One of the ways that the military recognizes its best of the best is by awarding medals to those who display outstanding courage and bravery. These medals represent the great sacrifices made by servicemembers over the course of duty, soldiers are not seeking glory for these actions but it is rather a call to go above and beyond in service to one’s compatriots or country. (Here are the 50 most decorated war heroes in American history.)
While some of these medals might vary slightly from branch to branch within the military like the Navy Cross, Air Force Cross, or Coast Guard Cross, they each represent a high level of sacrifice. To signify the importance of these medals, those at the highest level are awarded directly by the President of the United States. The Medal of Honor, for example, is always awarded by the President. For medals a step down from the top level, they can be awarded by the secretary of each respective military branch and in less common cases the President.
To determine the hardest medals to achieve from the U.S. military, 24/7 Wall St. referenced Military-Ranks.org’ list of Military Medals, ordered by precedence. Military-Ranks.org is an online database of military ranks, decorations, responsibilities and pay of the five branches of the United States’ Armed Services. Precedence refers to the honor and distinction signified by being awarded each medal. It also, according to military tradition, determines the order in which they are displayed on a service ribbon rack. Listed here are the 21 highest-precedence medals, according to Military-Ranks.org. Some of these medals are only issued by one branch, while others are issued to all branches. Data on which branches issue the decoration and the description came from Military-Ranks.org. In some cases, the medals unique to a particular branch have the same level of prestige as the same medal in another branch. Those ties are noted accordingly.
The Medal of Honor stands out as the highest military award in the United States. It is awarded to members of the military who have exhibited acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. President Harry Truman spoke very highly of the award saying, “We do not go to war for gain or for territory, we go to war for principles, and we produce young men like these. I think I told every one of them that I would rather have that medal than be President of the United States”.
To be awarded the Medal of Honor, a service member must have shown unparalleled bravery and valor in the face of enemy forces. There are very few living people that have ever been awarded the Medal of Honor, in fact there are only 65 living recipients out of the 3,500 that have received the award in the more than 40 million that have served since the institution of the medal. (Here is the most impressive medal of honor recipient in every state.)
The Medal of Honor, among other medals, serves to recognize the extreme sacrifices made by those who serve in the military, and are a representation of the highest values of this nation.
21. Purple Heart
> Description: Awarded to service members who have been wounded or killed. Individuals must be engaged in combat or undertaking any action with a known enemy of the United States.
> Issuing branch(s): Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard
> Year established: 1782
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20. Bronze Star Medal
> Description: Awarded to service members who have distinguished themselves by heroic or meritorious achievement of service.
> Issuing branch(s): Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard
> Year established: 1944
16 (tied). Coast Guard Medal
> Description: Awarded to service members who distinguished themselves by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy.
> Issuing branch(s): Coast Guard
> Year established: 1949
16 (tied). Airman’s Medal
> Description: Awarded to service members who have distinguished themselves by a heroic act, usually at the voluntary risk of their life.
> Issuing branch(s): Air Force
> Year established: 1960
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16 (tied). Navy and Marine Corps Medal
> Description: Awarded to service members for non-combat acts of heroism. This award hinges on the actual level of personal “life threatening” risk. It is most closely associated with rescues at sea.
> Issuing branch(s): Navy, Marines
> Year established: 1942
16 (tied). Soldier’s Medal
> Description: Awarded to service members for the voluntary risk of life in non-combat situations.
> Issuing branch(s): Army
> Year established: 1927
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15. Distinguished Flying Cross
> Description: Awarded to service members who exemplify acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight.
> Issuing branch(s): Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard
> Year established: 1926
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14. Legion of Merit
> Description: Awarded to service members for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of one’s duty.
> Issuing branch(s): Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard
> Year established: 1942
13. Defense Superior Service Medal
> Description: Awarded to service members who have rendered superior service in a position of authority or responsibility while engaged in a joint activity. You must be attached to a Joint Task Force as an individual not a unit to be eligible for the award.
> Issuing branch(s): Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard
> Year established: 1976
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12. Silver Star
> Description: Awarded primarily to service members for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States. It is considered the third-highest decoration for valor in combat.
> Issuing branch(s): Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard
> Year established: 1918
8 (tied). Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
> Description: Awarded to service members who distinguish themselves by meritorious service to the United States Government in a duty of great responsibility.
> Issuing branch(s): Coast Guard
> Year established: 1949
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8 (tied). Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
> Description: Awarded primarily to higher ranking officers and airmen in important enlisted leadership positions. It is for service members who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the United States Government in a duty of great responsibility.
> Issuing branch(s): Air Force
> Year established: 1960
8 (tied). Navy Distinguished Service Medal
> Description: Awarded to service members who served gallantly for the protection and safety of the United States in duty of great responsibility.
> Issuing branch(s): Navy, Marines
> Year established: 1919
8 (tied). Distinguished Service Medal
> Description: Awarded to service members who distinguish themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government while working in a duty with greater responsibility. Exceptional performance of a soldier’s normal duty will not alone justify an award of this decoration.
> Issuing branch(s): Army
> Year established: 1918
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7. Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
> Description: Awarded to service members for exceptionally meritorious service, in non-combat situations.
> Issuing branch(s): Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard
> Year established: 2003
6. Defense Distinguished Service Medal
> Description: Awarded to service members whose direct and individual contributions to national security or national defense are recognized as equivalent to contributions attributed to positions that bear broader responsibilities. This is the United States’ highest non-combat award.
> Issuing branch(s): Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard
> Year established: 1970
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2 (tied). Coast Guard Cross
> Description: Awarded to members of the Coast Guard who distinguish themselves by extraordinary heroism which does not justify the award of the Medal of Honor.
> Issuing branch(s): Coast Guard
> Year established: 2010
2 (tied). Air Force Cross
> Description: Awarded to a person serving in any capacity with the Air Force who distinguishes himself by extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of a Medal of Honor.
> Issuing branch(s): Air Force
> Year established: 1960
2 (tied). Navy Cross
> Description: Awarded to service members for gallantry in a combat situation in the presence of great danger, or at great personal risk, but not at the level that would merit the Medal of Honor.
> Issuing branch(s): Navy, Marines, Coast Guard
> Year established: 1919
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2 (tied). Distinguished Service Cross
> Description: Awarded to service members for true gallantry and selfless action in combat against an armed enemy force. Actions must be higher than those of other ribbons, medals, and decorations but do not merit the Medal of Honor.
> Issuing branch(s): Army
> Year established: 1918
1. Medal of Honor
> Description: Awarded to any service member who has “distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.”
> Issuing branch(s): Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard
> Year established: 1861
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