Who is the most decorated war vet?

Question

I all the wars since the founding of america, who is the most decorated war vet ever? Which war? How many, and what kind of medals?

Answer 1

Most people think it was Audie Murphy. The current holder of most medals AND citations is Matt Urban. Guinness Book of World Records recognizes him as our country's most decorated soldier...

Answer 2

It would have to be the 13 American servicemen who have been awarded the Metal of Honor twice.

The one I remember most, is Captain Tom Custer, little brother of General George Custer.

Both died at Little Big Horn.

It was mentioned that apon meeting each other near the end of the civil war, George Custer told his brother Tom Custer, that I got all the rank and you got all the medals.

While you can count individual medals, no amount of lower medals can rank above just a single Medal of Honor.

Several soldiers during the Vietnam conflict were recommended for the Medal of Honor more than once.

But in the early 1970's Congress passed a law that limits the award of the Medal of Honor to just one per individual.

So the 13 double Medal of Honor winners, will for all time rank as the 13 highest decorated Military Veterans of the United States.

Answer 3

Audie L. Murphy by age 21 rose to national fame as the most decorated U.S. combat soldier of World War II. Among his 33 awards and decorations was the Medal of Honor, the highest military award for bravery that can be given to any individual in America. He also received every decoration for valor that his country had to offer, some of them more than once, including 5 decorations by France and Belgium. He was credited with killing over 240 of the enemy while wounding and capturing many others, he was as a living legend in the 3rd Infantry Division. From an Army Private, Audie quickly rose to Staff Sergeant, he earned a "battle field" commission as 2nd Lieutenant, he was wounded three times as he fought in 9 major campaigns across Europe and survived the war.

Answer 4

Col Robert Howard was the most highly decorated individual in US military history. Although David Hackworth had over 90 decorations, he did not have the Medal of Honor.

Answer 5

Audie Murphy was the most decorated soldier in WWII, chesty puller is the most decorated marine of all time,, Robert L. Howard was the most decorated soldier from Vietnam, as far as the other wars,, I'm not sure at this time.

Answer 6

While I tend to agree with Audie Murphy, I want to reach back for a bit. I think almost all will agree that you have to almost die to recieve the Medal of Honor. I nominate Sergeant Major Daniel Daly.

In 1900, during the Boxer Rebellion, he received his first Medal of Honor for single-handedly defending his position against repeated attacks and inflicted casualties of around 200 on the attacking Boxers.


His second Medal of Honor came fifteen years later. On the night of October 24, 1915, he was part of a group of 35 Marines who were ambushed by a force of approximately 400 Cacos (Haitian bandits). He led one of the three groups of men during the fight to reach a nearby fort, and was awarded the medal for his conspicuous actions.

He participated in the Battle of Belleau Wood in WWI where he led an attack screaming "Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?" For his actions in this battle, he was awarded the Navy Cross.
Daly was offered a commission on several occasions, but he always refused, on the grounds that he would rather be "an outstanding sergeant than just another officer".

Dan Daly retired from the Marine Corps on February 6, 1929, and died on April 27, 1937.

A complete list of Sergeant Major Daly's decorations and medals includes two Medal of Honor; the Navy Cross; Distinguished Service Cross; three Letters of Commendation; Good Conduct Medal with two bronze stars; China Relief Expedition Medal; Philippine Campaign Medal; Expeditionary Medal with one bronze star; Mexican Service Medal; Haitian Campaign Medal; World War I Victory Medal with Aisne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne and Defensive-Sector clasps; Medaille Militaire; Croix de Guerre with Palm; and the Fourragere (the last three awards from the French government).

Answer 7

Audie Murphy; http://www.audiemurphy.com/

Medal of Honor
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star with First Oak Leaf Cluster
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device and First Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart with Second Oak Leaf Cluster
U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal
Good Conduct Medal
Presidential Unit Citation with First Oak Leaf Cluster
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with One Silver Star, Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine campaigns) and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France)
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Combat Infantry Badge
Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar
Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar
French Fourragere in Colors of the Croix de Guerre
French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier
French Croix de Guerre With Silver Star
French Croix de Guerre with Palm
Medal of Liberated France
Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm

Answer 8

Audie Murphy, 3rd Infantry Division!

Answer 9

as far as i'm worried, I care about in basic terms one. it quite is the single in my section that i will vote for. Tammy Duckworth (certain human beings, she is a lady, how about that you a lady might want to be contained in the homestead human beings.) grow to be co-piloting a black hawk helicopter at the same time as it grow to be struck by an rpg. They managed to land the helicopter appropriately formerly she surpassed out simply by her injuries. She lost both her legs and shattered her proper arm. She is at present hoping to be again to flight status for the Illinois nationwide guard and is operating for Congress. i do not desire to take heed to every person say that she is anti armed forces or comfortable on protection in basic terms because she is a Democrat. This us of a needs extra Democrats (and Republicans) like her.

Answer 10

my opinion it is the unknown soldier who died in obscurity serving his country and awarded the highest honor a special monument in DC

Col. George "Bud" Day, an Air Force pilot who spent 67 months in a North Vietnamese prison and was awarded the Medal of Honor among other decorations

Capt. Keil began her career as a student nurse in San Francisco and shortly thereafter became a flight attendant for United Airlines. To combine two of her passions -- flying and caring for people -- Capt. Keil joined the Army Air Corps as a flight nurse to serve in World War II.

During that time, she flew 250 air evacuation missions and 25 transatlantic flights -- compared to most pilots who are relieved after 50 -- many in extraordinarily dangerous conditions, including to Normandy during the D-Day invasions, where she helped evacuate wounded soldiers from the front lines. She was also part of a team that followed General Patton's Army across France with a cargo of crucial supplies like gasoline, ammunition and weapons. After the war, Capt. Keil returned to her previous job as a flight attendant for United Airlines