medal should be mounted on the ribbon. Nevertheless pictures of multiple recipients may be
found who wear two identical ribbons, as shown below. |
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Most likely no register was kept of the serial numbers
of medals awarded, so recipients can not be identified by the serial
number. |
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The medal as presented in an olive wood box |
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Medal versions: |
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Early version 1Medal: silver
medal without silver mark but with serial number (here covered).
Clasp: Dimensions ~40x13 mm. Pin without safety lock.
Ribbon width 38 mm. |
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Early version 2Medal: silver
medal without silver mark but with serial number (here covered).
Clasp: Dimensions 40.7 x 13.4 mm. Silver mark 925 on the lower right
corner. Pin with safety lock
Ribbon width 38 mm. |
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Modern version
Medal: nickel
Clasp: Dimensions 41.5 x 15 mm, chrome covered metal. Pin with
safety lock.
Ribbon width 41 mm.
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Modern version, since about 2012
Medal: nickel
Clasp: Large clasp. Clutch back. Ribbon connected to medal by
large nut. |
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Samples: |
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Lieutenant - General Lipkin
Shahak,
twice awarded the Medal of Courage.
(picture: IDF Spokesman) |
Major - General Yitzhak Mordechai
(Picture: Government
Press Office, Sa'ar Ya'acov) |
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More pictures of recipients
can be found here. |