To put your life on the line and serve your country is thought of as the ultimate act of service. Military members from around the world are often called to duty, to battle for the rights and freedoms of their nation, as well as to help their allies. These members of the United States Armed Forces have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our liberty and freedom.
There have been many who have lost their lives in the line of duty and have been honored and memorialized in various ways. Since the inception of the United States, military leaders have been awarded medals and recognized for their bravery and service on and off the battlefield. The first authorized military medal of recognition in the country, established by General George Washington, one of the seven founding fathers, was the Badge of Military Merit. This was the predecessor of the Purple Heart and like its forerunner, recognized service by all ranks.
While not every service member is honored with a medal, as each branch of service has different eligible criteria, some were given the highest honors and awarded the Medal of Honor, which is the most prestigious military decoration granted in the United States. This list highlights those who served following the Civil War, as earlier awards were often influenced by political factors. Only American medals are included and they were given to service members who demonstrated extraordinary bravery and selflessness in battle. ( Here is a list of the most famous battles in American history .)
To create a list of the most decorated war heroes in the U.S., 24/7 Tempo reviewed information obtained from sources like the Department of Defense . All individuals listed here have been awarded the Medal of Honor. Nearly 3,500 Medals of Honor have been awarded, with more than 600 being presented posthumously. Many of those honored also received the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second-highest military honor.
Today, we honor our fallen military on Memorial Day, our former soldiers on Veteran’s Day (also celebrated by other Allied nations but known as Armistice or Remembrance Day), and our current service members on Armed Forces Day, and although there is a National Military Appreciation month (May), our military – whether past or present – should be honored as the heroes they are, every day, for their ultimate sacrifices.
Then there is Independence Day, the day we celebrate the freedom of our nation, a freedom that was fought by the heroes of the Revolutionary War. (If you’re Canadian, or of Canadian descent, you might celebrate Canada Day as well.)
Here are the most decorated war heroes in the U.S.
Alvin York
- Military grade: Corporal
- Service branch: Army
- Fought in: WWI
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross
Audie L. Murphy
- Military grade: Second lieutenant
- Service branch: Army
- Fought in: WWII
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
Daniel J. Daly
Military grade: Gunnery sergeant - Service branch: Marines
- Fought in: WWI
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross
David McCampbell
- Military grade: Commander
- Service branch: Navy
- Fought in: WWII
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star
Douglas MacArthur
- Military grade: General
- Service branch: Army
- Fought in: WWI, WWII, Korean War
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
Edward V. Rickenbacker
- Military grade: First lieutenant
- Service branch: Army
- Fought in: WWI
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross
Eugene B. Fluckey
- Military grade: Commander
- Service branch: Navy
- Fought in: WWII
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross
Frank Luke, Jr.
- Military grade: Second lieutenant
- Service branch: Army
- Fought in: WWI
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross
George A. Davis
Military grade: Major - Service branch: Army/Air Force
- Fought in: WWII, Korean War
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
George E. Day
- Military grade: Colonel
- Service branch: Air Force/Army/Marines
- Fought in: WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Air Force Cross, Silver Star
George L. Mabry, Jr.
Military grade: Lieutenant colonel - Service branch: Army
- Fought in: WWII
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
Gordon Johnston
- Military grade: First lieutenant
- Service branch: Army
- Fought in: WWI
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
Henry L. Hulbert
- Military grade: First lieutenant
- Service branch: Marines
- Fought in: WWI
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross
Herman H. Hanneken
- Military grade: Second lieutenant
- Service branch: Marines
- Fought in: Banana Wars, WWI, WWII
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star
Jack L. Treadwell
- Military grade: Captain
- Service branch: Army
- Fought in: WWII, Vietnam War
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
James E. Williams
- Military grade: Boatswain’s mate first class
- Service branch: Navy
- Fought in: Korean War, Vietnam War
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star
Joel T. Boone
- Military grade: Lieutenant
- Service branch: Navy
- Fought in: WWI, WWII, Korean War
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
John C. McCloy
- Military grade: Lieutenant commander
- Service branch: Navy
- Fought in: Boxer Rebellion, Battle of Veracruz
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross
John D. Bulkeley
- Military grade: Lieutenant commander
- Service branch: Navy
- Fought in: WWII
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Silver Star
John H. Quick
- Military grade: Sergeant major
- Service branch: Marines
- Fought in: WWI
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross
Jonas H. Ingram
- Military grade: Admiral
- Service branch: Navy
- Fought in: Mexican Revolution, WWI, WWII
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross
Lawson P. Ramage
- Military grade: Commander
- Service branch: Navy
- Fought in: WWII
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star
Leon W. Johnson
- Military grade: General
- Service branch: Army/Air Force
- Fought in: WWII
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Silver Star
Lewis L. Millett
- Military grade: Captain
- Service branch: Army
- Fought in: WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
Lloyd L. Burke
- Military grade: First lieutenant
- Service branch: Army
- Fought in: WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
Louis Cukela
- Military grade: Sergeant
- Service branch: Marines
- Fought in: WWI
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Silver Star
Matej Kocak
- Military grade: Sergeant
- Service branch: Marines
- Fought in: WWI
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Silver Star
Matt L. Urban
- Military grade: Captain
- Service branch: Army
- Fought in: WWII
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Silver Star
Melvin Morris
- Military grade: Sergeant
- Service branch: Army
- Fought in: Vietnam War
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross
Merritt A. Edson
- Military grade: Colonel
- Service branch: Marines
- Fought in: WWII
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star
Neel E. Kearby
- Military grade: Colonel
- Service branch: Army
- Fought in: WWII
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Silver Star
Patrick H. Brady
- Military grade: Major
- Service branch: Army
- Fought in: Vietnam War
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross
Raymond G. Davis
- Military grade: Lieutenant colonel
- Service branch: Marines
- Fought in: WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star
Raymond Harvey
Military grade: Captain - Service branch: Army
- Fought in: WWII, Korean War
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
Richard H. O’Kane
- Military grade: Commander
- Service branch: Navy
- Fought in: WWII
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star
Richard I. Bong
- Military grade: Major
- Service branch: Army
- Fought in: WWII
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
Robert L. Howard
- Military grade: Captain
- Service branch: Army
- Fought in: Vietnam War
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
Samuel D. Dealey
- Military grade: Commander
- Service branch: Navy
- Fought in: WWII
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
Thomas B. McGuire, Jr.
- Military grade: Major
- Service branch: Army
- Fought in: WWII
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
William J. Donovan
- Military grade: Colonel
- Service branch: Army
- Fought in: WWI, WWII
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
The post The Most Decorated War Heroes in U.S. History appeared first on 24/7 Tempo .
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