From Texas to California: These States Have the Most Decorated Marines in History

By Chris Lange Published Nov 12, 12:00PM EST

Quick Read

As the Marine Corps celebrates 249 years of service this November 10, it’s worth remembering the Marines who earned the nation’s highest military honor, the Medal of Honor
States like Texas, California, and New York have produced more decorated Marines than any others
During the time that the Medal of Honor has been awarded there have been roughly 41 million Americans who have served in the armed forces. Of these servicemembers, roughly 3,500 medals have been awarded to a select few

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From Texas to California: These States Have the Most Decorated Marines in History — © Jon Bilous / Shutterstock.com

As the Marine Corps celebrates 249 years of service this November 10, it’s worth remembering the Marines who earned the nation’s highest military honor, the Medal of Honor. States like Texas, California, and New York have produced more decorated Marines than any others. The stories of these Marines define the courage, sacrifice, and unbreakable spirit that the Corps has carried into every battle for nearly two and a half centuries.

During the time that the Medal of Honor has been awarded there have been roughly 41 million Americans who have served in the armed forces. Of these servicemembers, roughly 3,500 medals have been awarded to a select few.

Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at these recipients, namely, those for the Marine Corps. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society (CMOHS) to identify the states with the most Marines having received the Medal of Honor. We ranked each state according to the number of Marine Corps recipients. We included supplemental information regarding the number of recipients from other service branches as well. We excluded states that did not have a Marine receive the Medal of Honor.

Here is a look at the states with the most Marine recipients of the Medal of Honor:

Why Are We Covering This?

The stories of Medal of Honor recipients and the significance of the medal itself is central to the U.S. military ethos. These recipients and their stories are an inspiration, “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty.” It’s important to appreciate the profound sacrifices that these men made in service to the nation. The Medal of Honor symbolizes the courage, selflessness, and resilience that define the highest ideals of military service. Again, these stories serve as powerful reminders of the values we aspire to as a society even in the face of adversity.

43. South Dakota

Interstate 94 Between Fargo an... by Ken Lund

Interstate 94 Between Fargo an... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund

Total Marine recipients: 1
Total Army recipients: 2 – #48 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 0 – #49 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 3 – #49 out of 51

42. Montana

Total Marine recipients: 1
Total Army recipients: 8 – #43 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 0 – #47 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 9 – #46 out of 51

41. New Mexico

New Mexico Military Institute campus in Roswell, NM by Quintin Soloviev

New Mexico Military Institute campus in Roswell, NM (BY 4.0) by Quintin Soloviev

Total Marine recipients: 1
Total Army recipients: 8 – #42 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 0 – #46 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 9 – #45 out of 51

40. North Dakota

Mancos Shale badlands (Upper C... by James St. John

Mancos Shale badlands (Upper C... (CC BY 2.0) by James St. John

Total Marine recipients: 1
Total Army recipients: 14 – #34 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 2 – #37 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 17 – #39 out of 51

39. Arkansas

Total Marine recipients: 1
Total Army recipients: 7 – #44 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 3 – #32 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 11 – #43 out of 51

38. Vermont

Vermont Country Road by Jennifer Juniper mom

Vermont Country Road (BY 2.0) by Jennifer Juniper mom

Total Marine recipients: 1
Total Army recipients: 43 – #14 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 3 – #29 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 47 – #18 out of 51

37. North Carolina

North Carolina campaign rally | Charlotte City Skyline night scene

Total Marine recipients: 1
Total Army recipients: 14 – #33 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 5 – #23 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 20 – #35 out of 51

36. Iowa

Total Marine recipients: 1
Total Army recipients: 46 – #13 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 5 – #22 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 2 – #1 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 54 – #15 out of 51

35. Rhode Island

Rhode Island state image | HDR image of the Providence, Rhode Island skyline

Total Marine recipients: 1
Total Army recipients: 22 – #25 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 8 – #15 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 31 – #27 out of 51

34. New Hampshire

Total Marine recipients: 1
Total Army recipients: 25 – #24 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 10 – #12 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 36 – #23 out of 51

33. Oregon

Portland, OR | Portland Oregon skyline with Mt. Hood in Autumn

Total Marine recipients: 2
Total Army recipients: 11 – #39 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 0 – #45 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 13 – #41 out of 51

32. Kansas

Total Marine recipients: 2
Total Army recipients: 25 – #22 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 1 – #40 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 28 – #28 out of 51

31. Oklahoma

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

Total Marine recipients: 2
Total Army recipients: 19 – #28 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 2 – #35 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 23 – #30 out of 51

30. Tennessee

Total Marine recipients: 2
Total Army recipients: 27 – #21 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 4 – #27 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 33 – #25 out of 51

29. West Virginia

A TALE OF TWO GARDENS: (BY 2.0) by mypubliclands

Total Marine recipients: 2
Total Army recipients: 39 – #17 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 4 – #26 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 45 – #20 out of 51

28. Louisiana

Total Marine recipients: 2
Total Army recipients: 15 – #31 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 6 – #18 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 1 – #15 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 24 – #29 out of 51

27. Idaho

20000914 09 Idaho Highway 55 by davidwilson1949

20000914 09 Idaho Highway 55 (BY 2.0) by davidwilson1949

Total Marine recipients: 3
Total Army recipients: 6 – #45 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 0 – #42 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 1 – #16 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 10 – #44 out of 51

26. Mississippi

Total Marine recipients: 3
Total Army recipients: 12 – #37 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 3 – #31 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 18 – #38 out of 51

25. Colorado

touring royal gorge by Christian Collins

touring royal gorge (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Christian Collins

Total Marine recipients: 3
Total Army recipients: 16 – #30 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 3 – #28 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 1 – #14 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 23 – #32 out of 51

24. Maryland

Baltimore+Maryland+view | Baltimore Mount Vernon View (24/365)

Total Marine recipients: 3
Total Army recipients: 49 – #12 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 30 – #4 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 1 – #7 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 83 – #9 out of 51

23. Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona, USA downtown cityscape at dusk.

Total Marine recipients: 4
Total Army recipients: 13 – #35 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 0 – #44 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 17 – #40 out of 51

22. Alabama

Total Marine recipients: 4
Total Army recipients: 15 – #32 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 2 – #36 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 21 – #34 out of 51

21. Wisconsin

Total Marine recipients: 4
Total Army recipients: 40 – #16 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 4 – #25 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 1 – #9 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 49 – #17 out of 51

20. Nebraska

Total Marine recipients: 4
Total Army recipients: 10 – #41 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 6 – #21 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 20 – #36 out of 51

19. Indiana

Indianapolis, Indiana | Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Total Marine recipients: 4
Total Army recipients: 61 – #10 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 9 – #14 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 74 – #12 out of 51

18. Connecticut

Mystic, Connecticut (BY 2.0) by *rboed*

Total Marine recipients: 4
Total Army recipients: 38 – #18 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 13 – #11 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 1 – #10 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 56 – #14 out of 51

17. Kentucky

Lexington Kentucky - Donamire Farm 'The Good-Life for Horse' by David Paul Ohmer

Lexington Kentucky - Donamire Farm 'The Good-Life for Horse' (BY 2.0) by David Paul Ohmer

Total Marine recipients: 5
Total Army recipients: 36 – #19 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 3 – #30 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 44 – #21 out of 51

16. Florida

Anna Maria Island (CC BY 2.0) by Lawton Chiles

Total Marine recipients: 5
Total Army recipients: 13 – #36 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 5 – #24 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 23 – #31 out of 51

15. Missouri

Total Marine recipients: 5
Total Army recipients: 64 – #8 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 9 – #13 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 78 – #10 out of 51

14. Washington

Total Marine recipients: 6
Total Army recipients: 20 – #26 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 6 – #17 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 1 – #13 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 34 – #24 out of 51

13. Virginia

Total Marine recipients: 6
Total Army recipients: 25 – #23 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 18 – #10 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 1 – #12 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 50 – #16 out of 51

12. South Carolina

Total Marine recipients: 7
Total Army recipients: 18 – #29 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 6 – #20 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 31 – #26 out of 51

11. Michigan

museummorn (CC BY 2.0) by drtel

Total Marine recipients: 7
Total Army recipients: 96 – #6 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 6 – #19 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 109 – #7 out of 51

10. Georgia

Cobb+County+Georgia | Cobb County, Georgia Government Building

Total Marine recipients: 8
Total Army recipients: 11 – #38 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 1 – #39 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 2 – #2 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 22 – #33 out of 51

9. Minnesota

Norman+County+Minnesota+view | James J. Hill House

Total Marine recipients: 9
Total Army recipients: 34 – #20 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 2 – #34 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 1 – #11 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 46 – #19 out of 51

8. Ohio

Columbus, Ohio | Columbus, Ohio, USA Skyline on the Scioto River

Total Marine recipients: 12
Total Army recipients: 225 – #3 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 20 – #9 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 1 – #4 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 258 – #4 out of 51

7. New Jersey

if you don't turn around, you ... by nosha

if you don't turn around, you ... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by nosha

Total Marine recipients: 12
Total Army recipients: 61 – #9 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 21 – #8 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 94 – #8 out of 51

6. Texas

Total Marine recipients: 13
Total Army recipients: 56 – #11 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 7 – #16 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 1 – #6 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 77 – #11 out of 51

5. Illinois

Quincy+Illinois+view | Sears Tower from LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL

Total Marine recipients: 19
Total Army recipients: 162 – #4 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 25 – #5 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 1 – #5 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 207 – #5 out of 51

4. Massachusetts

BOSTON WEATHER EXPECTS A WARM TURNAROUND

Total Marine recipients: 22
Total Army recipients: 141 – #5 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 102 – #2 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 265 – #3 out of 51

3. California

USA, Los Angeles, Hollywood. Hollywood is a neighborhood in the central region of Los Angeles, California

Total Marine recipients: 26
Total Army recipients: 90 – #7 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 22 – #7 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 138 – #6 out of 51

2. Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh Pennsylvania - All... by Bill Badzo

Pittsburgh Pennsylvania - All... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Bill Badzo

Total Marine recipients: 32
Total Army recipients: 275 – #2 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 71 – #3 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 1 – #3 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 379 – #2 out of 51

1. New York

New York City skyline as seen from Hudson River. Lower Manhattan with One World Trade Center as tallest building in western hemisphere. Battery Park City, Brookfield Place (World Financial Center).

Total Marine recipients: 36
Total Army recipients: 415 – #1 out of 51
Total Navy recipients: 224 – #1 out of 51
Total Air Force recipients: 0 – #17 out of 51
Total Medal of Honor recipients: 675 – #1 out of 51

About the Author Chris Lange →

Chris Lange is a writer for 24/7 Wall St., based in Houston. He has covered financial markets over the past decade with an emphasis on healthcare, tech, and IPOs. During this time, he has published thousands of articles with insightful analysis across these complex fields. Currently, Lange's focus is on military and geopolitical topics.

Lange's work has been quoted or mentioned in Forbes, The New York Times, Business Insider, USA Today, MSN, Yahoo, The Verge, Vice, The Intelligencer, Quartz, Nasdaq, The Motley Fool, Fox Business, International Business Times, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Barron’s, Benzinga, and many other major publications.

A graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, Lange majored in business with a particular focus on investments. He has previous experience in the banking industry and startups.

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