United States Awards

Decorations of high degree, such as the Medal of Honor, are awarded only after a searching examination into all the facts of the case. Lesser decorations, such as the Bronze Star or Purple Heart, may be awarded by commanders of large units. Campaign and similar medals are generally awarded without ceremony. Posthumous awards are those made after the death of the person being honored. The decoration or medal is given to a close relative.

The United States Constitution (Article I, Section 9) requires approval by Congress before a person holding a United States office can accept an award from a foreign nation. There is no restriction on foreign decorations for private citizens. Certain United States decorations, such as the Legion of Merit, may be awarded to citizens of foreign countries.

Most United States decorations, medals, and ribbons are worn on the left breast of the uniform. The awards are worn in order of precedence, the highest award being at the wearer's right in the top row. Only one decoration of each kind is worn; a person who merits an additional award of the same decoration is given an Oak-leaf Cluster by the Army or Air Force and a Gold Star by the Navy. Members of the Marine Corps and Coast Guard are eligible to receive many of the same decorations and medals as members of the Navy.

United States armed forces personnel are also authorized to wear the United Nations Service Medal, for service in the Korean War; the United Nations Medal, for service in UN observation and peacekeeping forces; and the Vietnam Campaign Medal, issued by the Republic of Vietnam.

Unit citations, the first of which were authorized in 1942, are made to individual units of the armed forces (a division or a ship, for example) for outstanding performance. They consist of bronze plaques, streamers, and other devices. Under certain circumstances, all members of the unit are authorized to wear citation ribbons. Unit citations include the Presidential Unit Citation, awarded by the three services; the Valorous Unit Award, given by the Army; the Meritorious Unit Commendation, given by the Army and the Navy; and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. There is also a Joint Meritorius Unit Award.

Badges of various types are awarded to infantrymen and medical corpsmen who have been in combat, and to pilots, astronauts, paratroopers, submariners, and others who have special training or who are on special assignment. Qualification badges are awarded for marksmanship.