History

The Cross of the Argentinian Nation to the Heroic Valor in Combat (Cruz de la Nación Argentina al Heroico Valor en Combate), a.k.a. Cross to the Heroic Valor in Combat, was instituted in Argentina by the government of the Fourth Military Junta on June 15, 1982. It was founded to reward the heroism of the Argentinian soldiers who participated in the Falkland War (Guerra de las Malvinas) against British forces in 1982.

The Cross was suspended in 1985 along with the change of government in the same year, but it was reinstated by the new government on December 10, 1991.

Since 1991, the Cross has been awarded to foreign and Argentinian military personnel, security forces, National Guard, police and citizens, in recognition of the heroic actions displayed in combat in defense of Argentina.

This Cross is the highest military decoration in the Argentinian Army (A.R.A.), and it is the third most important award in the country after the Order of San Martin and Order of May, respectively.

Before 1991, the Cross featured a motto that translates to "The Fatherland to the Heroic Valor in Combat.” Currently, the Cross features an obverse inscription that translates to "The Argentine People to the Heroic Valor in Combat.”