The men and women of the United States military have sacrificed their individual freedom – and still continue to do so – to protect the freedom of the American people. America stands as a nation today thanks to their immense sacrifices and unwavering service of our armed forces and we owe these heroes, and many of these decorated war heroes, a great debt of gratitude for putting their lives on the line.
Those who have lost their lives in the line of duty have been honored and memorialized in various ways. Memorial Day is when we honor those who have fought and died for our nation. Veteran’s Day is when we honor those who are still living who have fought for our country. Both days are commemorated with parades across the nation, in small towns and big cities.
To compile a list of the most decorated war heroes in the U.S., 24/7 Tempo, reviewed information from various sources including the Department of Defense. All individuals included on this list have been awarded the most prestigious military decoration in the United States, the Medal of Honor. Nearly 3,500 have been awarded, with more than 600 being presented posthumously.
Many honored also received the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second-highest military honor. As earlier awards were often influenced by political factors, this list highlights those who served after the Civil War. 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.)
These are Medals of Honor: 40 of the most decorated war heroes in the U.S.:
Alvin York
- Rank: Corporal
- Military branch: Army
- Served in: WWI
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross
Audie L. Murphy
- Rank: Second lieutenant
- Military branch: Army
- Served in: WWII
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
Daniel J. Daly
- Rank: Gunnery sergeant
- Military branch: Marines
- Served in: WWI
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross
David McCampbell
- Rank: Commander
- Military branch: Navy
- Served in: WWII
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star
Douglas MacArthur
- Rank: General
- Military branch: Army
- Served in: WWI, WWII, Korean War
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
Edward V. Rickenbacker
- Rank: First lieutenant
- Military branch: Army
- Served in: WWI
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross
Eugene B. Fluckey
- Rank: Commander
- Military branch: Navy
- Served in: WWII
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross
Frank Luke, Jr.
- Rank: Second lieutenant
- Military branch: Army
- Served in: WWI
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross
George A. Davis
- Rank: Major
- Military branch: Army/Air Force
- Served in: WWII, Korean War
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
George E. Day
- Rank: Colonel
- Military branch: Air Force/Army/Marines
- Served in: WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Air Force Cross, Silver Star
George L. Mabry, Jr.
- Rank: Lieutenant colonel
- Military branch: Army
- Served in: WWII
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
Gordon Johnston
- Rank: First lieutenant
- Military branch: Army
- Served in: WWI
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
Henry L. Hulbert
- Rank: First lieutenant
- Military branch: Marines
- Served in: WWI
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross
Herman H. Hanneken
- Rank: Second lieutenant
- Military branch: Marines
- Served in: Banana Wars, WWI, WWII
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star
Jack L. Treadwell
- Rank: Captain
- Military branch: Army
- Served in: WWII, Vietnam War
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
James E. Williams
- Rank: Boatswain’s mate first class
- Military branch: Navy
- Served in: the Korean War, Vietnam War
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star
Joel T. Boone
- Rank: Lieutenant
- Military branch: Navy
- Served in: WWI, WWII, Korean War
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
John C. McCloy
- Rank: Lieutenant commander
- Military branch: Navy
- Served in: Boxer Rebellion, Battle of Veracruz
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross
John D. Bulkeley
- Rank: Lieutenant commander
- Military branch: Navy
- Served in: WWII
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Silver Star
John H. Quick
- Rank: Sergeant Major
- Military branch: Marines
- Served in: WWI
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross
Jonas H. Ingram
- Rank: Admiral
- Military branch: Navy
- Served in: the Mexican Revolution, WWI, WWII
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross
Lawson P. Ramage
- Rank: Commander
- Military branch: Navy
- Served in: WWII
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star
Leon W. Johnson
- Rank: General
- Military branch: Army/Air Force
- Served in: WWII
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Silver Star
Lewis L. Millett
- Rank: Captain
- Military branch: Army
- Served in: WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam War
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
Lloyd L. Burke
- Rank: First lieutenant
- Military branch: Army
- Served in: WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam War
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
Louis Cukela
- Rank: Sergeant
- Military branch: Marines
- Served in: WWI
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Silver Star
Matej Kocak
- Rank: Sergeant
- Military branch: Marines
- Served in: WWI
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Silver Star
Matt L. Urban
- Rank: Captain
- Military branch: Army
- Served in: WWII
- Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Silver Star
Melvin Morris
- Rank: Sergeant
- Military branch: Army
- Served in: the Vietnam War
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross
Merritt A. Edson
- Rank: Colonel
- Military branch: Marines
- Served in: WWII
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star
Neel E. Kearby
- Rank: Colonel
- Military branch: Army
- Served in: WWII
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Silver Star
Patrick H. Brady
- Rank: Major
- Military branch: Army
- Served in: the Vietnam War
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross
Raymond G. Davis
- Rank: Lieutenant colonel
- Military branch: Marines
- Served in: WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam War
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star
Raymond Harvey
- Rank: Captain
- Military branch: Army
- Served in: WWII, Korean War
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
Richard H. O’Kane
- Rank: Commander
- Military branch: Navy
- Served in: WWII
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star
Richard I. Bong
- Rank: Major
- Military branch: Army
- Served in: WWII
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
Robert L. Howard
- Rank: Captain
- Military branch: Army
- Served in: the Vietnam War
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
Samuel D. Dealey
- Rank: Commander
- Military branch: Navy
- Served in: WWII
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
Thomas B. McGuire, Jr.
- Rank: Major
- Military branch: Army
- Served in: WWII
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
William J. Donovan
- Rank: Colonel
- Military branch: Army
- Served in: WWI, WWII
- Medal(s) of Valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star