The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest

military decoration Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. DoD Manual 1348.33, 2010, Vol. 3 A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medal ...

for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.

History

The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the successor award to the "

Citation Star The Citation Star was a Department of War personal valor decoration issued as a ribbon device which was first established by the United States Congress on July 9, 1918 (Bulletin No. 43, War Dept. 1918). When awarded, a silver star was placed o ...

" ( silver star) which was established by an

Act of Congress An Act of Congress is a statute enacted by the United States Congress. Acts may apply only to individual entities (called Public and private bills, private laws), or to the general public (Public and private bills, public laws). For a Bill (law) ...

on July 9, 1918, during World War I. On July 19, 1932, the Secretary of War approved the conversion of the "Citation Star" to the SSM with the original "Citation Star" incorporated into the center of the medal. Authorization for the Silver Star Medal was placed into law by an Act of Congress for the U.S. Navy on August 7, 1942, and an Act of Congress for the U.S. Army on December 15, 1942. The current statutory authorization for the medal is Title 10 of the United States Code, for the U.S. Army, for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, and for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. The U.S. Army awards the medal as the "Silver Star". The U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard award the medal as the "Silver Star Medal". Since 21 December 2016, the Department of Defense (DoD) refers to the decoration as the "Silver Star Medal".

Award criteria

The Silver Star Medal is awarded for gallantry, so long as the action does not justify the award of one of the next higher valor awards: the

Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries. *Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) *Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) *Distinguished Service Cross (U ...

, the Navy Cross, the Air Force Cross, or the

Coast Guard Cross The Coast Guard Cross (CGC) is the United States Coast Guard's second highest military decoration for Coast Guardsmen who distinguish themselves extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. Established by Act of Congress on 15 Octo ...

. The gallantry displayed must have taken place while in action against an enemy of the United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The Silver Star Medal is awarded for singular acts of valor or heroism over a brief period, such as one or two days of a battle. Air Force pilots and combat systems officers and Navy/Marine Corps naval aviators and flight officers flying fighter aircraft, are often considered eligible to receive the Silver Star upon becoming an ace (i.e., having five or more confirmed aerial kills), which entails the pilot and, in multi-seat fighters, the weapons system officer or radar intercept officer, intentionally and successfully risking his life multiple times under combat conditions and emerging victorious. However, during the Vietnam War, the last conflict to produce U.S. fighter aces: an Air Force pilot and two navigators/weapon systems officers (who were later retrained as Air Force pilots), a naval aviator and a naval flight officer/radar intercept officer who had achieved this distinction, were eventually awarded the Air Force Cross and Navy Cross, respectively, in addition to SSMs previously awarded for earlier aerial kills. ;Unit award equivalent * Air Force – Gallant Unit Citation * Army – Valorous Unit Award * Coast Guard – Coast Guard Unit Commendation * Navy-Marine Corps –

Navy Unit Commendation The Navy Unit Commendation (NUC) is a United States Navy unit award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944. History Navy and U.S. Marine Corps commands may recommend any Navy or Marine Co ...

Appearance

The Silver Star Medal is a gold five-pointed star, in circumscribing diameter with a laurel wreath encircling rays from the center and a diameter silver star superimposed in the center. The pendant is suspended from a rectangular shaped metal loop with rounded corners. The reverse has the inscription ''FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION''. The ribbon is wide and consists of the following stripes: Old Glory red (center stripe); proceeding outward in pairs white; ultramarine blue; white; and ultramarine blue. ;Ribbon devices Second and subsequent awards of the Silver Star Medal are denoted by bronze or silver oak leaf clusters in the Army and Air Force and by gold or silver inch stars in the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

Recipients

The Department of Defense does not keep extensive records for the Silver Star Medal. Independent groups estimate that between 100,000 and 150,000 SSMs have been awarded since the decoration was established. Colonel

David Hackworth David Haskell Hackworth (November 11, 1930 – May 4, 2005), also known as Hack, was a prominent journalist, military journalist and a famous former United States Army colonel who was decorated in both the Korean War and Vietnam War. Hackworth ...

who was awarded ten SSMs while serving in the Army during the Korean War and Vietnam War, is likely to be the person awarded the most SSMs. General of the Army

Douglas MacArthur Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American military leader who served as General of the Army for the United States, as well as a field marshal to the Philippine Army. He had served with distinction in World War I, was C ...

was awarded seven SSMs for his service in France in World War I from February to November 1918 as a colonel and then brigadier general. Donald H. Russell, a civilian Vought F4U Corsair technical support engineer attached to a Marine Corps fighter wing, received the SSM for his actions aboard after the carrier was attacked by a Japanese

dive bomber A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target simplifies the bomb's trajectory and allows the pilot to keep visual contact througho ...

in March 1945. In the fall of 1944, President Roosevelt's close adviser

Harry Hopkins Harry Lloyd Hopkins (August 17, 1890 – January 29, 1946) was an American statesman, public administrator, and presidential advisor. A trusted deputy to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Hopkins directed New Deal relief programs before servi ...

, the U.S. Ambassador in Moscow

W. Averell Harriman William Averell Harriman (November 15, 1891July 26, 1986), better known as Averell Harriman, was an American Democratic politician, businessman, and diplomat. The son of railroad baron E. H. Harriman, he served as Secretary of Commerce un ...

and a military attaché presented the SSM to Soviet Red Army artillery officer Alexei Voloshin, who was the first to cross the Dnieper with his battery and was one of four junior Red Army officers who received the award.

Female recipients

Three Army nurses that served in World War I were cited in 1919 and 1920 with Citation Stars for gallantry in attending to the wounded while under artillery fire in July 1918. In 2007, it was discovered that they had never been awarded their Citation Stars. The three nurses (Army nurses served without rank until 1920) were awarded the Silver Star Medal posthumously: * Jane Rignel – Mobile Hospital No. 2, 42nd Division, for gallantry in "giving aid to the wounded under heavy fire" in France on July 15, 1918 * Linnie Leckrone – Shock Team No. 134, Field Hospital No. 127, 32nd Division, for gallantry while "attending to the wounded during an artillery bombardment" in France on July 29, 1918 * Irene Robar – Shock Team No. 134, Field Hospital No. 127, 32nd Division, for gallantry while "attending to the wounded during an artillery bombardment" in France on July 29, 1918 An unknown number of servicewomen received the award in World War II. Four Army nurses serving in Italy during the war— First Lieutenant Mary Roberts,

Second Lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

Elaine Roe Second Lieutenant Elaine A. Roe was an officer in the United States Army during World War II. She was awarded the Silver Star for her actions during Operation Shingle. Action Roe and her fellow nurses serving at the time - Mary Roberts, Rita Rour ...

, Second Lieutenant Rita Virginia Rourke, and Second Lieutenant

Ellen Ainsworth Ellen Ainsworth (1918 in Glenwood City, Wisconsin – 1944 in Anzio, Italy) was an officer in the United States Army during World War II. Ainsworth was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart for her actions during Operation Shingle while se ...

(posthumous)—became the first women recipients of the Silver Star, all cited for their bravery in evacuating the 33rd Field Hospital at Anzio on February 10, 1944. Later that same year, Corporal

Maggie Leones Magdalena "Maggie" Estoista Leones (August 19, 1920 – June 16, 2016) was a Filipino intelligence officer during World War II. She is the first and only Asian to receive a Silver Star Medal for her wartime contributions. Early life Leones was ...

, a Filipino who later immigrated to the United States, received the medal for clandestine activities on Luzon; , she is the only female Asian to receive a Silver Star. The next known servicewomen to receive the Silver Star were Army National Guard

Sergeant Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...

Leigh Ann Hester Leigh Ann Hester (born January 12, 1982) is a United States Army National Guard soldier. While assigned to the 617th Military Police Company, a Kentucky Army National Guard unit out of Richmond, Kentucky, Hester received the Silver Star for h ...

in 2005, for gallantry during an insurgent ambush on a convoy in Iraq and Army

Specialist Specialist may refer to: Occupations * Specialist (rank), a military rank ** Specialist (Singapore) * Specialist (arena football) * Specialist degree, in academia * Specialty (medicine) * Designated market maker, in the American stock market * ...

Monica Lin Brown Monica Lin Brown (born 24 May 1988) is a United States Army sergeant and medic who became the first woman during the War in Afghanistan and only the second woman since World War II to receive the Silver Star, the United States military's third ...

in March 2008, for extraordinary heroism as a combat medic in the War in Afghanistan.

Notable recipients

* John Adair *

Joseph H. Albers Joseph H. Albers D.D. (March 18, 1891 – December 1, 1965) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Albers served as the first bishop of the new Diocese of Lansing in Michigan in from 1937 until his death in 1964. He served a ...

John R. Alison John Richardson Alison (November 21, 1912 – June 6, 2011) was a highly decorated American combat ace of World War II and is often cited as the father of Air Force Special Operations. Early years Born in Micanopy, Florida, near Gainesville ...

* Darr H. Alkire * Leslie "Bull" Allen * Royal B. Allison * Terry de la Mesa Allen Sr. *

Samuel E. Anderson General Samuel Egbert Anderson (January 6, 1906 – September 12, 1982) was a United States Air Force four-star general who served as commander of the Air Materiel Command. Early life and education He was born in Greensboro, North Carolina ...

Bernard L. Austin Bernard Lige Austin (15 December 1902 – 21 September 1979) was a Vice Admiral of the United States Navy. His career included service in World War II, the Korean War, and the Cold War and command of submarines and surface ship forces, durin ...

* Lloyd Austin *

William Brantley Aycock William Brantley Aycock (October 24, 1915 – June 20, 2015) was an American educator who served as chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1957 until 1964 and was the retired Kenan Professor of Law at the UNC School o ...

* Peter Badcoe (two awards) *

John Bahnsen John C. "Doc" Bahnsen, Jr. (born November 8, 1934) is a retired United States Army brigadier general and decorated veteran of the Vietnam War. Early years John Charles Bahnsen, Jr. was born to John C. Bahnsen and Evelyn Williams in Albany, Geo ...

(five awards) *

Vernon Baker Vernon may refer to: Places Australia *Vernon County, New South Wales Canada *Vernon, British Columbia, a city *Vernon, Ontario France * Vernon, Ardèche *Vernon, Eure United States * Vernon, Alabama * Vernon, Arizona * Vernon, California * ...

Robert H. Barrow Robert Hilliard Barrow (February 5, 1922 – October 30, 2008) was a United States Marine Corps four-star general. Barrow was the 27th Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1979 to 1983. He served for 41 years, including overseas command duty in Wo ...

Olinto Barsanti Olinto Mark Barsanti (November 11, 1917 – May 2, 1973) was commander of the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968, commanding during the Tet Offensive and during subsequent operations around Bien Hoa and Huế. He commanded the ...

César Basa César Fernando María Tianko Basa (21 June 1915 – 12 December 1941) was a Filipino military pilot who fought in World War II. He was one of the pioneer fighter pilots of the Philippine Army Air Corps, the forerunner of the Philippine Air For ...

Harry F. Bauer USS ''Harry F. Bauer'' (DD-738/DM-26/MMD-26) was a destroyer minelayer in the United States Navy. She was named for Lieutenant Commander Harry F. Bauer (1904–1942). ''Harry F. Bauer'' was Ship naming and launching, launched as destroyer DD ...

* Charles Alvin Beckwith * David Bellavia (Upgraded to the Medal of Honor in 2019) * Rafael Celestino Benítez *

Everett Ernest Blakely Everett Ernest Blakely (July 1, 1919 – September 21, 2004) was a career officer of the United States Air Force. He was a highly decorated B-17 pilot with the “Bloody Hundredth” Bombardment Group of the 8th Air Force in Europe du ...

Albert Blithe Albert Blithe (June 25, 1923 – December 17, 1967) was an American career soldier who served as a private first class with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. Blit ...

Larry "Scrappy" Blumer Laurence Elroy "Scrappy" Blumer (May 31, 1917 – October 23, 1997) was an American pilot in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He was credited with six aerial victories, five of which he gained in a single action lasting no mor ...

Royal L. Bolling Royal Lee Bolling (June 19, 1920 – July 16, 2002) was a Massachusetts politician and head of a prominent African-American political family. While serving in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1965, he sponsored the state's Racial Im ...

* Richard Bong * Paul Boesch * Bruce Godfrey Brackett * Omar Bradley * Neville Brand *

Maurice L. Britt Maurice Lee "Footsie" Britt (June 29, 1919 – November 26, 1995) was an American professional football player, Medal of Honor recipient of World War II, businessman, and Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas. He played for the Detroit Lions in 1941 a ...

Hubert Buchanan Hubert E. Buchanan (born April 24, 1941) is a former United States Air Force captain and fighter pilot in the Vietnam War who was shot down, captured, and spent 2,362 days as a prisoner of war in Hanoi and surrounding areas. He was one of the firs ...

Phil H. Bucklew Phil Hinkle Bucklew (December 18, 1914 – December 30, 1992) was a professional American football player who went on to become a United States Navy officer. He served in one of the Navy's first special warfare units during World War II. Whi ...

Arleigh Burke Arleigh Albert Burke (October 19, 1901 – January 1, 1996) was an admiral of the United States Navy who distinguished himself during World War II and the Korean War, and who served as Chief of Naval Operations during the Eisenhower and Kenne ...

* Jess Cain *

Modesto Cartagena Sergeant First Class Modesto Cartagena (July 21, 1921 – March 2, 2010) was a member of the United States Army who served in the 65th Infantry Regiment, a military regiment consisting of Puerto Rican enlisted soldiers and officers from the conti ...

Alwyn Cashe Alwyn Crendall Cashe (July 13, 1970 – November 8, 2005) was a United States Army senior non-commissioned officer who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Iraq. On November 10, 2020, the United States Congress voted to upg ...

(Upgraded to the Medal of Honor in 2021) *

Johnny Checketts John Milne Checketts, (20 February 1912 – 21 April 2006) was a New Zealand flying ace of the Second World War, who was credited with the destruction of enemy aircraft, three probably destroyed and 11 damaged. Born in Invercargill, Checketts ...

Llewellyn Chilson Llewellyn Morris Chilson (April 1, 1920 – October 2, 1981) was a United States Army master sergeant and one of the most decorated American soldiers of World War II. He received twelve individual decorations for combat from the U.S. Army includ ...

(three awards) * David Christian (two awards) *

Nestor Chylak Nestor George Chylak Jr. (; May 11, 1922February 17, 1982) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1954 to 1978. He umpired in three ALCS (1969, 1972, 1973), serving as crew chief in 1969 and 1973. H ...

* Wesley Clark * Max Cleland *

Lynn Compton Lynn Davis Compton (December 31, 1921 – February 25, 2012), known as Buck Compton, was an American jurist, police officer, and soldier. In his legal career, he served as a prosecutor and California Court of Appeal judge, and is most nota ...

Garlin Murl Conner Garlin Murl Conner (June 2, 1919 – November 5, 1998) was a United States Army technical sergeant and first lieutenant in the Second World War. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, four Silver Stars, and the French Croix de guerre fo ...

(four awards) *

John Thomas Corley Brigadier General John Thomas Corley (August 4, 1914 – April 16, 1977) was a career United States Army officer who served with distinction in World War II. He was also noted for his contributions to army training. Early life John Thomas Cole w ...

(eight awards) * Alan "Ace" Cozzalio (two awards) * Louis Cukela *

William J. Cullerton William J. "Bill" Cullerton Sr. (June 2, 1923 – January 12, 2013) was an American World War II flying ace, entrepreneur, radio show host, and outdoorsman. Cullerton destroyed twenty-one Axis planes during the war, including sixteen destroyed in ...

Roy M. Davenport Rear Admiral Roy Milton Davenport (June 18, 1909 – December 24, 1987) was an officer in the United States Navy. He is the first sailor to be awarded five Navy Crosses, the United States military's second highest decoration for valor. Davenport wa ...

Juan César Cordero Dávila Major General Juan César Cordero Dávila (June 7, 1904 – July 20, 1965), was the commanding officer of the 65th Infantry Regiment during the Korean War, rising to become one of the highest ranking ethnic officers in the United States Army. ...

Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. (December 18, 1912 – July 4, 2002) was a United States Air Force (USAF) general and commander of the World War II Tuskegee Airmen. He was the first African-American brigadier general in the USAF. On December 9, 1998, h ...

* Ray Davis *

Oliver W. Dillard Oliver Williams Dillard Sr. (September 28, 1926 - June 16, 2015) was a United States Army major general, the fifth black officer in the U.S. Army to attain flag rank. He was a member of the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame and Officer Candida ...

James H. Doolittle James Harold Doolittle (December 14, 1896 – September 27, 1993) was an American military general and aviation pioneer who received the Medal of Honor for his daring raid on Japan during World War II. He also made early coast-to-coast flights ...

Wayne A. Downing Wayne Allan Downing (May 10, 1940 – July 18, 2007) was a four-star United States Army general born in Peoria, Illinois. He graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1962 and held a Master of Busine ...

(two awards) *

Hugh A. Drum Hugh Aloysius Drum (September 19, 1879 – October 3, 1951) was a career United States Army officer who served in World War I and World War II and attained the rank of Lieutenant General (United States), lieutenant general. He was notable for hi ...

Jesus S. Duran Jesus Santiago Duran (July 26, 1948 – February 17, 1977) was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, and a recipient of the Medal of Honor. Biography Duran was born, July 26, 1948, in Juarez, Mexico. He was the sixth of twelve siblings. Duran ...

(upgraded to the Medal of Honor, 2014) * Charles Durning *

Graves B. Erskine General Graves Blanchard Erskine (June 28, 1897May 21, 1973) was a United States Marine Corps officer who led the 3rd Marine Division (United States), 3rd Marine Division during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. Early life and education ...

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr., (December 9, 1909 – May 7, 2000) was an American actor, producer and decorated naval officer of World War II. He is best known for starring in such films as ''The Prisoner of Zenda'' (1937), ''Gunga Din'' (1939) a ...

* Joseph A. Farinholt * Geoffrey Cheney Ferris * Bernard Fisher *

Wayne Fisk Chief Master Sergeant Wayne Fisk (born April 6, 1945) was directly involved in the famed Operation Ivory Coast, Son Tay POW camp raid and the rescue of the crew of the Mayagüez incident, SS ''Mayagüez''. When the ''Mayagüez'' was hijacked by ...

* Martin H. Foery *

Ronald Fogleman Ronald Robert Fogleman (born January 27, 1942) is a retired United States Air Force general who served as the 15th Chief of Staff of the Air Force from 1994 to 1997 and as Commanding General of the United States Transportation Command from 1992 t ...

* John W. Foss (two awards) * Mayhew Foster * Joseph C. Froshour (two awards) Vietnam * Guy Gabaldon (upgraded to the Navy Cross, 1960) *

Francis Gambacorta Francis Michael Gambacorta (8 July 1913 - 1 December 2000) was a US Navy Captain. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1935 and served onboard submarines in World War II, receiving the Silver Star award for actions in Ja ...

James M. Gavin James Maurice Gavin (March 22, 1907 – February 23, 1990), sometimes called "Jumpin' Jim" and "the jumping general", was a senior United States Army officer, with the rank of lieutenant general, who was the third Commanding General (CG) of the 8 ...

Hobart R. Gay Lieutenant General Hobart Raymond Gay (May 16, 1894 – August 19, 1983), nicknamed "Hap", was a United States Army officer who served in numerous conflicts, including World War II, where he worked closely alongside General George S. Patton, and l ...

Jerauld R. Gentry Jerauld Richard "Jerry" Gentry (May 16, 1935 – March 3, 2003) was a United States Air Force (USAF) test pilot and Vietnam combat veteran. As chief USAF pilot of the Lifting Body Research Program, he helped validate the concept of flying a w ...

John J. Gilligan John Joyce “Jack” Gilligan (March 22, 1921 – August 26, 2013) was an American United States Democratic Party, Democratic politician from the state of Ohio who served as a United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative and as th ...

* Luigi Giorgi (Italian serviceman) * Mathew L. Golsteyn *

John W. Goode John William Goode Jr. (March 10, 1923 – February 5, 1994) was a lawyer in San Antonio who was a figure in the 1950s and 1960s rebirth of the Republican Party in Texas. Background Goode was a son of the physician John Goode Sr. (1886� ...

* Robert J. Graham *

David E. Grange Jr. David E. Grange Jr. (April 9, 1925 – September 11, 2022) was a lieutenant general in the United States Army. Early life Grange was born on April 9, 1925, in Richmond Hill, New York, New York City, and grew up in Lake Ronkonkoma, New York. He j ...

(three awards) *

David L. Grange David L. Grange (born December 29, 1947) is a retired United States Army major general. He served with the 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War. He was later assigned to Delta Force, commanding a squadron during the invasion of Grenada ...

(three awards) * Charles H. Green (Cdr, 3rd Bn, RAR) *

John Campbell Greenway John Campbell Greenway (July 6, 1872 – January 19, 1926) was an American businessman and senior officer of the U.S. Army Reserve who served with Colonel Theodore Roosevelt in the Spanish–American War and commanded infantry in World War I. H ...

* William Guarnere *

Ed Guthman Edwin O. Guthman (August 11, 1919 – August 31, 2008) was an American journalist and university professor. While at the ''Seattle Times'', he won the paper's first Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 1950. Guthman was third on Richard Nixon ...

* Horatio B. Hackett *

(ten awards) *

Hugh William Hadley USS ''Hugh W. Hadley'' (DD-774) was an which served in the United States Navy during World War II. Namesake Hugh William Hadley was born on 17 February 1901 at Moro, Oregon. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1918. Commis ...

* Alexander Haig *

Andrew Haldane Andrew Allison Haldane (August 22, 1917 – October 12, 1944) was an officer in the United States Marine Corps in the Pacific theatre during World War II. He was killed in action during the Battle of Peleliu. Haldane is portrayed by actor Scot ...

(two awards) * Robert Halperin * Iceal Hambleton * Edward Hardin *

James C. Harding James C. Harding (born June 27, 1934) is a retired United States Air Force Colonel (United States), colonel and pilot. He served two tours, during the Vietnam War and flew a total 596 missions, all in propeller aircraft. He served as squadron co ...

* John Harllee * Tom Harmon *

Raymond Harvey Raymond G. Harvey (March 1, 1920 – November 18, 1996) was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army who served during World War II and the Korean War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions on March 9, 1951. Military service Harve ...

* Carlos Hathcock *

Vern Haugland Vernon Arnold Haugland (May 27, 1908 – September 15, 1984) was a reporter and writer for the Associated Press. As a war correspondent, he experienced and documented World War II events in person. During an assignment to New Guinea, he was a ...

(first civilian award) * Sterling Hayden *

Leo D. Hermle Leo David "Dutch" Hermle (June 30, 1890 – January 21, 1976) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant general. He was a recipient of Army and Navy second highest decorations, Navy Cross and D ...

(three awards) *

Diego E. Hernández Vice Admiral Diego E. Hernandez (March 25, 1934 – July 7, 2017) was a United States Navy officer who was the first Hispanic American to be named Vice Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Early years Hernandez (birth ...

Clifford B. Hicks Clifford B. Hicks (August 10, 1920 – September 29, 2010) was an American writer and magazine editor, best known for his children's books chronicling the adventures of Alvin Fernald. Biography Hicks was born in Marshalltown, Iowa in 1920."Hicks, ...

Thomas Taro Higa Thomas Taro Higa (September 22, 1916 – February 11, 1985) was a wartime hero both in the United States and Okinawa. He earned a Purple Heart and Silver Star. In 2015, NHK produced the docudrama in Higa's memory. Early life Thomas Taro Higa was ...

* David Lee "Tex" Hill * Tony Hillerman *

Lucius Roy Holbrook Lucius Roy Holbrook (April 30, 1875 – October 19, 1952) was a major general who commanded the United States Army's Philippine Department from 1936 to 1938. Early life and family history Holbrook was born in Arkansaw, Wisconsin. He was a son o ...

Gordon Pai'ea Chung-Hoon Gordon Paiea Chung-Hoon (July 25, 1910 – July 24, 1979) was an admiral in the United States Navy, who served during World War II and was the first Asian American flag officer. He received the Navy Cross and Silver Star for conspicuous gallan ...

* Joe R. Hooper (two awards) *

Robert L. Howard Robert Lewis Howard (July 11, 1939 – December 23, 2009) was the most highly Military awards and decorations, decorated officer of Vietnam United States Army Special Forces (United States Army), Special Forces and Medal of Honor recipient ...

* Clifton James * Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg * Phil Johnon * Sam Johnson (two awards) *

James L. Jones James Logan Jones Jr. (born December 19, 1943) is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general and consultant who served as the 21st United States National Security Advisor from 2009 to 2010. During his military career, he served as th ...

* James Taggart Kerr (two awards) * John Kerry * Jonny Kim *

Robert Kingston Robert Charles Kingston (July 16, 1928February 28, 2007) was a United States Army general who served as the commander of U.S. Central Command. Early life and education Kingston was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on July 16, 1928, and graduated ...

(two awards) * Joseph Kittinger (two awards) *

Charles C. Krulak Charles Chandler Krulak (born March 4, 1942) is a retired United States Marine Corps General (United States), four-star general who served as the 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps from July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1999. He is the son of Lieutenant ...

* Chris Kyle *

Henry Louis Larsen Lieutenant General Henry Louis Larsen (December 10, 1890 – October 2, 1962) was a United States Marine Corps officer, the second Military Governor of Guam following its recapture from the Empire of Japan, and the first post-World War II Gover ...

(three awards) * Ben Lear *

John C. H. Lee John Clifford Hodges Lee (1 August 1887 – 30 August 1958) was a career US Army engineer, who rose to the rank of lieutenant general and commanded the Communications Zone (ComZ) in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. A grad ...

Kurt Chew-Een Lee Kurt Chew-Een Lee ( (January 21, 1926 – March 3, 2014) was the first Asian American to be commissioned as a regular officer in the United States Marine Corps. Lee earned the Navy Cross under fire in Korea in September 1950, serving in the 1st B ...

* Homer Litzenberg *

Elliott Loughlin Charles Elliott Loughlin (February 19, 1910 – October 31, 1989) was an officer of the United States Navy, where he reached the rank of Rear Admiral. He is best known for his court-martial following the controversial sinking of the Japanese ho ...

(two awards) *

(seven awards) *

Victor Maghakian Captain Victor "Transport" Maghakian ( hy, Վիգդոր Մաղաքեան; December 30, 1915 – August 17, 1977) was an Armenian-American member of the United States Marine Corps during World War II. As a gunnery sergeant, he led his platoon thro ...

(two awards) *

Fred K. Mahaffey Fred Keith Mahaffey (January 4, 1934 – October 13, 1986) was a United States Army four-star general who served as Commander in Chief, United States Readiness Command (USCINCRED) from 1985 to 1986 before dying of cancer. Early life, education, ...

(three awards) *

Peyton C. March General Peyton Conway March (December 27, 1864April 13, 1955) was a senior officer of the United States Army. He served in the Philippines, on the Mexican border, and World War I. March was the ninth Chief of Staff from 1918 to 1921, accomplish ...

* Richard Marcinko * George Marshall * Richard Marshall *

Barry McCaffrey Barry Richard McCaffrey (born November 17, 1942) is a retired United States Army general and current news commentator, professor and business consultant who served in President Bill Clinton's Cabinet as the Director of the Office of National Dru ...

(two awards) *

John McCain John Sidney McCain III (August 29, 1936 – August 25, 2018) was an American politician and United States Navy officer who served as a United States senator from Arizona from 1987 until his death in 2018. He previously served two terms ...

* Rob Roy McGregor (three awards) * Herbert Raymond "H.R." McMaster * Sid McMath * John McNulty (two awards) * William A. McNulty *

William K. MacNulty William Kirk MacNulty (May 22, 1892 in Antrim, Pennsylvania – August 3, 1964) was a U. S. Marine. He was a U.S. Marine Corps second lieutenant during World War I and saw action at the Battle of the Argonne Forest. He served as a captain dur ...

Merrill A. McPeak Merrill Anthony "Tony" McPeak (born January 9, 1936) is a retired 4-star general in the United States Air Force whose final assignment before retirement was as the 14th Chief of Staff of the Air Force from 1990 to 1994. In 1993, McPeak served a ...

Charles B. McVay III Charles Butler McVay III (August 31, 1898 – November 6, 1968) was an American naval officer and the commanding officer of the cruiser which was lost in action in 1945, resulting in a significant loss of life. Of all captains in the history of ...

Richard J. Meadows Richard James Meadows (June 16, 1931 – July 29, 1995) was a U.S. Army Special Forces officer who saw combat in Korea and Vietnam. He was a key figure in the Operation Eagle Claw in 1980, the rescue operation for the hostages of the Iran hostage ...

(two awards) * Ray Melikian (three awards) *

Charles L. Melson Charles Leroy Melson (25 May 1904 – 14 September 1981) was a vice admiral of the United States Navy. His career included service in World War II, the Korean War, and the Cold War, command of the United States First Fleet and of the United State ...

Daniel J. Miller Lt. Colonel Daniel J. Miller (March 13, 1924 – September 1, 2006) was a United States Air Force officer who served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He served as a navigator for bombers in World War II, and as a helicopter pil ...

Michael A. Monsoor Michael Anthony Monsoor (April 5, 1981September 29, 2006) was a United States Navy SEAL who was killed during Invasion of Iraq and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 2001 and graduated from Basic Un ...

Cliff Montgomery Cliff Montgomery (September 17, 1910 – April 21, 2005) was an American football player who served as the captain of the Columbia Lions football team that won the 1934 Rose Bowl Game. Montgomery, the quarterback, called a hidden-ball trick play k ...

* Audie Murphy (two awards) * Michael P. Murphy (upgraded to MOH) *

Raymond Murray Major General Raymond Leroy Murray (January 30, 1913 – November 11, 2004) was a highly decorated United States Marine Corps officer who earned two Navy Crosses, one during World War II and a second during the Korean War. He retired from activ ...

(four awards) *

Bismarck Myrick Bismarck Myrick (born December 23, 1940) is a former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia (1999–2002) and Lesotho (1995–1998). He is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service and a decorated Vietnam War hero. He represented the U. ...

* Oliver North * Henry Ringling North *

Levi Oakes Louis Levi Oakes (January 23, 1925 – May 28, 2019) was a Canadian-born Mohawk code talker who served in the United States Army and member of the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation. He was the last living Mohawk code talker. Early years and military service ...

* Mike O'Callaghan *

Eric T. Olson Eric Thor Olson (born January 24, 1952) is a retired United States Navy Admiral (United States), admiral who last served as the eighth Commander, United States Special Operations Command, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) from July 2, 2 ...

* Jorge Otero Barreto (two awards) *

Mohamed Oufkir General Mohammad Oufkir ( ar, محمد أوفقير; 14 May 1920 − 16 August 1972) was a Moroccan senior military officer who held many important governmental posts. It is believed that he was assassinated for his alleged role in the failed 1 ...

* Moultrie Patten *

George S. Patton George Smith Patton Jr. (November 11, 1885 – December 21, 1945) was a general in the United States Army who commanded the Seventh United States Army in the Mediterranean Theater of World War II, and the Third United States Army in France ...

* George Patton IV *

Keith Payne Keith Payne, (born 30 August 1933) is an List of Australian Victoria Cross recipients, Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the presence of the enemy" awarded to members of the British and Commonwe ...

* Endicott Peabody *

John J. Pershing General of the Armies John Joseph Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948), nicknamed "Black Jack", was a senior United States Army officer. He served most famously as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) on the Wes ...

Basil L. Plumley Basil Leonard Plumley (January 1, 1920 – October 10, 2012) was a career soldier and airborne combat infantryman in the United States Army who rose to the rank of command sergeant major. As a combat veteran of World War II and the Vietnam W ...

(two awards) * Samuel L. Pollock (two awards) *

Pascal Poolaw Pascal Cleatus Poolaw (January 29, 1922 – November 7, 1967) was a Kiowa who served with the United States Army in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He is the United States' most decorated Native American, with 42 me ...

(four awards) *

Nick Popaditch Nicholas Allen Popaditch (born July 2, 1967) is a medically retired United States Marine Corps gunnery sergeant who gained fame as the "Cigar Marine", recipient of the Silver Star and Purple Heart. He ran unsuccessfully as the 2010 Republican Part ...

Charles E. Potter Charles Edward Potter (October 30, 1916November 23, 1979) was a U.S. Representative and a U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan. Early life Potter was born in Lapeer, Michigan and attended the public schools there. He received an AB degree f ...

* Geronimo Pratt * Tommy Prince * Francis Gary Powers *

Ralph Puckett Ralph Puckett Jr. (born December 8, 1926) is a retired United States Army officer. He led the Eighth Army Ranger Company during the Korean War and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (United States), Distinguished Service Cross for his acti ...

(two awards) * Chesty Puller *

Lewis Burwell Puller Jr. Lewis Burwell Puller Jr. (August 18, 1945 – May 11, 1994) was an attorney and a United States Marine Corps officer who was severely wounded in the Vietnam War. He won the 1992 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography for his autobiograp ...

Agustín Ramos Calero Sergeant First Class Agustín Ramos Calero (June 2, 1919 – February 10, 1989) was awarded 22 decorations and medals from the U.S. Army for his actions during World War II, thus becoming the most decorated Puerto Rican and Hispanic soldier in the ...

William Wilson Quinn Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the s ...

Edward F. Rector Edward Franklin Rector (September 28, 1916 – April 26, 2001) was a colonel in the United States Air Force, a fighter ace of World War II, and a member of the Flying Tigers. Early years Rector, a native of Marshall, North Carolina, graduated fro ...

Stephen C. Reich Major Stephen C. Reich (May 22, 1971 – June 28, 2005) was an American soldier and Minor League Baseball player who was killed in action while on a rescue mission in Afghanistan at age 34. Reich played for the "Team USA" baseball team in 1 ...

Rick Rescorla Cyril Richard Rescorla (May 27, 1939 – September 11, 2001) was a British-American soldier, police officer, educator and private security specialist. He served as a British Army paratrooper during the Cyprus Emergency and a commissioned officer ...

Robert B. Rheault Robert Bradley Rheault (October 31, 1925 – October 16, 2013) was an American colonel in the U.S. Army Special Forces who served as commander of the First Special Forces Group in Okinawa, and the Fifth Special Forces Group in Vietnam from May ...

Karl W. Richter Karl Wendell Richter (October 4, 1942 – July 28, 1967) was an officer in the United States Air Force and an accomplished fighter pilot during the Vietnam War. At the age of 23 he was the youngest pilot in that conflict to shoot down a Miko ...

* Matthew Ridgway (two awards) *

Antonio Rodríguez Balinas Brigadier General Antonio Rodríguez Balinas (February 28, 1928 – September 21, 2011) was the first commander of the Office of the First U.S. Army Deputy Command. Early years Rodríguez Balinas was born and raised in the town of Adjuntas, Puert ...

* Pedro Rodriguez (two awards) * Robert Rosenthal * Barney Ross *

James N. Rowe James Nicholas "Nick" Rowe (February 8, 1938 – April 21, 1989) was a United States Army officer and one of only 34 American prisoners of war to escape captivity during the Vietnam War. Colonel Rowe was credited with developing the rigorou ...

* Dick Rutan *

Alfredo M. Santos Alfredo Manapat Santos (July 13, 1905 – February 7, 1990) was Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in 1962 to 1965, making him the first four-star general of the Philippines' armed forces. Early life Santos was born in Santa Cr ...

Paul Saunders Paul Golden (Swish) Saunders (January 12, 1918 – August 8, 2003) was a highly decorated United States Navy submarine sailor who was twice awarded the Silver Star medal during World War II. Naval career Saunders enlisted in the Navy in 1936 and s ...

Harold Schrier Harold George Schrier (October 17, 1916 – June 3, 1971) was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant colonel who served in World War II and the Korean War. In World War II, he was awarded the Navy Cross for leading the patrol that captured the t ...

Leonard T. Schroeder Jr. Leonard Treherne "Max" Schroeder Jr. (July 16, 1918 – May 26, 2009) was a colonel in the United States Army, who served on active duty from 1941 to 1971. As a captain during World War II, he commanded Company F of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Inf ...

Robert L. Scott Robert L. Scott (April 19, 1928 – July 26, 2018) was an American scholar influential in the study of rhetorical theory, criticism of public address, debate, and communication research and practice. He was professor emeritus in the Communicatio ...

Nate Self Nathan E. Self (born 1976) is an American author and former United States Army officer. Early life and education From China Spring, Texas, Self graduated from West Point in 1998. At West Point, he was part of the lightweight football team. Care ...

Arthur D. Simons Arthur D. "Bull" Simons (June 28, 1918 – May 21, 1979) was a United States Army Special Forces colonel best known for leading the Sơn Tây raid, an attempted rescue of U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War from a North Vietnamese p ...

Rodger W. Simpson Rodger Whitten Simpson (June 4, 1898 – December 10, 1964) was a rear admiral of the United States Navy, who distinguished himself during World War II. The frigate was named in his honor. Biography Simpson attended the University of Oregon for a ...

* H. Norman Schwarzkopf * Ben Schwartzwalder *

Sidney Shachnow Sidney Shachnow ( – ) was a Jewish American Holocaust survivor who attained the rank of Major general (United States), major general in United States Army. He retired in 1994, after almost 40 years of active service. Biography Surviving the ...

Charles Bradford Smith Charles Bradford Smith (May 7, 1916May 27, 2004) was a United States Army officer who served in World War II and the Korean War. He received the Silver Star medal and the Distinguished Service Cross (United States), Distinguished Service Cross ...

Frederick W. Smith Frederick Wallace Smith (born August 11, 1944) is an American business magnate and investor. He is the founder and chairman of FedEx Corporation, the world's largest transportation company. On June 1, 2022, Smith stepped down as CEO to become exe ...

Oliver Prince Smith Oliver Prince Smith (October 26, 1893 – December 25, 1977) was a U.S. Marine four star general and decorated combat veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He is most noted for commanding the 1st Marine Division during the first year of t ...

Ronald Speirs Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Charles Speirs (20 April 1920 – 11 April 2007) was a United States Army officer who served in the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. He was initially assigned as a p ...

* Michael G. Stahl (two awards) * Brian Stann * James Stockdale (four awards) *

George L. Street III George Levick Street III (July 27, 1913 – February 26, 2000) was a submariner in the United States Navy. He received the Medal of Honor during World War II. Early life and career Street was born in Richmond, Virginia. He joined the Naval Reserv ...

Samuel D. Sturgis Jr. Lieutenant General Samuel Davis Sturgis III (July 16, 1897 – July 5, 1964), also known as Samuel D. Sturgis Jr., was a senior officer of the United States Army who served as Chief of Engineers during the Cold War. Early life Samuel Davis ...

Richard K. Sutherland Lieutenant General Richard Kerens Sutherland (27 November 1893 – 25 June 1966) was a United States Army officer during World War II. He served as General of the Army Douglas MacArthur's Chief of Staff in the South West Pacific Area during the ...

Thomas Tigue Thomas M. Tigue (August 24, 1945 – February 1, 2016) was a United States Marine Corps Officer and combat veteran, an American politician, a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Early life Thomas Michael Tigue wa ...

* Richard Tilghman * Pat Tillman * Michel Thomas * Floyd James Thompson * William F. Train II * Matt Urban (two awards) * James Van Fleet (three awards) *

Paul K. Van Riper Paul K. Van Riper (born July 5, 1938) is a retired United States Marine lieutenant general. Van Riper was a combat veteran—twice receiving the Silver Star Medal for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War. At the time of his retirement, Van ...

(two awards) * Humbert Roque Versace * Nicolas Walsh (two awards) *

John T. Walton John Thomas Walton (October 8, 1946 – June 27, 2005) was an American war veteran and a son of Walmart founder Sam Walton. He was also the chairman of True North Venture Partners, a venture capital firm. Walton cofounded the Children's Scholars ...

Rawleigh Warner Jr. Rawleigh Warner Jr. (February 13, 1921June 26, 2013) was an American business executive, who was president of Mobil from 1965 to 1969 and chairman and chief executive officer from 1969 to 1986. He was recipient of the 1984 Henry Laurence Gantt M ...

Billy Waugh William D. Waugh (born December 1, 1929) is a former United States Army Special Forces soldier and Central Intelligence Agency paramilitary operations officer who served more than 50 years between the U.S. Army's Green Berets and the CIA's Speci ...

* Jim Webb * Haskell Wexler * Kevin Wheatley *

Joshua Wheeler Joshua Lloyd Wheeler (November 22, 1975 – October 22, 2015) was a United States Army soldier who was killed in Iraq during Operation Inherent Resolve. He was a master sergeant assigned to the elite Delta Force, and was the first American servi ...

Charles Willeford Charles Ray Willeford III (January 2, 1919 – March 27, 1988) was an American writer. An author of fiction, poetry, autobiography, and literary criticism, Willeford is best known for his series of novels featuring hardboiled detective fiction, ...

James E. Williams James Elliott Williams (November 13, 1930 – October 13, 1999) was an American law enforcement officer and honorary United States Navy chief boatswain's mate who was awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War. Boatswain's Mate First Cla ...

(two awards) *

Royce Williams Elmer Royce Williams (born 4 April 1925) is a retired United States Navy pilot. He is known for his solo dogfight with seven Soviet pilots during the Korean War, which, according to ''The San Diego Union-Tribune'', has been called "one of the gr ...

* Jocko Willink *

Theodore H. Winters Jr. Theodore Hugh Winters Jr. (March 11, 1913 – April 25, 2008) was a highly decorated United States Navy Captain (United States O-6), captain. He was a flying ace credited with eight aerial victories and was awarded two Navy Cross, Navy Crosses dur ...

(three awards) * Jerauld Wright *

Tahsin Yazıcı Tahsin Yazıcı () (1892 in Bitola, Monastir – February 11, 1971 in Ankara) was an Ottoman Army (1861–1922), Ottoman Army officer and later a Turkish Army general and politician. Biography He was born to his father Ali Bey and his mother ...

* Chuck Yeager (two awards) *

Elton Younger Major-General Allan Elton Younger DSO OBE (Tony Younger, 4 May 1919 – 5 July 2010) was a British soldier and author, Colonel Commandant of the Royal Engineers from 1974 to 1979. Background Younger's family has a long military tradition. His ...

Douglas A. Zembiec Douglas Alexander Zembiec (April 14, 1973 – May 11, 2007), nicknamed the "Lion of Fallujah" and also referred to as the "Unapologetic Warrior", was an officer in the United States Marine Corps and member of the CIA's Special Activities Division' ...

References

External links

Silver Star database at MilitaryTimes.com
(Archive.org, not searchable)
''Military Times'' Hall of Valor
(Searchable)
Awards and Decorations Air Force Personnel Center
{{Authority control Awards established in 1932 Courage awards Military awards and decorations of the United States 1932 establishments in the United States

History

Award criteria

Appearance

Recipients

Female recipients

Notable recipients

See also

References

External links