NASA Distinguished Service Medal issued to Jim McDivitt in 1969, measuring 1.75″ in diameter and suspended from a 1.5″ long navy-and-teal ribbon pin. The gold-colored medal features an emblem encircled by engraved text, "Distinguished Service, NASA," and is engraved on the reverse with the date and name of the award's recipient, "James A. McDivitt, March 24, 1969." The medal is housed in its original presentation box, stamped "Distinguished Service Medal" on the lid, along with its matching miniature medal and pin. In fine condition, with McDivitt's name taped to the front of the case. Accompanied by a letter of provenance from the consignor, stating that he purchased the medal at an estate sale held at McDivitt's home in Tucson, Arizona, on March 29, 2022, as the family was preparing the property for sale.
The NASA Distinguished Service Medal is the highest award that may be bestowed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States: it may be presented to any member of the federal government, including both military astronauts and civilian employees. When McDivitt received this honor, he had just served as commander of the Apollo 9 flight—the historic first flight of the full Apollo spacecraft: the Command and Service Module (CSM) with the Lunar Module (LM).
