1st Civilian to receive Silver Star medal – Vernon Arnold Haugland – Journalist
Vernon Arnold Haugland – Journalist / Author
The information below is taken from Wikipedia which has a good biography of Haugland. See link to it below:
“Vernon Arnold Haugland (May 27, 1908 – September 15, 1984) was a reporter and writer for Associated Press. As a war correspondent, he documented World War II events as they occurred. He was the first civilian to receive the Silver Star medal – awarded normally only to members of the United States Armed Forces.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon_Arnold_Haugland