All branches of the U.S. military award medals for distinguished actions, both in war and in peacetime. Some medals are awarded for valor on the battlefield. Others, such as the Soldier’s Medal, are awarded for heroic efforts that aren’t related to combat. Medals can be awarded posthumously as well as to a living person. Audie Murphy, the son of a Texas sharecropper and an Army soldier who served in WWII, is the most decorated soldier in history but he paid the price by suffering from PTSD for the remainder of his life.
Five Highest Medals
The five highest medals that are awarded for valor in combat include:
- The Medal of Honor: Highest award given for exhibition of uncommon valor in combat
- The Distinguished Service Cross: Second highest medal, awarded for extreme valor and risk of life
- The Navy Cross: Second highest military medal awarded to Navy, Marine, Coast Guard
- The Silver Star: Third highest medal, awarded for uncommon valor
- The Air Force Cross: Awarded for heroism not sufficient for the medal of honor
The Purple Heart is one of the most well-known medals and is awarded to those who are wounded or killed in battle after 1917. Almost 2 million Purple Heart medals have been awarded since its inception.
- Purple Heart: Awarded for uncommon valor on the battlefield, the only award given for combat-sustained injury
- Distinguished Flying Cross: Awarded for uncommon heroism during an aerial arena
- Congressional Medal of Honor: The same as the Medal of Honor
- Silver Star: Third highest medal, awarded for uncommon valor on the battlefield
- Bronze Star: Awarded for meritorious service or achievement in combat, or heroic service or achievement in combat
- Meritorious Service Medal: Awarded for non-combat superior achievement
- Air Medal: Given for a single act of meritorious service or heroism
Each branch has its unique medals, but some medals are the same for all branches and the Navy medals are awarded to the Navy, the Marines, and the Coast Guard.
Army Medals
Army Regulation 600-8-22 governs the awarding of medals, and Army Regulation 670-1 governs the proper wear of all medals awarded.
Air Force Medals
Regulations concerning the awarding and wearing of Air Force medals are governed in:
- AFI36-2903
- AFI36-2805
- AFI36-2818
Navy regulations that govern the award and display of ribbons and medals are specified in SECNAV 1650.1.
Members of any branch of the military can wear awards and medals that are issued by other branches of the service as long as the member is entitled to wear them. For more information on military awards and decorations, click here.
Navy Medals
Navy regulations that govern the award and display of ribbons and medals are specified in SECNAV 1650.1. Members of any branch of the military can wear awards and medals that are issued by other branches of the service as long as the member is entitled to wear them. For more information on military awards and decorations, click here.