Military Decorations and Medals: A Collector's Guide

What military decorations and medals are

US military decorations are formal awards given to service members for valor, meritorious service, achievement, or participation in a campaign. A decoration is usually a medal, worn on the uniform in its ribbon form for everyday wear. Some awards are ribbon-only and never had a medal, such as the Army Service Ribbon.

Collectors often use “medal” for anything on a bar of ribbons. A group can include medals, ribbons, badges and insignia and devices, and they are not always matched. Sorting out which is which is the first step in any identification.

The main categories of US decorations

Valor awards

The Medal of Honor is the highest US military decoration. It is awarded for gallantry above and beyond the call of duty, and each branch has its own version. The Army and Navy versions date from the Civil War. Below it sit the service crosses (the Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross and Air Force Cross), then the Silver Star and other combat awards.

The Bronze Star recognizes heroism or meritorious achievement, and it may carry a “V” device for valor. The Purple Heart is in its own category. It is awarded for wounds or death from enemy action, not for a specific act of valor.

Service and achievement awards

Meritorious service, commendation and achievement medals recognize sustained or specific service. The Legion of Merit and the Defense Superior Service Medal are examples of senior awards in this group.

Good conduct and reserve awards

Good conduct medals recognize conduct, efficiency and fidelity over a set period of service. Reserve components have their own medals for long or specific service.

Campaign and expeditionary awards

Campaign medals recognize service in a named operation or theater. The WWII campaign medals and ribbons and the Vietnam-era awards are two common examples. Expeditionary medals cover deployments to specific operations. Many campaign awards are issued with bronze or silver service stars to show participation in additional campaigns.

Unit awards

Unit awards go to organizations rather than individuals. The Presidential Unit Citation and the Valorous Unit Award are examples. Unit awards are worn as ribbons, and members who served in the unit during the action may wear the ribbon.

Devices and attachments

Devices are small attachments added to a medal or ribbon to show additional awards or qualifying events:

A “V” device shows valor in combat.
Oak leaf clusters (Army and Air Force) show a subsequent award of the same medal. The Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard use stars for this purpose.
Bronze and silver service stars on campaign awards show participation in an approved campaign.
An arrowhead device marks participation in an assault landing or airborne assault for some campaign awards.

Check the device before you assume a second award is present. Devices can be added to a medal after it was issued, so an unexpected device is worth checking against the service record.

Medals, ribbons and order of wear

On most uniforms, service members wear ribbons, and full-size medals are usually reserved for formal occasions. Ribbons are worn in a set order of precedence. The order of precedence guide explains the top of the Army list and where to find the full regulation.

How to put on military medals

Uniform wear is set by each service’s regulation. Decorations are worn on the left breast in order of precedence, and ribbon bars are attached to the uniform rather than hung from a medal. Full-size medals that hang from a suspension ribbon are worn only where the regulation allows.

For a display at home, most collectors use a shadow box or mounting bar and arrange the group in the same order of precedence. A mounting method that leaves the medal unmarked and removable is the safest choice for an original piece.

Identifying a medal or group

Start with the ribbon, then check the medal’s front and back for text, naming and maker marks. Compare what you find with reference guides or a knowledgeable dealer. Foreign awards need references of their own: Soviet WWII medals are checked largely by serial number, and German awards such as the Knight’s Cross and War Merit Cross have their own grades and variants to learn. Before you pay for a group, read the guide on telling original medals from replicas.

Caring for medals

Store medals in a dry place with stable temperature and away from direct light.
Handle medals by their edges and avoid touching the faces.
Do not polish or clean a medal. Polishing removes the original finish and usually lowers collector value.
Keep any boxes, certificates and letters with the medal. They are part of its history.
Use archival materials for mounting and framing. Avoid PVC, which can damage ribbons and metal over time.

Replacing lost or damaged medals

Veterans and next of kin can request service and award records from the National Personnel Records Center using Standard Form 180. Replacement medals are handled through the appropriate service and the National Archives awards information page. Check the current process before applying, because it changes.

Commercially made replicas and reproductions are sold by private dealers. They are not issued awards, and they should not be presented as originals.