Definition: Found on many military tombstones, especially government-issued tombstones, the acronym SS stands for Silver Star. The Silver Star, is an American decoration awarded to U.S. service men and women for distinguished "gallantry in action" against an enemy of the United States or while serving with friendly forces against an opposing enemy force. Established in 1918 as the Citation Star, the Silver Star was redesignated as a medal in 1932 with a provision that allowed it to be awarded retroactively to servicemen going back to the Spanish-American War (1898) for gallant actions in combat.

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