US Military Decorations Trivia Quiz

Answer: Badge of Military Merit

General George Washington originally established the Badge of Military Merit to honor their faithful service during the Revolutionary War. At least six men received the badge, and two of those examples still exist. The badge fell out of use in subsequent conflicts, but was never made obsolete.

The modern Purple Heart replaced it in 1932. Unlike many other decorations, the Purple Heart does not require someone to write a recommendation in order for it to be conferred upon an individual.

Answer: Navy Cross

Miller's heroism that fateful day included moving wounded fellow soldiers to safer locations--including a vain attempt to move West Virginia's captain, who wound up dying in the battle, off the bridge--and taking control of an anti-aircraft gun, which he wasn't even trained to use. Miller died on November 24, 1943, when the escort carrier USS Liscome Bay was sunk by Japanese torpedoes.

He received the Purple Heart posthumously.

Answer: New York

Johnson and Leyda were involved in a rescue attempt at the Oswego Water Works Tunnel in Oswego, New York, on August 18, 1957. Despite successfully reaching the workers, their efforts were in vain, as the workers had perished before they managed to get to them. The Coast Guard Medal was originally authorized in 1949, some nine years before it was first awarded.

Answer: Air Force

The U.S. Navy was the first branch to give the Good Conduct Medal, starting in 1869. The U.S. Air Force didn't start giving a separate Good Conduct Medal until 1963, although it was first authorized in 1960. Until 1963, USAF personnel received the U.S. Army's version of the Good Conduct Medal.

The Air Force discontinued giving the Good Conduct Medal in February, 2006 because they felt that good conduct is expected among its airman, thus making the medal inappropriate. That decision was reversed in February, 2009. Air Force personnel who won the medal prior to February, 2006, were authorized to continue wearing it.

Answer: Air Force Combat Action Medal

The first six Air Force Combat Action Medals were given in a ceremony in Washington, DC, on June 12, 2007, in a ceremony by then-Air Force Chief of Staff General T. Michael Moseley. Artist Susan Gamble, whose husband was also in the air force, designed the medal.

It is unique among U.S. military decorations, insomuch as the medal drape and chest ribbon have diagonal stripes. The Pennsylvania company that made the ribbon had to get a special loom to do the job.

Answer: Air Medal

Created on May 11, 1942, the Air Medal is one of a number of decorations given by multiple branches of the U.S. military. It may be given to recognize single acts of merit or heroism while participating in aerial flight, or for meritorious service over a period of time.

Answer: Orville Wright

It took an act of Congress for Orville Wright to receive America's oldest military decoration for aerial heroism. That's because the honor was retroactive to December 17, 1903--the day that Orville and his brother Wilbur became the first Americans to achieve powered flight.

Although a number of civilians received the Distinguished Flying Cross, it officially recognizes heroism and extraordinary achievement in military flight operations after November 11, 1918. President Calvin Coolidge signed an order in 1927 officially limiting the award to those people who served in the armed forces.

Answer: Evacuating a field hospital in Anzio, Italy

America's third highest award for valor, the Silver Star Medal was established by Secretary of War Patrick Jay Hurley in July, 1932. It replaced the Citation Star, which was authorized for wear with a number of campaign and victory medals from prior U.S. military engagements.

The four women who helped evacuated the 33rd Field Hospital at Anzio in February, 1944, were joined by Leigh Ann Hester in 2005 and Monica Lin Brown in 2008.

Answer: Gerald Ford

Executive Order 11965 established the Humanitarian Service Medal on January 19, 1977. It may be awarded to regular military, National Guard and Reserve members and units who perform meritorious military service of a humanitarian nature. This includes disaster relief and evacuation of non-combatants from hostile areas, retroactive to April 1, 1975. Among the many operations for which this medal has been presented are the Tenerife Air Disaster in the Canary Islands in 1977 and the Loma Prieta earthquake in California in 1989.

Answer: No one has ever won the medal twice

A total of 19 men have won the Medal of Honor twice. Of that number, five of them received the Medal of Honor from both the U.S. Army AND the U.S. Navy for the same action, all during World War I. Because the Medal of Honor is given to those who distinguish themselves "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of...life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States", posthumous awards are common.