Medal of Valor
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Hebrew name: Itur Hagvura
The Medal of Valor 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 Valor is awarded by the
minister of Defense, upon recommendation by the Chief of Staff, for an act
of supreme heroism in combat in the face of the enemy, at the risk of
life. |
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At a ceremony at the president's residence in Jerusalem, 26 April
1973, the first medals of Valor were presented. Thirty two Medals of
Valor were presented, among these, twelve to the holders of the
title "Hero of Israel".
In May 1975 another 8 Medals of Valor were awarded,
all of them for acts of heroism during the Yom Kippur War. According to
IDF publications, in total 40 Medals of Valor were awarded.
Click
here to see the pictures of the 40 awardees and the date and
place of the actions. Most likely no register
was kept of the serial numbers of medals awarded, so recipients can not
be identified by the serial number.
| Total awarded medals: 40
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Last medal was awarded in 1975 |
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The medal presented to
captain Ayalon
(Government
Press Office, Milner Moshe) |
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Design:
The design of the Medal of Valor was in remarkable contrast to that of the
"Hero of Israel". The star of David and an olive branch, on a yellow ribbon is an obvious
reminder of the yellow star of the Holocaust. 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 45 mm
diameter. |
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Ribbon:
The medal is accompanied by a yellow ribbon. |
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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. |
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Samples of used ribbons: |
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The presence of the clasp mounted on the ribbon is probably only for the
purpose of illustration. Never has this decoration been awarded twice to
the same person. The few pictures available of people wearing the
Decoration of Valor (see below) clearly show that just the yellow ribbon
is worn, without clasp. |
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Privileges connected to the decoration
Wearers of the Medal of Valor are honored and often invited to
attend official ceremonies. Some types of tax reductions are given. |
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The medal as once presented
in an olive wood box |
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Medal versions found: |
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Early version 1 - Minted by Kretschmer
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 45
mm diameter.
The medal is without silver mark but with
serial number (here covered).
The reverse of the
medal has a screw and nut holding the ribbon that is folded over a
bar.
Clasp: Pin back. Dimensions 40.7 x 13.4 mm. Silver
mark 925 on lower right corner. Pin
without safety lock
Ribbon width 38 mm. |
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Early version 2 - Minted by Kretschmer
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 45
mm diameter.
The medal is without silver mark but with
serial number (here covered).
The reverse of the
medal has a screw and nut holding the ribbon that is folded over a
bar.
Clasp: Pin back. Dimensions 40.7 x 13.4 mm. Silver
mark 925 on lower right corner. Pin with
safety lock
Ribbon width 38 mm. |
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Modern version, pictures from 2004
Medal: nickel
The reverse of the
medal has a screw and nut holding the ribbon that is folded over a
bar. No serial number.
Clasp: Pin back. Dimensions 41.5 x
15 mm, chrome covered metal.
Ribbon: width 41 mm. The
ribbon is wider than the opening of the clasp
The ribbon has a
bright yellow color, instead of dark yellow
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Modern version, pictures from 2012
Medal: nickel
The reverse of the
medal has a screw and nut holding the ribbon that is folded over a
bar. No serial number.
Clasp: Large clasp, clutch back.
Ribbon: The
ribbon is wider than the opening of the clasp
The ribbon has a
bright yellow color, instead of dark yellow |
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Modern version, since about 2012
Medal: nickel
Clasp: Large clasp. Clutch back |
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Version found in 2022
Medal: nickel.
The surface of the medal shows small pits.
The reverse of the medal has a screw and large nut holding the
ribbon. No serial number.
Clasp: Clutch back. |
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Samples of people wearing the decoration: |
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Admiral Ami Ayalon |
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Pinhas Noy with his wife and Ehud Barak |
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Pinhas Noy with an IDF
delegation visiting Poland |
Emil Brig,
Hero of Israel,
holocaust survivor during a memorial ceremony in Auschwitz |
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Brigadier General
Avigdor Kahalani, awarded the Medal of Valor for his acts on the
Golan Heights during the Yom Kippur War (1973) and the Medal of
Distinguished Service for acts during the Six Day War.
The yellow
ribbon is not clearly visible. The other ribbons are for Peace of
Galilee War, Yom Kippur and Six Day War.
Click here to see the correct order of the ribbons
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Sample of award certificate:
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The document of this medal of
Arieh Atzmoni |
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Source:
http://www.atzmony.org.il/Legacy-Letters.htm |
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