Back to Medals and Decorations of Israel

Medal of Courage

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.
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. During many years the medal was presented in an olive wood box.

Most likely no register was kept of the serial numbers of medals awarded, so recipients can not be identified by the serial number.

Israel Medal of Courage, ribbon,single award

The ribbon is red, symbolizing fire and blood in battle.

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.

Israel Medal of Courage, ribbon, twide awarded

Samples of used ribbons:

Medal versions found:

		Early version 1 - Minted by Kretschmer Medal: silver medal 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: Dimensions ~40x13 mm. Pin without safety lock. Ribbon width 38 mm.
		Early version 2 - Minted by Kretschmer Medal: silver medal 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: Dimensions 40.7 x 13.4 mm. Silver mark 925 on the lower right corner. Pin with safety lock Ribbon width 38 mm.
		Modern version, pictures from about 2001 Medal: nickel The reverse of the medal has a screw and nut holding the ribbon that is folded over a bar. Clasp: Dimensions 41.5 x 15 mm, chrome covered metal. Pin with safety lock.Ribbon width 41 mm.
		Modern version, since about 2012 Medal: nickel The reverse of the medal has a screw and nut holding the ribbon. Clasp: Large clasp. Clutch back.
		Modern version, since about 2022 Medal: nickel The reverse of the medal has a screw and nut holding the ribbon. Clasp: Clutch back.

Samples of people wearing the decoration:

Lieutenant - General Lipkin Shahak, twice awarded the Medal of Courage.

Major - General Yitzhak Mordechai

More pictures of recipients can be found here.