A Tragic Accident
First Lieutenant Xenophon Eugenedes of the Army Air Corps was killed when his airplane crashed in 1945.
He is buried at the Cambridge American Cemetery in Cambridge, England.
He is buried at the Cambridge American Cemetery in Cambridge, England.
The Air Medal
Lt. Eugenedes received the Air Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster.
In 1942, the current Secretary of War, when submitting the proposal for the Air Medal, described it as an award "to any person who, while serving in any capacity of the Army of the United States, distinguishes himself by meritorious achievement while participating in an aerial flight."
When President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the award just two days after the request was submitted, on May 11th, 1942, via Executive Order 9158, it was established as an award to “any person who, while serving in any capacity in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard of the United States subsequent to September 8, 1939, distinguishes, or has distinguished, himself by meritorious achievement while participating in an aerial flight.” There was, at the time, no official Air Force, which is why the Air Medal is not specific to the Air Force despite being for accomplishments in flight.
The Oak Leaf Cluster was used to indicate subsequent awards on top of the original Air Medal. However, the number of Oak Leaf Clusters on some awards was so great that they would no longer fit on the ribbon, so the award policy was changed to a numerical system.
In 1942, the current Secretary of War, when submitting the proposal for the Air Medal, described it as an award "to any person who, while serving in any capacity of the Army of the United States, distinguishes himself by meritorious achievement while participating in an aerial flight."
When President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the award just two days after the request was submitted, on May 11th, 1942, via Executive Order 9158, it was established as an award to “any person who, while serving in any capacity in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard of the United States subsequent to September 8, 1939, distinguishes, or has distinguished, himself by meritorious achievement while participating in an aerial flight.” There was, at the time, no official Air Force, which is why the Air Medal is not specific to the Air Force despite being for accomplishments in flight.
The Oak Leaf Cluster was used to indicate subsequent awards on top of the original Air Medal. However, the number of Oak Leaf Clusters on some awards was so great that they would no longer fit on the ribbon, so the award policy was changed to a numerical system.