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Member |
I know I'm stirring up a hornet's nest, but who were the "most decorated" US soldiers of the two world wars? (p.s. I think I know, and it's NOT who you think!)
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Member |
Audie Murphy is the obvious answer, but that because he's the most famous. There may have been others who came very close to his record. A lot of Soldiers and Marines in WW1 got the MoH and DSC/NC, but some I think were for the same action. Plus too the fact that prior to 1917 the MoH was pretty much the ONLY award the military had. But the key to your question is MOST decorated, not HIGHEST decorated, which are two different things. David Hackworth and Chesty Puller are notable, but neither won the MoH (plus Hack enlisted in 1946).
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Experienced Member |
Why don't you tell us who you think they are?
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Experienced Member |
If you are limiting the selection to those who served in both wars I believe that Douglas MacArthur holds that distinction. |
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Member |
To those who responded so far, you guys are very sharp indeed, putting alot of thought into your responses. And to AdminNCO1, the possibility you presented didn't occur to me when posing the question, but I think for both World Wars, Douglas Macarthur may indeed be right. As for the most decorated US soldier of WWI, I believe it was Colonel William J. Donovan of Buffalo, NY. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal, as well as a certificate for wounds sustained (later replaced by the Purple Heart when Army Chief of Staff DOUGLAS MACARTHUR had it resurrected). The medals listed were the only ones the military awarded up to that time. Sergeant Alvin York did not receive all the medals listed. A two-page list of all decorations received by Donovan can be found in author Anthony Cave Brown's book: "The Last Hero", ISBN 0-394-72305-8. As for WWII, I believe another native Buffalonian, Colonel Matt Urban, was the most decorated US soldier. The belief is that Audie Murphy holds that honor, but to be fair, if you compare the decorations awarded to the two men for the war period (7Dec'41 to Sep'46), Col Urban wins handsdown; even including medals received by Murphy for his enlisted service like the Good Conduct Medal.
Remember,too, Col Urban did not continue his military service after war's end - Murphy did, as a member of the Texas National Guard, and later, as a MOH recipient, working on many goodwill projects for DOD. During these times, he received many more medals, most of which were not in existence for the war period. Your thoughts? |
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New Member |
MG George Mabry was Audie Murphy's "runner-up". I.E. he was the second most decorated Soldier of WWII in terms of span of awards, having earned all valor awards at the time. (this does not include such soldiers who earned several high awards repeatedly). Interestingly, he continued to serve through the Vietnam War. You would not believe what he did to earn his MOH or DSC--search for the citations to see the definition of a leader's leader.
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Boot Camp Forum Moderator |
What about Lewis Millet, who served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. He had the following awards:
Medal Of Honor Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Three Bronze Stars Three Purple HEarts Two Legions of MErit The Air Medal The Croix de Guerre with Palm The Vietnamese Cross of Galantry |
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New Member |
Here's my two cents from another earlier post.
First of all the term 'Most Decorated' is not only controversial but very impossible to pin down. You have to take into account such factors as the number of campaign awards, precedence, and even the criteria from war to war. Listed below is a list compiled of the most Decorated US military personnel of all time. Top 50 Most Highly Decorated U.S. Military Personnel of All Time Who Were Awarded the MOH 1. GA Douglas MacArthur, USA 2. Col Edward V. Rickenbacker, USAAS 3. VADM John D. Bulkeley, USN 4. CDR Samuel D. Dealey, USN 5. SgtMaj Daniel J. Daly, USMC 6. Col Robert L. Howard, USA 7. RADM Richard H. O'Kane, USN 8. Maj Thomas B. McGuire, Jr., USAAF 9. VADM James B. Stockdale, USN 10. Maj Gen Smedley D. Butler, USMC 11. VADM Joel T. Boone, USN 12. Maj Richard I. Bong, USAAF 13. RADM Eugene B. Fluckey, USN 14. Gen Raymond G. Davis, USMC 15. Col George E. Day, USAF 16. Col George A. Davis, USAF 17. PO1 James E. Williams, USN 18. Col Leo K. Thorsness, USAF 19. VADM Lawson P. Ramage, USN 20. LTC Raymond Harvey, USA 21. MajGen James L. Day, USMC 22. LCDR John C. McCloy, USN 23. Col Gordon Johnston, USA 24. Capt Joe R. Hooper, USA 25. Maj Gen Merritt A. Edson, USMC 26. BGen Herman H. Hanneken, USMC 27. Maj Audie L. Murphy, USA 28. Col Lloyd L. Burke, USA 29. Col Lewis L. Millett, USA 30. CAPT David McCampbell, USN 31. Col James E. Swett, USMC 32. CPL John H. Pruitt, USMC 33. Maj Louis Cukela, USMC 34. RADM Richard E. Byrd, USN 35. LTC Matt L. Urban, USA 36. MG Patrick H. Brady, USA 37. MG William F. Dean, USA 38. Gen James H. Doolittle, 39. Col Neel E. Kearby, USAAF 40. MajGen Wendell C. Neville, USMC 41. ADM Jonas H. Ingram, USN 42. 2d Lt Frank Luke, Jr., USAAS 43. Sgt Matej Kocak, USMC 44. Gen Leon W. Johnson, USAF 45. 1stLt Henry L. Hulbert, USMC 46. MG William J. Donovan, USA 47. CDR Howard W. Gilmore, USN 48. LtCol Kenneth A. Walsh, USMC 49. MG Frank D. Baldwin, USA 50. CM John L.M. Cooper, USN Top 50 Most Highly Decorated regardless of highest decoration 1. GA Douglas MacArthur, USA 2. Col David H. Hackworth, USA 3. Col Edward V. Rickenbacker, USAAS 4. BG John T. Corley, USA 5. VADM John D. Bulkeley, USN 6. CDR Samuel D. Dealey, USN 7. SgtMaj Daniel J. Daly, USMC 8. Col James H. Kasler, USAF 9. LtGen Lewis B. Puller, USMC 10. Gen John C. Meyer, USAF 11. Col David C. Schilling, USAF 12. Col Robert L. Howard, USA 13. Gen James A. Van Fleet, USA 14. RADM Richard H. O'Kane, USN 15. Gen William E. DePuy, USA 16. Col Francis S. Gabreski, USAF 17. Maj Thomas B. McGuire, Jr., USAAF 18. VADM James B. Stockdale, USN 19. Col James C. Harding, USAF 20. MajGen Smedley D. Butler, USMC 21. VADM Joel T. Boone, USN 22. Maj Gen Frank O. Hunter, USAAF 23. Gen John R. Deane, Jr., USA 24. Col Ralph S. Parr, Jr., USAF 25. RADM Roy M. Davenport, USN 26. Maj Richard I. Bong, USAAF 27. RADM James B. Linder, USN 28. Gen Barry R. McCaffrey, USA 29. Maj Gen Robert M. White, USAF 30. RADM Eugene B. Fluckey, USN 31. Gen Raymond G. Davis, USMC 32. Col Theodore W. Guy, USAF 33. Gen Creighton W. Abrams, Jr., USA 34. Brig Gen R. Stephen Ritchie, USAF 35. Col George E. Day, USAF 36. Col George A. Davis, USAF 37. Col William T. Whisner, USAF 38. Lt Gen John P. Flynn, USAF 39. Brig Gen Robin Olds, USAF 40. Gen H. Norman Schwarzkopf, USA 41. PO1 James E. Williams, USN 42. ADM Bernard A. Clarey, USN 43. Col Leo K. Thorsness, USAF 44. Col Donald J.M. Blakeslee, USAF 45. VADM Lawson P. Ramage, USN 46. Maj Gen Frederick C. Blesse, USAF 47. Gen Lemuel C. Sheperd, Jr., USMC 48. Lt Gen Jay T. Robbins, USAF 49. Gen Wayne A. Downing, USA 50. Brig Gen Robinson Risner, USAF If you have any doubts, do some research on some of these folks online, and see for your self. |
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New Member |
Here's a little background behind #6 on the list, Col Robert Howard. He is, I believe, the most highly decorated living soldier today.
As a staff sergeant of the highly-classified Military Assistance Command, Vietnam - Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG), Howard was recommended for the Medal of Honor on three separate occasions for three individual actions during thirteen months spanning 1967-1968. The first two nominations were downgraded to the award of the Distinguished Service Cross due to the covert nature of the operations in which Howard participated. As a Sergeant First Class of the same organization, he risked his life during a rescue mission in Cambodia on December 30, 1968, while second in command of a platoon-sized Hornet force that was searching for missing American soldier Robert Scherdin, and was finally awarded the Medal of Honor. It is believed by some historians that Howard is the most highly-decorated living American soldier in history. He currently resides in Texas and spends much of his free time working with veterans. He also takes periodic trips to Iraq to visit with active duty troops. Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Cross (with one oak leaf cluster) Silver Star Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (with three oak leaf clusters) Bronze Star (with three oak leaf clusters and "V" device) Purple Heart (with a silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters) Meritorious Service Medal (with two oak leaf clusters) Air Medal (with "V" Device and numeral 3. One award for heroism and two for aerial achievement) Joint Service Commendation Army Commendation Medal (with "V" device and one each silver and bronze oak leaf clusters. 4 awards for valor and 3 for achievement) Joint Service Achievement Army Achievement Good Conduct Medal, 4 Good Conduct Loops (4 awards) National Defense Service Medal Armed Forces Reserve Medal Vietnam Service Medal NCO Professional Development Ribbon with 2 device Army Overseas Ribbon Army Service Ribbon Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, w/3 Service stars (3 awards) Army Presidential Unit Citation, 1st Oak Leaf Cluster Presidential Unit Citation (United States) 2001, Studies and Observations Group Navy Unit Commendation Army Meritorious Unit Citation FOREIGN DECORATIONS Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 device Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star (Corps citation) Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star (Division citation) Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star (Regiment or Brigade citation) Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal 2nd Award Vietnam Wound Medal Vietnam Civil Actions Medal 2nd Award Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation with Palm, 1st Oak Leaf Cluster (Unit citation) Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit (Samil Medal) BADGES, QUALIFICATIONS & TABS Ranger Tab Special Forces Tab Combat Infantryman Badge Aircrew Badge Master Parachutist Badge Pathfinder Badge Air Assault Badge Expert Infantryman's Badge Vietnamese Ranger Badge Vietnamese Master Parachute Badge Thai Master Parachute Wings Korean Master Parachute Badge Thai Balloonist Badge French Parachutist Badge |
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Member |
Makes you wonder if he even had time to stop and eat his lunch!  |
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Member |
Colonel Lewis Millet died this past Saturday, November 14th 2009. Rest in Peace, Sir. |
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Boot Camp Forum Moderator |
WHAT?? Where did you hear this? |
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Member |
+++http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_E_millett15.41afc18.html+++
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Experienced Member |
Rest in Peace Col Millett.
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Boot Camp Forum Moderator |
Ok...I forgot how to post a picture....
I was going to put a puicture of COL Millet up. Help anyone? |
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New Member |
Rest in peace sir!
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