military awards

Question

I&rsquo;m seeking anyone with knowledge of retroactive, posthumous military awards given to NON-PRIMARY family members of deceased servicemen, i.e nephews, nieces, cousina, aunts, uncles, grandchildren, and all varieties of &ldquo;great&rdquo;xxxx. Please provide sources is available. Examples such as: 
 DFC to a great grandson: https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/1218587/fallen-world-war-i-aviator-gets-posthumous-distinguished-flying-cross/ 
 Silver Star to a great nephew: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/seventy-six-years-after-he-died-at-pearl-harbor-a-chaplain-will-get-a-combat-medal/2017/12/06/2bb8b15a-daa6-11e7-a841-2066faf731ef_story.html 
 Thanks!

History Hub Info · Answer

Thank you for posting your question to History Hub! All U.S. military branches have a succession order for next of kin to receive medals that is entirely dependent on that branch&rsquo;s specific guidelines. Exceptions may be made for posthumous awards in some cases, such as when there are no surviving primary next of kin. 
 Here is a breakdown of the branches' various succession orders for medals when the veteran is deceased: 
 Army 
 
 The unremarried widow/widower 
 Eldest Child 
 Parent 
 Eldest Sibling 
 Eldest Grandchild 
 
 Air Force 
 
 The unremarried widow/widower 
 Child 
 Parent 
 Sibling 
 
 Navy and Marine Corps 
 
 Unremarried Widow/Widower 
 Oldest Living Child 
 Oldest Living Grandchild 
 Oldest Living Great-Grandchild 
 Parent 
 Oldest Living Sibling 
 Oldest Living Niece/Nephew 
 Oldest Living Half Sibling 
 Oldest Living Half-Niece/Nephew 
 Oldest Living Grandparent 
 Oldest Living Aunt or Uncle 
 Oldest Living First Cousin 
 Oldest Living First Cousin Once Removed 
 Oldest Living Half-Aunt or Uncle 
 Oldest Living Half-First Cousin 
 Oldest Living Half-First Cousin Once Removed 
 Oldest Living Great Grandparent 
 
 Coast Guard 
 First come first serve: 
 
 Unremarried widow/widower or 
 Child or 
 Parent or 
 Sibling 
 
 For more information, and instructions on how to submit for awards, please see NARA&rsquo;s Military Awards and Decorations webpage, particularly the section entitled &ldquo;Important Information for the Next-of-Kin (NOK).&rdquo; You might be interested in the following from uscode.house.gov, 10 USC 7282: Medals: posthumous award and presentation and the Army&rsquo;s Presentation of Military Awards to Soldiers Veterans and Primary Next of Kin . 
 The Department of Defense has a few articles with examples of posthumous Valor Awards being given to family members that you might wish to view, DOD Posthumous Awards , such as Medal of Honor Monday: Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Wayne Caron , and Medal of Honor Monday: Marine Corps Sgt. Dakota Meyer but there are many more examples in the posthumous awards link provided above. 
 We located some examples of posthumous awards being given to US military service members here 2 Texas service members posthumously awarded Medals of Honor . 
 We hope this is helpful with your research!

Trajan · Answer

Although I appreciate your reply, no, it does not address the question/issue. presented. I am aware of the individual services Primary NOK regulations. That was not the question. I had asked if anyone has knowledge of NON-primary NOK, i.e nephews, nieces, cousins, great-xxxx, and others, receiving posthumous military awards in the name of deceased service members, and if so to provide those examples, preferably with references. To be more specific, my interest is Army or Air Force, although any Navy is also appreciated. Perhaps that&rsquo;s clearer. For instance, Capt James E. Miller awarded the DFC for heroism in WW!, and presented by the Army in 2017 to a NON-primary NOK, his GREAT- GRANDSON. 
 https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/1218587/fallen-world-war-i-aviator-gets-posthumous-distinguished-flying-cross/ 
 Thanks!

Trajan · Answer

I apologize! You did provide some useful information that I will review - many thanks!