Created by legislation in 1939 (West Virginia Code §15-1G-1), the West Virginia Distinguished Service Medal is primarily intended to honor conspicuous or distinguished service by current and former Officers and Enlisted personnel while in the line of duty in the West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) or conspicuous courage and gallantry while on duty in with the WVNG. But the list of potential recipients of the medal is by no means limited to WVNG members.
Other qualifications include past and present Governors of West Virginia for their service as Commanders-in-Chief of the WVNG; current WVNG members who have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, United States Distinguished Service Medals, United States Distinguished Service Cross, or equivalent awards of the United States Navy; and West Virginia citizens who served in the Armed Forces of the United States and rendered distinguished or conspicuous service in the line of duty during wartime.
The award may also be issued to civilians who have been judged by the Military Awards Board of the State of West Virginia to have rendered conspicuous or distinguished service to the WVNG, the state of West Virginia, or the United States of America.
The West Virginia Distinguished Service Medal may be issued posthumously to the next of kin of anyone entitled to the award under the above conditions.
It is issued both as a medal and as a ribbon. Th medal is a 14K gold cross with the State Seal in the center of the face encircled by the words "Distinguished Service." The name of the recipient will be engraved on the back along with the inscription "For Distinguished Service."