1. Description: Medal: The Bronze medal is 1 ¼ inches in diameter. The miniature medal is 5/8 inch in diameter. On the obverse, in the center, a C-54 airplane (as viewed from above) within a wreath of wheat connected at the bottom by a coat of arms. On the reverse, an eagle, shield and arrows from the seal of the Department of Defense, beneath the words "FOR HUMANE ACTION" and above the inscription in four lines, "TO SUPPLY NECESSITIES OF LIFE TO THE PEOPLE OF BERLIN GERMANY".
2. Ribbon: The ribbon to the Medal for Humane Action is 1 3/8
inches in width and consists of the following stripes: 9/32 inch black; 1/16 inch white;
9/32 inch teal blue; 3/64 inch white; 1/32 inch scarlet; 3/64 inch white; 9/32 inch teal
blue; 1/16 inch white; and 9/32 inch black.
3. Criteria: a. The Medal for Humane Action was awarded for
qualifying service between 26 June 1948 and 30 September 1949.
b. The medal commemorates
military service in direct support of the Berlin Airlift. It was awarded to members of the
Armed Forces for 120 consecutive days of service in, or in direct support of, the Berlin
airlift, between 26 June 1948 and 30 September 1949, within the following prescribed
boundaries:
(1)
Northern Boundary - 54th parallel north latitude.
(2)
Eastern Boundary - 14th meridian east longitude.
(3)
Southern Boundary - 48th parallel north latitude.
(4)
Western Boundary - 5th meridian west longitude.
4. Components: The following are authorized components:
a. Medal (regular and
miniature sizes): MIL-DTL-3943/232.
b. Ribbon (regular and
miniature sizes): MIL-DTL-11589/85E
5. Background: a. The Medal for Humane Action was
established by an Act of Congress (Public Law 178, 81st Congress), 20 July
1949.
b. The medal was designed by
Mr. Thomas Hudson Jones of The Institute of Heraldry.
c. The C-54 is the type of
aircraft used in support of the Berlin airlift, and the coat of arms is that of the City
of Berlin. The wreath of wheat represents the staff of life and thereby the necessities of
life alluded to on the reverse of the medal.
