§ 578.45 - Medal of Humane Action.

(a) Criteria. The Medal of Humane Action was established by the act of Congress July 20, 1949 (63 Stat. 477). It is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States and to other persons when recommended for meritorious participation, for service while participating in the Berlin airlift or in direct support thereof.

(b) Service must have been for at least 120 days during the period June 26, 1948 and September 30, 1949, inclusive, with the following prescribed boundaries of area of Berlin airlift operations:

(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.

(c) Posthumous award may be made to any person who lost his life while, or as a direct result of, participating in the Berlin airlift, without regard to the length of such service, if otherwise eligible.

(d) See DA Pamphlet 672-1 for the list of Army units entitled to the Berlin Airlift Device.

(e) Description. The medal is Bronze and is 11/4 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 DOD, beneath the words “FOR HUMANE ACTION” and above the inscription in four lines, “TO SUPPLY NECESSITIES OF LIFE TO THE PEOPLE OF BERLIN GERMANY”. The ribbon to the Medal for Humane Action is 13/8 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.